Robots into Reality--The booming of China’s robotics industry points to intelligent future

“Galbot,please help fetch a plush toy!”After receiving the order,Galbot,a humanoid robot,was able to identify and deliver the toy from among a range of items.The demonstration was given at the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference(WAIC)held in Shanghai from July 4 to 6.

Advanced Design of Soft Robots with Artificial Intelligence

In recent years,breakthrough has been made in the field of artificial intelligence(AI),which has also revolutionized the industry of robotics.Soft robots featured with high-level safety,less weight,lower power consumption have always been one of the research hotspots.Recently,multifunctional sensors for perception of soft robotics have been rapidly developed,while more algorithms and models of machine learning with high accuracy have been optimized and proposed.Designs of soft robots with AI have also been advanced ranging from multimodal sensing,human-machine interaction to effective actuation in robotic systems.Nonethe-less,comprehensive reviews concerning the new developments and strategies for the ingenious design of the soft robotic systems equipped with AI are rare.Here,the new development is systematically reviewed in the field of soft robots with AI.First,background and mechanisms of soft robotic systems are briefed,after which development focused on how to endow the soft robots with AI,including the aspects of feeling,thought and reaction,is illustrated.Next,applications of soft robots with AI are systematically summarized and discussed together with advanced strategies proposed for performance enhancement.Design thoughts for future intelligent soft robotics are pointed out.Finally,some perspectives are put forward.

Artificial intelligence and robotics in regional anesthesia

Artificial intelligence(AI)technology is vital for practitioners to incorporate AI and robotics in day-to-day regional anesthesia practice.Recent literature is encouraging on its applications in regional anesthesia,but the data are limited.AI can help us identify and guide the needle tip precisely to the location.This may help us reduce the time,improve precision,and reduce the associated side effects of improper distribution of drugs.In this article,we discuss the potential roles of AI and robotics in regional anesthesia.

A Survey of Human-centered Intelligent Robots:Issues and Challenges

Intelligent techniques foster the dissemination of new discoveries and novel technologies that advance the ability of robots to assist and support humans. The human-centered intelligent robot has become an important research field that spans all of the robot capabilities including navigation, intelligent control, pattern recognition and human-robot interaction. This paper focuses on the recent achievements and presents a survey of existing works on human-centered robots. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive survey of the recent development of the human-centered intelligent robot and discuss the issues and challenges in the field.

A Task-Oriented Hybrid Cloud Architecture with Deep Cognition Mechanism for Intelligent Space

Intelligent Space(IS)is widely regarded as a promising paradigm for improving quality of life through using service task processing.As the field matures,various state-of-the-art IS architectures have been proposed.Most of the IS architectures designed for service robots face the problems of fixedfunction modules and low scalability when performing service tasks.To this end,we propose a hybrid cloud service robot architecture based on a Service-Oriented Architecture(SOA).Specifically,we first use the distributed deployment of functional modules to solve the problem of high computing resource occupancy.Then,the Socket communication interface layer is designed to improve the calling efficiency of the function module.Next,the private cloud service knowledge base and the dataset for the home environment are used to improve the robustness and success rate of the robot when performing tasks.Finally,we design and deploy an interactive system based on Browser/Server(B/S)architecture,which aims to display the status of the robot in real-time as well as to expand and call the robot service.This system is integrated into the private cloud framework,which provides a feasible solution for improving the quality of life.Besides,it also fully reveals how to actively discover and provide the robot service mechanism of service tasks in the right way.The results of extensive experiments show that our cloud system provides sufficient prior knowledge that can assist the robot in completing service tasks.It is an efficient way to transmit data and reduce the computational burden on the robot.By using our cloud detection module,the robot system can save approximately 25% of the averageCPUusage and reduce the average detection time by 0.1 s compared to the locally deployed system,demonstrating the reliability and practicality of our proposed architecture.

Intelligent learning technique based-on fuzzy logic for multi-robot path planning

Soccer robot system is a tremendously challenging intelligent system developed to mimic human soccer competition based on the multi discipline research: robotics, intelligent control, computer vision, etc. robot path planning strategy is a very important subject concerning to the performance and intelligence degree of the multi robot system. Therefore, this paper studies the path planning strategy of soccer system by using fuzzy logic. After setting up two fuzziers and two sorts of fuzzy rules for soccer system, fuzzy logic is applied to workspace partition and path revision. The experiment results show that this technique can well enhance the performance and intelligence degree of the system.

