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.

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).

The hospitality industry is taking a cue from new research in the Penn State School of Hospitality Management, which suggests that service robots can be designed to influence customers’ decisions based on their gender characteristics. The study found that service robots with characteristics typically associated with males may be more persuasive when interacting with women who have a low sense of power.

Led by researchers Lavi Peng, Anna Mattila, and Amit Sharma, the team conducted two studies to explore how the gender portrayed in service robots can affect customers’ decisions. In the first study, participants were asked to imagine visiting a new restaurant and receiving a menu recommendation from a service robot. The results showed that women with a low sense of power were more likely to accept recommendations from male robots.

“For men with a low sense of power, we found the difference was less obvious,” said Peng. “Based on our findings, consumers with high power tend to make their own judgment without relying on societal expectations.”

The researchers suggested that businesses could leverage these findings by using male robots to recommend new menu items or persuade customers to upgrade their rooms.

To mitigate gender stereotypes in robot design, the team conducted a second study and found that “cute” features, such as big eyes and raised cheeks, can reduce the effect of portrayed robot gender on persuasiveness. Both male and female customers responded similarly to robots with these features, suggesting that businesses could consider using cute designs to mitigate gender stereotypes.

The Marriott Foundation supported this research, highlighting the importance of understanding how service robots can influence customer decisions in the hospitality industry.