The way roaches run could teach robots a thing or two

A better understanding of how cockroaches scurry could speed up work to get robots to move naturally.

Ben Brumfield-Georgia Tech • futurity
Aug. 23, 2019 ~8 min

Algorithm would warn warehouse workers about risky motions

Warehouse workers risk workplace injuries from awkward postures or body movements. An algorithm could warn them before they get hurt.

Sarah McQuate-Washington • futurity
Aug. 23, 2019 ~5 min


Roach-sized robot is fast, tough, and super strong

A tiny robot that has the speed and toughness of a cockroach can withstand 1 million times its own weight—a big advantage in search and rescue missions.

Kara Manke-UC Berkeley • futurity
Aug. 1, 2019 ~4 min

Watch: Algorithm lets people walk right out of images

"Photo Wake-Up is a new way to interact with photos." See what it can do for Picasso, Matisse, and Stephen Curry.

Sarah McQuate-Washington • futurity
June 17, 2019 ~5 min

Prosthetic ‘tripod foot’ offers stability on rough terrain

A tripod foot could make walking on hiking trails and other rough terrain more manageable for people who use a prosthetic.

Nathan Collins-Stanford • futurity
June 3, 2019 ~4 min

With tweaks, smartwatches know what you do with your hands

With some changes, a standard smartwatch can figure out when a wearer was typing on a keyboard, washing dishes, patting a dog, and more.

Byron Spice-Carnegie Mellon • futurity
May 12, 2019 ~4 min

Plush toys with tendons bend and move

"We have so many soft objects in our lives and many of them could be made interactive with this technology."

Byron Spice-Carnegie Mellon • futurity
May 9, 2019 ~4 min

Some human cells can ‘slingshot’ themselves

Some cells use "slingshot migration," which could be part of how cancer spreads.

Jim Lynch-Michigan • futurity
March 13, 2019 ~3 min


1 knee replacement surgery sets the stage for another

After a knee replacement, continuing to put more pressure on the other, "good" leg can set patients up for a second surgery.

Caitlin Coyle-Rutgers • futurity
Jan. 9, 2019 ~3 min

Geckos use slapping to ‘walk on water’

High-speed footage of a gecko darting between trees in a flooded area amazed scientists, who then investigated in the lab.

Katherine Fenz-Rockefeller • futurity
Dec. 28, 2018 ~4 min

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