Three-dimensional automatic artificial intelligence driven augmented-reality selective biopsy during nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy:A feasibility and accuracy study

Objective:To evaluate the accuracy of our new three-dimensional(3D)automatic augmented reality(AAR)system guided by artificial intelligence in the identification of tumour’s location at the level of the preserved neurovascular bundle(NVB)at the end of the extirpative phase of nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.Methods:In this prospective study,we enrolled patients with prostate cancer(clinical stages cT1ce3,cN0,and cM0)with a positive index lesion at target biopsy,suspicious for capsular contact or extracapsular extension at preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.Patients underwent robot-assisted radical prostatectomy at San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital(Orbassano,Turin,Italy),from December 2020 to December 2021.At the end of extirpative phase,thanks to our new AAR artificial intelligence driven system,the virtual prostate 3D model allowed to identify the tumour’s location at the level of the preserved NVB and to perform a selective excisional biopsy,sparing the remaining portion of the bundle.Perioperative and postoperative data were evaluated,especially focusing on the positive surgical margin(PSM)rates,potency,continence recovery,and biochemical recurrence.Results:Thirty-four patients were enrolled.In 15(44.1%)cases,the target lesion was in contact with the prostatic capsule at multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(Wheeler grade L2)while in 19(55.9%)cases extracapsular extension was detected(Wheeler grade L3).3D AAR guided biopsies were negative in all pathological tumour stage 2(pT2)patients while they revealed the presence of cancer in 14 cases in the pT3 cohort(14/16;87.5%).PSM rates were 0%and 7.1%in the pathological stages pT2 and pT3(<3 mm,Gleason score 3),respectively.Conclusion:With the proposed 3D AAR system,it is possible to correctly identify the lesion’s location on the NVB in 87.5%of pT3 patients and perform a 3D-guided tailored nerve-sparing even in locally advanced diseases,without compromising the oncological safety in terms of PSM rates.

Design of intelligent line-tracking chess robot based on STM32

An intelligent line-tracking chess robot based on STM32 is introduced in this paper. Its hardware consists of photo- electric detection circuit, main control circuit, motor driven circuit, steering engine driven circuit and dial switch. The hardware structure and software flow chart of the system are described in details in this paper. The robot is driven by rear wheel motors, and the real-time position of the robot is determined by the ground information collected by infrared sensors. The heading direction of robot is adjusted by steering engine installed in front wheel, and the open angle of manipulator is controlled by the other steering engine which can ensure the robot moving chessmen accurately and quickly during the moving process. The test shows that the kind of intelligent chess robot can complete the task in a fast and accurate way.

Application and Effect of Intelligent Disinfection Robot in Non-Negative Pressure Isolation Ward of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Designated Hospital

The application of intelligent disinfection robot in designated non-negative pressure isolation ward during the outbreak in novel coronavirus pneumonia. The construction and competition, disinfection mode of intelligent disinfection robot, the setting of disinfection point built on area and number of isolation ward, can be introduced below. Frequency can realize remote control when staff uses a table to give instruction and set disinfection mode, and then the intelligent disinfection robot returns automatically to the charging pile to charge when the instruction is completed. It can also autonomously move to sterilize without human participation, which makes man-machine separation and accurate disinfection come true. The chance of contact infection and exposure is decreased when an intelligent disinfection robot is used to sterilize the environment and object surface in an isolation ward, which can also reduce occupational exposure, achieve occupational protection of medical workers and ensure there is no hospital infection.

Building an Intelligent Home Space for Service Robot Based on Multi-Pattern Information Model and Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper is concerned with constructing a prototype intelligent home environment for home service robot. In this environment, multi-pattern information can be represented by some intelligent artificial marks. Light-packs service robots can provide reliable and intelligent service by interacting with the environment through the wireless sensor networks. The intelligent space consists the following main components: smart devices with intelligent artificial mark;home server that connects the smart device and maintains the information through wireless sensor network;and the service robot that perform tasks in collaboration with the environment. In this paper, the multi-pattern information model is built, the construction of wireless sensor networks is presented, the smart and agilely home service is introduced. Fi- nally, the future direction of intelligent space system is discussed.

Design of intelligent line-tracking robot based on STM32

An intelligent line-tracking robot using the enhanced microprocessor STM32F103RBT6 as its core controller is introduced in this paper. The hardware configuration and line-tracking control principle of the system are described, and the black-white marked program design of the sensor is analyzed. Two motors are respectively driven by two H-bridge driving circuits, which are formed by four discrete components of metal oxide semiconductor （MOS） field effect transistor respectively. By altering values of voltage directions and pulse width modulation （PWM）, the walking direction and the speed of robot are adjusted, and the traditional PID control theory is adopted to adjust the robot during walking process. The results indicate that the design is scientific and reasonable, low cost, good adaptability and high applicability.

A new hybrid method with data‑characteristic‑driven analysis for artificial intelligence and robotics index return forecasting

Forecasting returns for the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Index is of great significance for financial market stability,and the development of the artificial intelligence industry.To provide investors with a more reliable reference in terms of artificial intelligence index investment,this paper selects the NASDAQ CTA Artificial Intelligence and Robotics(AIRO)Index as the research target,and proposes innovative hybrid methods to forecast returns by considering its multiple structural characteristics.Specifically,this paper uses the ensemble empirical mode decomposition(EEMD)method and the modified iterative cumulative sum of squares(ICSS)algorithm to decompose the index returns and identify the structural breakpoints.Furthermore,it combines the least-square support vector machine approach with the particle swarm optimization method(PSO-LSSVM)and the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity(GARCH)type models to construct innovative hybrid forecasting methods.On the one hand,the empirical results indicate that the AIRO index returns have complex structural characteristics,and present time-varying and nonlinear characteristics with high complexity and mutability;on the other hand,the newly proposed hybrid forecasting method(i.e.,the EEMD-PSO-LSSVM-ICSS-GARCH models)which considers these complex structural characteristics,can yield the optimal forecasting performance for the AIRO index returns.

The ZigBee Based Wireless Sensor and Actor Network in Intelligent Space Oriented to Home Service Robot

In the study of intelligent space oriented to home service robot, an important technology is how to construct an communication network which has the characters of high reliability and easy building. In this paper, based on the characteristics of ZigBee protocol, ZigBee technology is used to construct a wireless sensor and actor network. Several intelligent services based on ZigBee wireless sensor and actor network are shown to certify the reliability of this communication network. ZigBee wireless sensor and actor network builds an information bridge for the components in the intelligent space, the spatially distributed devices are connected together seamlessly. With this network, robot can share the mass information in the intelligent space and improve its performance with 'light-packs', devices in intelligent space, such as lamp, curtain can be controlled autonomously.

Introduction to the special issue on Advances in intelligent nonlinear control for robotic systems

In the last two decades, robotic systems have achieved wide applications in every aspect of human society, including industrial manufacturing, automotive production, medical devices, and social lives. With the

Zigbee Based Wireless Sensor and Actuator Network for Service Robot Intelligent Space

Wireless sensor and actuator network is the key technology of service robot intelligent space. This paper is concerned with design and implementation of a ZigBee based wireless sensor and actuator network (hereinafter referred to as ZWSAN), which has been applied in our service robot intelligent space successfully. Firstly, a simplified ZigBee stack applied to ZWSAN is proposed and the primitives of the stack are illustrated after a short overview of ZigBee protocols. Then the implementation of hardware module and software stack is introduced in detail as well as several representative devices integrated into ZWSAN, including environmental sensors for environmental perception, home devices controllers for device control, embedded speech recognition module for speech control, IMU module for abnormal behaviors detection and laser robot control for service robot navigation. An application example is described to demonstrate how the devices in ZWSAN to provide service cooperatively. Finally, we conclude this paper and discuss the future directions.

Guest Editorial for Special Issue on Human-centered Intelligent Robots:Issues and Challenges

The special issue aims to address a broad spectrum of topics ranging from human-centered intelligent robots acting as a servant,secretary,or companion to intelligent robotic functions.The special issue publishes original papers of innovative ideas and concepts,new discoveries,and novel applications and business models relevant to the field of human-centered intelligent robots.In this special issue,modeling,intelligent control,

Direct 4D printing of functionally graded hydrogel networks for biodegradable,untethered,and multimorphic soft robots

Recent advances in functionally graded additive manufacturing(FGAM)technology have enabled the seamless hybridization of multiple functionalities in a single structure.Soft robotics can become one of the largest beneficiaries of these advances,through the design of a facile four-dimensional(4D)FGAM process that can grant an intelligent stimuli-responsive mechanical functionality to the printed objects.Herein,we present a simple binder jetting approach for the 4D printing of functionally graded porous multi-materials(FGMM)by introducing rationally designed graded multiphase feeder beds.Compositionally graded cross-linking agents gradually form stable porous network structures within aqueous polymer particles,enabling programmable hygroscopic deformation without complex mechanical designs.Furthermore,a systematic bed design incorporating additional functional agents enables a multi-stimuli-responsive and untethered soft robot with stark stimulus selectivity.The biodegradability of the proposed 4D-printed soft robot further ensures the sustainability of our approach,with immediate degradation rates of 96.6%within 72 h.The proposed 4D printing concept for FGMMs can create new opportunities for intelligent and sustainable additive manufacturing in soft robotics.

A versatile humanoid robot platform for dexterous manipulation and human-robot collaboration

Humanoid robots have attracted much attention by virtue of their compatibility with human environments.However,biped humanoids with immense promise still cannot function steadily and reliably in real-world settings in the current state.Hence,rationally combining a humanoid robot with different stable mobile platforms is a favoured solution for diverse scenarios.Here,a new versatile humanoid robot platform,aiming to provide a generic solution that can be flexibly deployed in diverse scenarios,for example,indoors and fields is presented.Versatile humanoid robot platform incorporates multimodal perception,and extensible interfaces on hardware and software,allowing it to be rapidly integrated with different mobile platforms and end-effectors,only through easyto-assemble interfaces.Additionally,the platform has achieved impressive integration,lightness,dexterity,and strength in its class,with human-like size and rich perception,targeted to have human-intelligent manipulation skills for human-engineered environments.Overall,this article elaborates on the reasoning behind the design choices,and outlines each subsystem.Lastly,the essential performance of the platform is successfully demonstrated in a set of experiments with precise and dexterous manipulation,and human–robot collaboration requirements.

Revolutionary entrapment model of uniformly distributed swarm robots in morphogenetic formation

This study proposes a method for uniformly revolving swarm robots to entrap multiple targets,which is based on a gene regulatory network,an adaptive decision mechanism,and an improved Vicsek-model.Using the gene regulatory network method,the robots can generate entrapping patterns according to the environmental input,including the positions of the targets and obstacles.Next,an adaptive decision mechanism is proposed,allowing each robot to choose the most well-adapted capture point on the pattern,based on its environment.The robots employ an improved Vicsek-model to maneuver to the planned capture point smoothly,without colliding with other robots or obstacles.The proposed decision mechanism,combined with the improved Vicsek-model,can form a uniform entrapment shape and create a revolving effect around targets while entrapping them.This study also enables swarm robots,with an adaptive pattern formation,to entrap multiple targets in complex environments.Swarm robots can be deployed in the military field of unmanned aerial vehicles’(UAVs)entrapping multiple targets.Simulation experiments demonstrate the feasibility and superiority of the proposed gene regulatory network method.

A Review of the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Orthopedic Diseases

In recent years,Artificial Intelligence(AI)has revolutionized people’s lives.AI has long made breakthrough progress in the field of surgery.However,the research on the application of AI in orthopedics is still in the exploratory stage.The paper first introduces the background of AI and orthopedic diseases,addresses the shortcomings of traditional methods in the detection of fractures and orthopedic diseases,draws out the advantages of deep learning and machine learning in image detection,and reviews the latest results of deep learning and machine learning applied to orthopedic image detection in recent years,describing the contributions,strengths and weaknesses,and the direction of the future improvements that can be made in each study.Next,the paper also introduces the difficulties of traditional orthopedic surgery and the roles played by AI in preoperative,intraoperative,and postoperative orthopedic surgery,scientifically discussing the advantages and prospects of AI in orthopedic surgery.Finally,the article discusses the limitations of current research and technology in clinical applications,proposes solutions to the problems,and summarizes and outlines possible future research directions.The main objective of this review is to inform future research and development of AI in orthopedics.