A better way to control shape-shifting soft robots
A new algorithm learns to squish, bend, or stretch a robot’s entire body to accomplish diverse tasks like avoiding obstacles or retrieving items.
Three from MIT named 2024-25 Goldwater Scholars
Undergraduates Ben Lou, Srinath Mahankali, and Kenta Suzuki, whose research explores math and physics, are honored for their academic excellence.
Natural language boosts LLM performance in coding, planning, and robotics
Three neurosymbolic methods help language models find better abstractions within natural language, then use those representations to execute complex tasks.
Julie Shah named head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
An expert in robotics and AI, Shah succeeds Steven Barrett at AeroAstro.
The MIT Edgerton Center’s third annual showcase dazzles onlookers
Fourteen Edgerton Center student-led engineering teams displayed their latest creations, from solar cars to rockets to assistive eating devices.
Extracting hydrogen from rocks
Iwnetim Abate aims to stimulate natural hydrogen production underground, potentially unearthing a new path to a cheap, carbon-free energy source.
MIT engineers design flexible “skeletons” for soft, muscle-powered robots
New modular, spring-like devices maximize the work of live muscle fibers so they can be harnessed to power biohybrid bots.
Engineering household robots to have a little common sense
With help from a large language model, MIT engineers enabled robots to self-correct after missteps and carry on with their chores.
Researchers help robots navigate efficiently in uncertain environments
A new algorithm reduces travel time by identifying shortcuts a robot could take on the way to its destination.
“Imagine it, build it” at MIT
In class 2.679 (Electronics for Mechanical Systems II) a hands-on approach provides the skills engineers use to create and solve problems.
Is this the future of fashion?
Developed by the Self-Assembly Lab, the 4D Knit Dress uses several technologies to create a custom design and a custom fit, while addressing sustainability concerns.
Method rapidly verifies that a robot will avoid collisions
Faster and more accurate than some alternatives, this approach could be useful for robots that interact with humans or work in tight spaces.
Study determines the original orientations of rocks drilled on Mars
The “oriented” samples, the first of their kind from any planet, could shed light on Mars’ ancient magnetic field.
“We offer another place for knowledge”
After acquiring data science and AI skills from MIT, Jospin Hassan shared them with his community in the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi and built pathways for talented learners.
Smart glove teaches new physical skills
Adaptive smart glove from MIT CSAIL researchers can send tactile feedback to teach users new skills, guide robots with more precise manipulation, and help train surgeons and pilots.