Monthly Archives: May 2024

And not all lessons come from experimentation.

On the unmanned side, and we're looking at the Black Sea, the battle for the Black Sea and what Ukraine has arguably successfully done with an unmanned, hybrid navyor almost all unmannedto provide sea control and sea denial to the Russian fleet, Gen. Annibale said at the MDM panel The Evolving Character of Expeditionary Warfare-Unmanned Systems Supporting Marines and the Naval Campaign, on Thursday.

The Navys first robotics warfare specialist was pinned in February. This is part the evolution of the service as autonomy gains importance, according to Gen. Annibale.

One recent development was the use of the Lionfish, a seabed reconnaissance device. During a recent exercise with allies the U.S. device recognized an anomaly of interest on the terrain, a potential mine, and relayed precise data to operators in the surface to decide how to counter that danger, according to Gen. Annibale. This device was used in coordination with U.K. and Netherland devices to provide a more complete picture, during this training event.

A plethora of use cases emerges in the Department of Defense for unmanned vehicles, still this is not the only technology the Marines expect to leverage in the near future.

What we really need to take a look at are gaps that are huge: counter small [unmanned aerial vehicles] force protection capabilities, said Col. Derek Brannon, director of the Cunningham Group, deputy commandant for Aviation, during another panel.

Continued here:

The Rise of the Navy Robots - Signal Magazine

Once confined to sci-fi movies and dreamers, robotics stocks have revolutionized whats possible. These companies have transformed industries from manufacturing to healthcare, creating efficiencies in areas where humans simply cant achieve a certain level of precision. With the market surging, investors looking at this sector could be in line to see impressive upside, assuming this bull market rally continues in these names.

The U.S. economy saw rapid growth in robotics and automation across sectors. Companies continue to invest heavily, anticipating improved quality and efficiency. Retail and consumer goods have led this wave, with significant capital investments in most major companies already planned for the next five years. Despite challenges like high upfront costs, robotics promise a resilient industrial landscape. For those bullish on on-shoring trends, thats a great thing.

The global robotics market is projected to hit $95.93 billion by 2029, fueling confidence in the top three robotics stocks to buy. Market Research Future predicts it will exceed $286 billion by 2032, driven by AI technologies like natural language processing and machine learning. Investors should explore the companies driving this transformative industry.

Source: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com

With a worth of $134 billion as a medtech company focusing on advanced surgical robotics, Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG) is first on the list. After a slight dip, its stock fell nearly 7%, but with da Vinci surgeries rebounding in China, theres potential for higher highs. Despite fluctuations, the recent clearance of its fifth-generation robot and ongoing international expansion indicate strong forward growth prospects.

Intuitive Surgicals EVP and Chief Digital Officer Brian Miller recently expressed that the data from the new da Vinci 5 surgical robotics system will revolutionize patient care. Miller highlighted the DV5 as Intuitives most precise robot, with enhanced sensors and motors. He also highlighted how data can help characterize procedures and improve patient outcomes.

In Q1 2024, Intuitive exceeded earnings expectations and announced $1.50 per share. Sales came in at $1.89 billion. Earnings and sales saw a 53% and 11.5% increase, respectively. Additionally, procedures using its da Vinci systems grew by 16%, beating forecasts, with a compound annual growth rate of 17%. All these numbers make ISRG stock a compelling option to buy right now.

Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com

RTX (NYSE:RTX), formerly Raytheon, offers aerospace and defense solutions, potentially benefiting from Middle East tensions. Analysts rate RTX stock as a Hold with a $104.33 target, but this may change with geopolitical shifts. With a 2.32% yield and $5.38 in earnings per share forecasted, RTX has emerged as a blue-chip dividend stock given the recent and increasing geopolitical uncertainty.

RTX faced declining profit margins in two of its main businesses. Most notably, its Pratt & Whitney segment dropped 6.4% year-over-year. Despite last years earnings of $2.23 per share, RTX anticipates a rebound to at least $5.25 per share this year, doubling its previous performance.

