Teaching the machines to understand us | MIT Tech Review

by Alex Kirkpatrick

01 May 2017

These tiny drones are powered by sound

EPFL 24 Aug 2026

EPFL engineers have designed acoustic cavities that convert sound waves into thrust, propelling small robots and ultralight aerial vehicles without on-board actuators or electronics.

#AAMAS2026 blue sky award winner: Foundation world models for agents in changing environments

AIhub and Lucy Smith 21 Aug 2026

Hear from the AAMAS 2026 Best Blue Sky Paper Award winner.

Robotics roadmaps from around the world spotlight of the month: Japan

IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) 19 Aug 2026

Robots have been a prolific theme in Japanese pop culture and media since the 1950s

Intermittent swimming promotes the energy efficiency of fish-like robot movements

Xiangxiao Liu, Eva Aimable Naumann and Auke Ijspeert 17 Aug 2026

How zebrafish-inspired robots save energy by swimming in bursts.

What does it take for a robot to hold a conversation with a room, not just a person?

Umar Farooq and UK RAS STEPS 14 Aug 2026

Find out about a summer school held at Imperial College London.

Robotics roadmaps from around the world

IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) 12 Aug 2026

We embark on a tour into some of the recent and prominent robotics roadmaps from around the world.

A ‘5-in-1’ seed-sized surgical robot

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 10 Aug 2026

Mini robot can move, cut tissue, release drugs, grip and store samples, and generate heat wirelessly

AI agents create virtual playgrounds to help robots get crucial training data

MIT News 07 Aug 2026

“SceneSmith” system uses collaborative AI agents to create realistic 3D environments of places like kitchens, hotels, and living rooms, where robots can simulate everyday chores.