Discover the World of Robotics: Top 11 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Cheetah Robot: The Speedy Sprinter

Move over, Usain Bolt; there's a new speed demon in town, and it's got hydraulic-legged fury: The Cheetah robot by Boston Dynamics, funded by the Pentagon, can sprint up a whopping 28.3mph (45.5km/h) on a treadmill, making it faster than the world’s fastest human sprinter. Initially designed to assist in military and humanitarian efforts, this feline-inspired machine may, however, raise a few eyebrows over its potential application in combat situations.
Source => bbc.com

2. Shimon: The Marimba-Playing Maestro

When Shimon walked into a bar, everyone thought he'd stick to playing the xylophone, but he surprised them all by jamming on the marimba: Shimon is a robotic marimba player created at Georgia Tech, using computational algorithms to improvise and collaborate with human musicians, resulting in unique musical masterpieces. This charismatic robot has even performed at international concerts and festivals, showcasing the endless potential of human-robot musical teamwork.
Source => gtcmt.gatech.edu

Did you know AIVA, the first AI composer, can create music in genres like pop, rock, jazz, and Chinese? Discover the deep learning secrets behind its talent!

=> Fun Facts about Ai

3. HitchBOT: The Hitchhiking Social Experiment

Talk about looking for a ride-share: HitchBOT, the endearingly ragtag robot made from household items and sporting an LED-lit smiley face, decided to thumb a ride across the Canadian countryside, sparking art, music, and a documentary along its journey. The serious reveal: Created as a social experiment by university professors Frauke Zeller and David Smith, HitchBOT relied solely on the kindness of strangers for transport and served as an opportunity to study public attitudes about robot-human interactions through social media commentary.
Source => phys.org

4. Rubik's Cube-Crushing Robot Champ

In a twist that would leave even Einstein scratching his head for a solution, a band of intrepid MIT engineers tamed one of mankind's most infuriating puzzles in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment: their robot-solving prodigy cracked a Rubik's Cube in a dazzling 0.38 seconds, smashing the previous world record, thanks to their masterful blend of mechanical prowess and computer vision technique.
Source => news.mit.edu

5. Da Vinci: The Surgical Sensation

If da Vinci could speak, he'd say, "Scalpel, please!": The da Vinci Surgical System, the first FDA-cleared robotic surgical platform for general laparoscopic surgery in the US in 2000, boasts precision and control that allow for tiny incisions and quicker healing. With over 1,700 installations in hospitals worldwide and countless successful surgeries under its robotic belt, it's no wonder that about 75% of prostate cancer surgeries in the US choose Da Vinci, along with the majority of women opting for minimally invasive hysterectomies.
Source => uchealth.com

6. iRobot's Terra: The Lawnmower's Tale

When iRobot's lawnmowing dreams got a reality check, it wasn't a blade of grass out of place but the coronavirus that halted their Terra-bly ambitious plan: iRobot suspended the 2020 US launch of their robotic lawn mower, Terra, due to the pandemic, focusing on their core business instead, but not giving up the idea entirely; meanwhile, robotic lawn mower seekers can turn to Worx, Husqvarna, and Robomo as their grass-cutting knights in shining armor.
Source => cnet.com

7. Makr Shakr: Dancing Drink Dispensers

Who needs a bartender when robots can do the fandango? Shaking it up with a mix of rhythm and rum, these titans of tipple are ready to serve: The Makr Shakr robots, a collaboration between MIT Senseable City Lab, The Coca Cola Company, and Bacardi Rum, were first introduced at Google I/O in 2013. Their dance-like movements are inspired by choreographer Marco Pelle, and although they don't mix cocktails, these robotic showstoppers definitely bring the party.
Source => makrshakr.com

8. RoboBees: Buzzing Bionic Insects

Bees, who? In the buzzworthy world of robotics, there's a new winged critter making headlines: RoboBees! These tiny tech marvels are stealing the spotlight, so move over, Mother Nature: Researchers at the Wyss Institute have developed RoboBees, minuscule mechanical insects weighing less than one-tenth of a gram and powered by "artificial muscles." Capable of flying, swimming underwater, and perching on surfaces using static electricity, these bionic wonders are making waves for their potential uses in crop pollination, search and rescue missions, and environmental monitoring. Thanks to innovations in manufacturing, materials, and design (like Pop-Up MEMs technologies), the RoboBees are ready to, well, take flight!
Source => wyss.harvard.edu

9. Moley: The Ultimate Robotic Sous-Chef

Ever wish you had a sous-chef with bionic culinary skills and an endless supply of energy – just like those classic cartoon robots we all know and love? Well, it's thyme to meet their real-life counterpart: Enter the Moley robotic hand, developed with SCHUNK, which can use cookware, operate touchscreen appliances, and even adapt to new equipment all while looking sleek and stylish. This kitchen whiz has been put to the test with 100,000 operation cycles, ensuring you won't have any souped-up mishaps in your culinary adventures.
Source => moley.com

10. TrashBot: The Waste-Whittling Wizard

Ever heard of Wall-E's smarter, environmentally conscious cousin with a PhD in waste management? Meet TrashBot: a creation by CleanRobotics that efficiently sorts and separates waste, generates waste audits, sends fullness alerts, and educates users via a large display screen. Cloud-connected and cost-effective, TrashBot is the ideal waste management solution for high-traffic facilities like airports and hospitals, taking zero waste goals to new, sustainable heights.
Source => cleanrobotics.com

11. Salto: The Bushbaby-Inspired Bouncer

Move over, Speedy Gonzalez, there's a new hopster in town: Meet Salto, the 100g robot, agile as a galago, who can jump a whopping 1 meter high at a speed of 1.7 m/s - all thanks to some bushbaby-inspired tricks and UC Berkeley's ingenious design.
Source => spectrum.ieee.org