Analysts also predict a significant margin increase at both Collins and Pratt, especially as issues with Pratt & Whitney engines have peaked and should improve throughout the year. Although RTXs stock has risen about 50% from its October 2023 lows, trading at 40x earnings and 2x sales, its no longer considered cheap. Wells Fargos (NYSE:WFC) Matthew Akers reduced RTXs price target by $1 to $119, maintaining an Overweight rating.

Source: Evolf / Shutterstock.com

As the top semiconductor company in the world, Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) is known for its excellent AI chips and blockchain technology, but these chips have also been integrated into robotics. GPUs are crucial for robotics, as they create future AI applications. Investors are always confident about Nvidia and its role in the AI revolution, driving a 126% increase in revenue.

The company also introduced the Nvidia Inference Microservice revenue-generating software for its enterprise software subscription. The company aims to transition from a microchip provider to a platform provider. In fact, it announced a $200 million AI center construction plan in Indonesia to expand further in Asia.

In its most recent earnings report, Nvidia aced its numbers, showing a 265% increase in sales and 769% in growth year-over-year. Guidance was also impeccable, giving investors more reasons to stay optimistic about the AI company. Nvidias unveiling of its Blackwell series of AI microchips in March further boosted enthusiasm for its stock.

On the date of publication, Chris MacDonald did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Chris MacDonalds love for investing led him to pursue an MBA in Finance and take on a number of management roles in corporate finance and venture capital over the past 15 years. His experience as a financial analyst in the past, coupled with his fervor for finding undervalued growth opportunities, contribute to his conservative, long-term investing perspective.

The rest is here:

3 Robotics Stocks That Could Be Multibaggers in the Making: Spring Edition - InvestorPlace

Robosen Robotics Innovation, Inc a leading innovator in the field of consumer entertainment robotics, announced during a Hasbro Pulse Fan Stream, the Worlds First Auto-Converting Decepticon leader Megatron! Joining the growing line of Transformers robots created by Robosen and licensed by leading toy and game company Hasbro, the Flagship Megatron enters the battle against the Autobots with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Grimlock already available and on the market for order. The Flagship Megatron, first Decepticon collectible in the range, is now available for pre-order at Robosen.com and will retail on pre-sale for $899 USD for a 30-day window before moving to its standard price of $1,199.

After over 3 years of rigorous R&D, the talented team at Robosen has successfully produced a new, awe-inspiring conversion process with Megatron changing from robot to tank instantly, via app or voice! Coupled with a comprehensive set of functions, including automatic convertible movements from tank to robot, a new and more fluid bipedal walking algorithm, integration of 112 ultra-bright LEDs, an arsenal of incredible included weapons, and a brilliant silver-metallic finish that embodies the true essence of the ominous leader. The Flagship Megatron is poised to dominate any Autobot that stands in his way at a staggering 21 tall and is equipped with 36 servo motors along with 118 microchips powering it from the inside.

Robosen continues to develop a truly interactive experience for the millions of Transformers fans worldwide, with its ever growing cast of Transformers robots, which can now stage engaging scenes through Mini-Theater (a feature within the app), bringing these beloved characters to life right before your eyes! With all this astonishing technology and capabilities built into the Flagship Megatron, Robosen completes the savage leader in the most authentic way possible building in the treasured talents of Frank Welker, the original voice of the 1984 G1 Megatron himself! Going into the studio specifically for this launch, Frank Welker recorded over 270+ unique lines and beloved phrases, which allow users to experience Megatron like never before, and in the most genuine way.

We have been eagerly waiting to launch the most incredible, high-end Transformers robot available on the market, said Hansen Su, Founder and CEO of Robosen. Our engineers have brought Megatron to life! Through the 50 engaging actions built in the original voice of Frank Welker to the most amazing converting process we have been able to achieve. Megatron in either tank or robot mode will bring any fan pure joy when they see it for the first time! Its a beautiful product we cant wait for customers to get theirs!

Released in time for the Transformers franchises 40th anniversary this year, the Flagship Megatron offers an exciting expansion to our existing line with Robosen as we introduce the first Decepticon to the mix. Now, fans can play out the battle between good and evil with stunning, state-of-the-art bots as we honor the franchises legacy and embark on the next four decades of action and adventure, said Casey Collins, President, Licensed Consumer Products, Hasbro.

