The field of robotics has taken a significant leap forward with the development of an amphibious robotic dog, capable of efficiently navigating both land and water. This innovative creation was inspired by the remarkable mobility of mammals in aquatic environments.

Unlike existing amphibious robots that often draw inspiration from reptiles or insects, this robotic canine is based on the swimming style of dogs. This design choice has allowed it to overcome several limitations faced by insect-inspired designs, such as reduced agility and load capacity.

The key to the amphibious robot’s water mobility lies in its unique paddling mechanism, modeled after the natural swimming motion of dogs. By carefully balancing weight and buoyancy, the engineers have ensured stable and effective aquatic performance.

To test its capabilities, the researchers developed and experimented with three distinct paddling gaits:

* A doggy paddle method that prioritizes speed
* A trot-like style that focuses on stability
* A third gait that combines elements of both

Through extensive experimentation, it was found that the doggy paddle method proved superior for speed, achieving a maximum water speed of 0.576 kilometers per hour (kph). On land, the amphibious robotic dog reaches speeds of 1.26 kph, offering versatile mobility in amphibious environments.

“This innovation marks a big step forward in designing nature-inspired robots,” says Yunquan Li, corresponding author of the study. “Our robot dog’s ability to efficiently move through water and on land is due to its bioinspired trajectory planning, which mimics the natural paddling gait of real dogs.”

The implications of this technology are vast and exciting, with potential applications in environmental research, military vehicles, rescue missions, and more. As we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with robotics, it’s clear that the future holds much promise for innovation and discovery.

A breakthrough in augmented-reality (AR) technology has been made by POSTECH researchers, which could revolutionize the way we interact with everyday life. The core AR device, typically bulky and heavy, can now be designed to be thin and light, making prolonged wear comfortable.

One of the main hurdles to commercializing AR glasses was the waveguide, a crucial component that guides virtual images directly to the user’s eye. Conventional designs required separate layers for red, green, and blue light, leading to increased weight and thickness. POSTECH researchers have eliminated this need by developing an achromatic metagrating that handles all colors in a single glass layer.

The key to this innovation lies in an array of nanoscale silicon-nitride pillars whose geometry was finely tuned using a stochastic topology-optimization algorithm to steer light with maximum efficiency. In experiments, the researchers produced vivid full-color images using a 500-µm-thick single-layer waveguide – about one-hundredth the diameter of a human hair.

The new design erases color blur while outperforming multilayer optics in brightness and color uniformity. This breakthrough has significant implications for the commercialization of AR glasses, which could become as thin and light as ordinary eyewear. The era of truly everyday AR is now within reach.

“This work marks a key milestone for next-generation AR displays,” said Prof. Junsuk Rho. “Coupled with scalable, large-area fabrication, it brings commercialization within reach.”

The study was carried out by POSTECH’s Departments of Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical Engineering and the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience & Bioengineering, in collaboration with the Visual Team at Samsung Research. It was published online on April 30, 2025, in Nature Nanotechnology.

This research was supported by POSCO Holdings N.EX.T Impact, Samsung Research, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Alchemist Project, the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Global Convergence Research Support Program, and the Mid-Career Researcher Program.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the critical importance of thorough disinfection, particularly within hospital environments. However, traditional manual disinfection methods have inherent limitations, including labor shortages due to physical fatigue and risk of exposure to pathogens, inconsistent human performance, and difficulty in reaching obscured or hard-to-reach areas.

To address these challenges, a team of researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has developed an “Intelligent Autonomous Wiping and UV-C Disinfection Robot” that can automate hospital disinfection processes. This innovative robot is capable of navigating through hospital environments and performing disinfection tasks with precision and consistency.

The key feature of this robot is its dual disinfection system, which combines physical wiping and UV-C irradiation to effectively remove contaminants from surfaces. The robotic manipulator uses a wiping mechanism to physically clean high-touch areas, while the UV-C light ensures thorough disinfection of hard-to-reach corners and narrow spaces.

Real-world testing at Pohang St. Mary’s Hospital validated the robot’s performance, with bacterial culture experiments confirming its effectiveness in disinfecting surfaces. Repeated autonomous operations were carried out to verify its long-term usability in clinical settings.

The significance of this technology lies in its ability to automate time-consuming and repetitive disinfection tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to devote more attention to patient care. Additionally, the robot’s precision control algorithms minimize operational failures, while its integration with a self-sanitizing station and wireless charging system ensures sustained disinfection operations.

Professor Keehoon Kim emphasized that despite COVID-19 transitioning into an endemic phase, it remains essential to prepare for future pandemics by advancing this disinfection robot technology beyond hospitals to public facilities, social infrastructures, and everyday environments to further reduce infection risks. This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT).