Robotics news 32 stories
Planning system ensures a robot’s flight path will remain collision-free ↗
This new method, called “SANDO,” could help disaster-response robots navigate dangerous, unknown environments.
Computational tools for society’s most complex challenges ↗
Associate Professor Cathy Wu uses reinforcement learning to help map out improvements to transportation and other multifaceted systems.
Powered by muscle cells, a paper-thin robot swims through watery maze ↗
MIT engineers’ new aquabot offers a way to design small, efficient “biohybrid” robots.
Robotic lab sets up and runs optics experiments on demand ↗
The autonomous system could speed up testing of high-tech materials for applications such as solar cells, sensors, video displays, and quantum technologies.
New method enables AI for safety-critical situations ↗
The “HardFlow” algorithm could help generative AI models produce high-quality outputs that obey strict requirements when “pretty close” doesn’t cut it.
MIT spinout turns plastic waste into resilient building materials ↗
Atlas Building Composites is commercializing MIT research to turn plastic waste into parts for buildings and other infrastructure.
Researchers tune into Arctic under-ice sounds and test through-ice communication ↗
The work is part of a multiyear effort to develop a distributed sensor network for relaying data collected from this critical region.
System helps humans predict when self-driving cars will make mistakes ↗
A new method, called CW-Net, translates the reasoning process of an autonomous vehicle’s AI system into understandable concepts that explain its behavior.
MIT engineers design a better controller for operating construction diggers ↗
The new, more intuitive system could speed up the training process for excavator operators.
Daniela Rus receives Bavarian Minister-President's High-Tech Prize ↗
Director of CSAIL and MIT professor honored for her contributions to robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems.
Can AI build a jet engine? JARVIS Challenge tests role of AI copilots in tough-tech engineering ↗
MIT students designed, built, and tested a jet engine with AI copilots, assessing AI’s usefulness in developing high-performance aerospace systems.
AI agents create virtual playgrounds to help robots get crucial training data ↗
“SceneSmith” system uses collaborative AI agents to create realistic 3D environments of places like kitchens, hotels, and living rooms, where robots can simulate everyday chores.
New flapping robot swims and flies like a diving bird ↗
MIT engineers’ design could lead to a new class of aerial-aquatic vehicles for ocean exploration.
Tiny robot boats build floating structures ↗
MIT researchers developed FloatForm, a swarm of small aquatic robots that snap together like ants forming a raft, assembling into reconfigurable structures on the water.
MIT student teams win top honors in NASA competition ↗
Three MIT teams took five top awards in the 2026 NASA RASC-AL Competition for designing critical elements for the moon base and future missions to Mars.
LLMs help robots understand vague instructions and focus on key details ↗
To help robots do chores in places like homes and factories, a new approach from MIT uses one language model to clarify users’ instructions, then another to ignore irrelevant info.
Exploring the societal impacts of AI ↗
During the AI and Society Forum, leading MIT researchers examined critical questions about AI’s influence on employment and democracy.
New chip could help tiny robots traverse complex environments ↗
Researchers combined an efficient algorithm with dedicated hardware to rapidly generate 3D maps for navigation using minimal memory and power.
Could AI tell you where you left your keys? ↗
A new spatial memory system for robots efficiently captures details about the objects they see while exploring their environment.
MIT affiliates win 2026 Hertz Foundation Fellowships ↗
The fellowships in applied sciences, engineering, and mathematics recognize doctoral students who are pursuing solutions to the most pressing challenges in science and technology.
New imaging system sees through murky waters ↗
The “Sonar-MASt3R” combines sonar and visual data to create real-time 3D maps, even in cloudy water.
Startup helps retailers track their products in real-time ↗
Using technology invented at MIT, Cartesian’s system for locating objects could also find uses in manufacturing, logistics, and robotics.
Ambassadors of STEM ↗
A new MIT student club for FIRST Robotics alumni aims to promote hands-on STEM education enrichment for K-12 students.
New research enables a robot to chart a better course ↗
By rapidly generating a smooth path plan that cuts travel time and avoids obstacles, the open-source “MIGHTY” system could streamline disaster recovery and parcel delivery.
Two from MIT named 2026 Knight-Hennessy Scholars ↗
The prestigious fellowship funds graduate studies at Stanford University.
It took 40 years for technology to catch up to this zipper design ↗
An old patent from MIT Professor Bill Freeman inspired the new “Y-zipper,” a three-sided fastener that snaps gear, robots, and art into shape at the push of a button.
With a swipe of a magnet, microscopic “magno-bots” perform complex maneuvers ↗
MIT researchers’ new fabrication technique can produce soft, microscopic structures with magnetically activated moving parts.
Robotically assembled building blocks could make construction more efficient and sustainable ↗
New research suggests constructing a simple building from interlocking subunits should be mechanically feasible and have a much smaller carbon footprint.
Tackling the housing shortage with robotic microfactories ↗
Reframe Systems, co-founded by Vikas Enti SM '20, creates microfactories for modular home construction, reducing carbon emissions and costs.
Managing traffic in space ↗
Associate Professor Richard Linares is helping satellites safely navigate in increasingly congested orbits.