This newsletter delivers curated news and updates on robotics and AI, along with the latest technology trends.
We hope to spark excitement and creativity, inspiring you to think, “What’s the next cool thing I can make?” Enjoy reading, and feel free to explore with us!
🗞️ This Week in Robotics
1. Open-Source Educational Robot Kit "CYOBot"
"CYOBot," a developer of educational robot kits, has launched a project on Kickstarter (ending December 9th, 16:00 JST).
CYOBot is primarily a quadrupedal walking robot, but its structure is transformable, allowing users to control movement patterns by freely adjusting the position and posture of its legs.
The toolkit's code is open on GitHub, providing high extensibility. Users can program or combine additional modules to create unique functions and movements.
In Japan, Sony offers a similar block-based creation kit, KOOV, which features numerous official recipes, making it an accessible option even for first-time makers.
2. AMP Raises $91 Million in Series D Funding to Revolutionize Waste
AMP Robotics has raised $91M in a Series D funding round led by Congruent Ventures, with participation from Sequoia Capital and others.
AMP Robotics develops recycling robots that use AI-powered image recognition combined with robotic arms to automate and accelerate waste sorting in recycling facilities.
The technology employs machine learning and computer vision to quickly and accurately identify items of various materials, shapes, and colors, enabling swift sorting via robotic arms.
3. The Art of Failure Analysis 2024
The IPFA 2024 conference on failure analysis, held in July in Singapore, featured a Failure Analysis Art Contest.
Exhibited works included microscopic images revealing surprising and unexpected phenomena discovered by failure analysis engineers in computer chips.
These insights, gleaned from both successes and failures, can serve as inspiration for technological development and creative endeavors.
4. Smallest walking robot makes microscale measurements
A research team from Cornell University has developed the world’s smallest walking robot, capable of independent movement, measuring just 2-5 microns.
This robot interacts with wavelengths of visible light and can navigate specific locations within tissue samples to capture microscopic structures or measure forces.
⛏️ Tech Deep Dive
This week, we explore SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), a technology foundational to autonomous driving and self-governing systems.
SLAM enables robots and drones to estimate their location while simultaneously mapping their surroundings in unknown environments. It’s crucial in scenarios where GPS is unavailable, such as indoor or complex spaces.
Using sensors like LiDAR or cameras, SLAM detects features to build maps and real-time algorithms to estimate position. While its ability to perform both mapping and localization simultaneously is a significant advantage, challenges include computational load, sensor dependency, and maintaining accuracy in dynamic environments.
The integration of AI holds promise for overcoming these hurdles, driving further advancements.
Stay tuned for more in the next issue!