All Robosen products and collectibles are meticulously designed and crafted with state-of-the-art, high-grade metal alloy parts, combining a classic industrial design with the most cutting-edge robotic technology, while providing an ultimate entertaining experience filled with programming, and pure fun!

Read this article:

Robosen Robotics Teams Up with Hasbro to Debut the Worlds First Auto-Converting Decepticon Megatron! - aNb Media

Re-Up, a developer of AI-powered convenience stores and gas stations, says it will be installing autonomous robotic chefs at a variety of locations powered by Nala Robotics, an AI technology company specializing in the culinary industry.

The Wingman by Nala Robotics is an autonomous fry station that can easily be added or configured to any restaurant or commercial food service operation.

Re-Up will leverage Nala Robotics advanced artificial intelligence technology to enhance its food service offerings, enabling customers to enjoy freshly prepared, fully customizable, fried chicken, french fries and other menu items on demand, quickly, easily and without human intervention.

The announcement comes on the heels of Re-Ups grand opening of its inaugural location in Melbourne, Florida, located just a mile and a half from Melbourne Orlando International Airport, at 601 South Babcock Street, Melbourne, Florida.

According to U-Haul data, the Palm Bay-Melbourne market netted the largest number of movers in one-way U-Haul equipment last year, dominating the US city growth trend. Re-Up currently has 9 open stores and more than 30 in the pipeline.

Nala Robotics AI-enabled virtual kitchens are equipped with advanced sensors, precision cooking mechanisms, and machine learning algorithms, allowing its robotic chefs to autonomously prepare a wide range of menu items with unparalleled consistency and efficiency.

In addition to on-premises ordering via multi-modal kiosk, restaurants can create virtual storefronts for remote transactions through a website or online food ordering and delivery platform.

The integration of The Wingman into Re-Ups convenience stores will enable faster service, reduced wait times, and enhanced food quality, improving the overall customer experience.

Re-Ups pillars consist of clean, safe, healthy, and modern, the ultimate elevated customer experience.

Built on multigenerational retail expertise, Re-Up prioritizes exceptional customer service, on trend merchandising, and modern store layouts, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for every patron. Re-Up offers nutritional food options, free WiFi, and cafe seating.

Michael Salafia, founder and managing director of Re-Up, says: As the c-store for the new generation offering clean and healthy alternatives to the traditional convenience retail experience, we are thrilled to partner with Nala Robotics.

By harnessing the power of AI, we are able to provide our customers with convenient, personalized, and safe shopping and dining experiences. We believe this groundbreaking concept will revolutionize the way people shop and fuel up.

Narendra Manney, co-founder and president of Re-Up, says: Our expansion efforts at Re-Up are proceeding at an accelerated pace. We aim to procure 25-30 additional stores by the end of 2024 and more than 200 stores in the coming years.

The integration of robotics kitchens stands as a pivotal strategy in our modernization initiative, enabling us to enhance operational efficiency and deliver seamless services while upholding unwavering quality standards around the clock.

Ajay Sunkara, CEO of Nala Robotics, says: Our agreement with Re-Up underscores both companies commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction and will deliver better outcomes for both operator and consumer.

The Wingman doesnt get sick, can work around the clock and can cook any dish efficiently all the time, improving on quality and saving on labor costs. At the same time, customers get to choose from an assortment of great-tasting food items just the way they like it.

Read this article:

Nala Robotics and Re-Up partner to develop AI-powered robotic chef - Robotics and Automation News

GMV, a Spanish multinational company developing innovative technological solutions, showcased its experience and capabilities in the field of robotic inspection during a demonstration carried out at Messer Ibricas facilities.

In the demonstration, held during the meeting of the Chemical Business Association of Tarragona (AEQT)s Innovation and Technology Committee, GMV presented uPathWay, a grounbreaking solution designed for industrial inspection tasks.

GMV presented uPathWay as a comprehensive solution that allows vehicles to operate autonomously, offering an effective response to inspection needs in specialized environments such as the chemical sector.

This innovative platform controls and coordinates robots to carry out repetitive and even dangerous tasks that operators previously had to perform.

