“Robots can be a mirror on which humanity can be reflected, one day.” – Thrish interviewed by Sky News

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vx5EkKNCdM] In a report discussing the increasing presence of robots in our daily lives, Sky News interviewed Dr. Thrishantha Nanayakkara on his views of how robots can be perceived. “Machines are machines, and humans are humans. Is there not a line that we simply shouldn’t be crossing there?” Sky asks. To which Thrish replied, “Actually,…

HANDLE and Beyond: Advances in In-Hand Manipulation

Professor Veronique Perdereau from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris presented the final results of the HANDLE project at King’s Building, Strand Campus, on February 13th, 2013. HANDLE has involved the Centre for Robotics Research (CoRe) for 4 years, from 2009 to February 2013. The presentation reported the initial project approach (improving dexterity, pre-shaping…

What use is a robot octopus? OCTOPUS meets STIFF-FLOP

Cecilia Laschi and Matteo Cianchetti from SSSA demonstrated how the OCTOPUS robot works and explained how it could one day be used for tasks such as repairing underwater structures like oil pipelines and ships’ hulls to performing search-and-rescue operations – venturing into places too dangerous for humans! The event was held at the Science Museum…

Centre for Robotics Research, Department of Informatics, collaborate on “Fearful Symmetry” Robot Exhibition at Tate Modern

Professor Kaspar Althoefer, Head of the Centre for Robotics Research (CoRe), Department of Informatics, collaborated with the Bartlett School (University College London) on a robot installation at the Tate Modern. Professor Althoefer and his team of roboticists were involved in an exciting arts and design installation initiated and led by Ruairi Glynn, lecturer at the…

€7.35 million to develop first generation stiffness controllable robotic instruments for heart and cancer surgery

Octopuses and robots will lead to new ways for surgeons to safely and effectively intervene in cancers, prostate and heart conditions. The Centre for Robotics Research in the Department of Informatics at King’s College London leads a consortium of European scientists and medical doctors aiming to create soft, flexible robotic tools to improve “keyhole” or…