During the demonstration, GMV representatives showcased uPathWays capabilities, highlighting its capacity to optimize inspection processes in critical environments.

The solution presented offers a combination of advanced technology and precision, making it an invaluable tool for the chemical industry in terms of efficiency and safety.

ngel C. Lzaro, head of robotics and automation for GMVs secure e-solutions industry sector, says: Were proud to present uPathWay as a groundbreaking solution that addresses the specific needs of the chemical sector.

This demonstration at Messer Ibricas facilities was a great opportunity to show how our technology can transform inspection processes in the chemical sector.

The demonstration at Messer Ibrica was well-received by the members of the AEQT committee, who recognize uPathWays potential for improving operations in the chemical sector.

GMV remains committed to providing cutting-edge technological solutions that drive innovation and excellence in various industrial sectors.

Read the original here:

GMV showcases its robotic inspection capabilities Robotics & Automation News - Robotics and Automation News

Trine's combat robot takes on Indiana Tech at the National Robotics Challenge. MARION, Ohio Though its opponents were not what was expected, Trine Universitys entry in the National Robotics Challenge (NRC) combat robot competition brought innovations of its own.

Sporting a three-layer armor system, Trines robot finished fourth out of 13 in the national competition, held April 19-20 in Marion, Ohio, winning four of six matches.

Trines team was comprised of mechanical engineering majors Talon Gobel of Sunman, Indiana, Keaton Holmes of Henderson, Kentucky, Charles Landis of Daleville, Indiana, Ian Macknight of Toledo, Ohio, Trevor Rice of Noblesville, Indiana, and Trevor Towghi of Chicago.

Faster, better protected

Team members were either robotics or metallurgy minors. The robotics team focused on electrical components while the metallurgy team designed the weapon and armor and set up manufacturing processes.

Looking back, members said having electrical engineering majors on the team would have been helpful.

It took a lot of trial and error to overcome our electrical issues, said Holmes.

Team members said this years robot was 12 times faster than last years. It could drive on top or bottom and was outfitted with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) spring wheels that mimicked the suspension system of a car.

Its weapon system consisted of a dual-purpose blade that served as both a beater bar and a toothed blade.

The weapons primary damage source was the blade, but it still used the extra mass of the beater bar side to create a higher maximum kinetic energy than past years horizontal spinning blade systems, said Gobel.

Gobel said the Trine robots armor was unique among competitors this year. It consisted of three layers: an inner skeleton made of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), a layer of TPU to absorb impact and an outer layer of carbon fiber designed to reduce shear.

The geometry of the armor also prevented the combat robot from landing and staying on its sides during the fight, said Gobel. The only design flaw is that when it was subjected to force exactly perpendicular to armor faces, the armor would fracture. In future iterations, thicker armor with the same layers would reduce all types of damage.

Vertically spinning weapons

The team based its design on reports from past Trine teams, who faced weapons systems that spun horizontally. However, they found more of the robots this year had vertically spinning systems.

Out of the 12 other teams in the competition, only two had horizontally spinning weapons while the other 10 had vertical spinner configurations, said Macknight.

However, the team said the Trine robot performed spectacularly against weapons systems it hadnt been specifically designed to combat.

We fared decently well against some vertical spinners due to their lack of armor, based on how heavy their weapon system was, leaving their drivetrain exposed in most cases, said Macknight.

There were only three robots that had weapon systems capable of penetrating our armor, said Landis. One of them we were able to defeat twice. The other two were the first- and second-place robots.

Top photo: Trine Universitys combat robot team at the National Robotics Challenge: from left, Talon Gobel, Charles Landis, Keaton Holmes, Ian Macknight and Rizacan Sarikaya, Ph.D.

Original post:

Trine's armored robot finishes 4th in national combat - Trine University

Listen to this article

Left: Vivian Chu and Andrea Thomaz, the co-founders of Diligent Robotics; right: Kathleen Brandes and Ros Shinkle, the co-founders of Adagy Robotics. | Sources: Diligent Robotics, Adagy Robotics

Almost half of all startups that began in 2021 were formed by women, according to human resources cloud software company Gusto. Within the robotics industry, however, its a different story. Women make up only 34% of the STEM workforce, according to the National Girls Collaborative Project, and they hold only 16% of robotics and engineering roles.

Those numbers, however, dont tell us how many women start robotics companies. There isnt a lot of data about the number of startups that begin every year or how many robotics companies are operating, in general. Let alone about the backgrounds of the founders behind them.

To get a picture of how many women are founders of robotics companies, I combed through our 2024 February and March funding recaps. Of the 78 robotics companies that raised money during those two months, and whose founders could be identified, only 10 had a woman on their founding team, just 12.8%.

Of course, this metric doesnt tell us how many robotics companies in general have female founders, but it does give us a better idea of what that breakdown might look like. This is why I spoke to Ros Shinkle and Kathleen Brandes, the founders of Adagy Robotics, and Andrea Thomaz and Vivian Chu, the founders of Diligent Robotics, about their experiences within the industry.

Diligent and Adagy are in two very different places as companies. Adagy launched earlier this year, and it specializes in remote intervention services. Shinkle and Brandes are at the beginning of their journey as founders and are part of Y Combinator, a startup accelerator. Theyre currently the only employees of the company.

Adagy Robotics is currently a remote intervention service for rescuing robots, said Brandes, the companys chief technology officer (CTO).

For example, when a tractor robot fails in the field, instead of calling out to the farmer who has a lot more important things to do in his day, that tractor robot can now call out to our trained operators, she said. Theyll take over, drive the robot to safety, and allow it to resume its autonomous operations.

Today, Adagy Robotics is starting out with fully human-driven operations, said Shinkle, CEO. In the future, however, the company is interested in layering machine learning and generative AI techniques to assist human operators and allow them to do their jobs more efficiently. The company is also exploring error-prevention techniques for robots.

Were really excited about logistics and manufacturing right now, Shinkle said. In particular, I think AMRs [autonomous mobile robots] are widely used in logistics. And although theyre widely used, they still continue to face the same kinds of problems.

For example, they often rely on these sort of dense visual clues called fiducials or APR tags to help localize in a facility, she noted. If one of those is scuffed or torn or falls down, the robots can get lost. This is a great example of a situation in which we could come in and help the robots get back safely. Were also excited about manipulation and failed picking tasks as well.

Shinkle and Brandes described the early days of running a startup as challenging but fun. Every day is about putting out the most urgent fire, said Shinkle.

Ros Shinkle and Kathleen Brandes, the founders of Adagy Robotics, met at Boston Dynamics. Source: Y Combinator

On the other hand, Diligent Robotics was founded in 2017.Like many robotics companies, Diligent started in a research lab. Thomaz, the companys co-founder and CEO, was running a robotics lab that Chu, its co-founder and CTO, joined as a Ph.D. student in 2012.

The start of the company was slow, Thomaz said. She was still a professor and Chu a graduate student. Tomazs lab earned two National Science Foundation grants that gave Tomaz and Chu the opportunity to learn from around 150 people in the healthcare industry.

I dont know that we would have been able to start this company as two men, Thomaz said. Because the thing that we did, for two years at least, was go and embed ourselves in nursing teams, with a robot, and ask nurses, who are 80% women, What would you have this robot do?

Im not sure we would have been as accepted in that community as a couple of guys with their robot, she continued.

Once they had found a use case that would address the needs of the industry, Thomaz and Chu said they spent a summer pitching and looking for venture capital. In total, Thomaz said they spent a year and a half in the research stage before officially launching the company.

Last year, Diligent hit 90 robots working in the field. Its flagship robot, Moxi, aids hospital staffers by performing non-patient-facing tasks like running supplies, delivering lab samples, fetching items from a central supply, distributing personal protective equipment (PPE), and delivering medications. Moxi is now opening 100,000 doors every month across its various deployments.

As Diligent Robotics has grown, Thomaz and Chu said theyve actively tried to keep the company diverse.

Early on, we recognized that its not only important to have a diverse team, but to have a diverse team at all levels, Thomaz said. Its really good to make sure that your most junior people arent the most diverse, and then your more senior people are all one type of person.

Chu also said the team focused on making job postings well-known among all intersections of the robotics community, instead of just relying on the applications that passively came in. Shinkle echoed similar sentiments when talking about building Adagys team as it grows.

We believe that diversity is a strength, Shinkle said. Diversity of background and diversity of thought leads to stronger problem solving, so thats definitely a closely held company belief.

All four of the women I spoke to both emphasized the importance of finding mentors and a community within the industry.

One thing thats been really helpful is the amazing community, unity, and friendship that women have within the industry, Brandes said. Weve become great friends and are now starting a company together, as one example. And I think fostering that community and having that community continue to grow and expand has been a big component.

For me, it was fantastic seeing these role models that blaze through all of the stereotypes, Chu said. It really gives me the confidence to do the same.

Ive had friends that obviously didnt have that experience, and its hard hearing what theyve had to go through, she acknolwedged. Ive been very lucky to have some amazing champions throughout a lot of my career.

The founders also had advice to share with women who are considering starting a robotics company.

Reach out to as many people for advice as possible, because theres so many that have gone through the startup journey, Chu said. If you collect a wide variety of people that you can reach out to you can just continually ask questions.

My advice would be to just do it, Brandes said. Be confident that your are strong enough and successful enough to do this.

I think robotics is a great place for female leadership, Thomaz said. Historically, theres been a lot of really great trailblazers, and some people whove really defined the field like Manuela Veloso and Maya Tarik, and there are a bunch of other people that Im not naming.

But I think that in and of itself makes robotics a great place for women to lead the way in commercialization as well, she concluded. Its a big, broad systems-level problem, which I think requires a diverse solution, and so thats ripe for a really diverse team.

Editors note: The Robotics Summit & Expo this week will be hosting a Women in Robotics Breakfast and the MassRobotics Engineering Career Fair, among other networking events.

Learn from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Teradyne and many more.

Original post:

Female robotics founders discuss their journeys in the industry - Robot Report

SEOUL, May 03 (AJU PRESS) -Hanwha Robotics signed a memorandum of understanding with service robot firm B-Robotics to cooperate in restaurant automation solutions, the robot arm of Korea's Hanwha Group said Friday.

Under the deal, Hanwha will provide expertise in food technology, including culinary robots proficient in cooking meals and pouring wine, while B-Robotics will contribute serving robot-related technologies.

Previously, Hanwha Robotics showcased a robot sommelier capable of decanting wine, an essential step for removing unnecessary sediment. B-Robotics has already deployed over 3,100 robots across Korea. The robot developer is affiliated with Woowa Brothers, the company behind popular Korean food delivery app Bamin.

Upon integrating Hanwha's cooking robot solutions and B-Robotics' serving robots, the two companies will jointly conduct on-site testing.Hanwha is currently developing various robot chefs with the aim of revolutionizing kitchen automation.

"Drawing on the strengths of Hanwha Robotics and B-Robotics, we will achieve both quantitative and qualitative growth in food tech services," said Hanwha Robotics CEO Seo Jong-hwi.

Kim Joo-heon jhkim123@ajunews.com

See more here:

Hanwha Robotics, B-Robotics join hands on restaurant automation project - Aju Press

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

Continued here:

Dishchii'bikoh Community School Robotics Team Heads to VEX World Championship - White Mountain Independent

As part of the SpaceHopper project, ETH Zurich students are developing a robot that can navigate very low gravity environments using a jumping-like mode of locomotion.

One day the SpaceHopper will be deployed on space missions to explore relatively small celestial bodies such as asteroids and moons.

These are thought to contain valuable mineral resources that could be of use to humankind in the future. The exploration of these bodies could also give us insights into our universes formation.

The project was launched two and a half years ago as an ETH focus project for Bachelors degree students. It is now being continued as a regular research project by five Masters degree students and one doctoral student.

One particular challenge of developing exploration robots such as these is the very low gravity prevailing on small celestial bodies in contrast to larger bodies such as Earth.

For this reason, the researchers have tested their robot in zero gravity scenarios on a European Space Agency parabolic flight.

Read more:

ETH unveils space-hopping robot for asteroid exploration - Robotics and Automation News