2023 News Releases
Exploring the Diverse Applications of Robotics Beyond the Lab at UC San Diego
November 20, 2023
From the operating room to our homes and streets, robots are becoming increasingly integral to our daily activities. The UC San Diego Contextual Robotics Institute hosted its eighth annual forum with the theme “Robots in the Wild,” showcasing varied applications of robots in real-world scenarios. Full Story
Contextual Robotics Institute: Robots in the Wild
November 13, 2023
The UC San Diego Contextual Robotics Institute will hold its 8th annual Forum on November 14, 2023. Full Story
The next generation of robotics from UC San Diego in the spotlight at IROS 2023
October 6, 2023
From helping wounded soldiers in the field, to helping robots avoid obstacles in the field, and more, researchers from the UC San Diego Contextual Robotics Institute made a strong showing at IROS 2023. Full Story
These Robots Helped Understand How Insects Evolved Two Distinct Strategies of Flight
October 4, 2023
Robots built by engineers at the University of California San Diego helped achieve a major breakthrough in understanding how insect flight evolved, described in the Oct. 4, 2023 issue of the journal Nature. The study is a result of a six-year long collaboration between roboticists at UC San Diego and biophysicists at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Full Story
7 AI-Powered Technologies You Should Know About
August 22, 2023
Jacobs School researchers are leading five different AI projects highlighted in a recent feature story in UC San Diego: A social robot to help people with cognitive impairments; A mobile platform for managing chronic health conditions; Self-driving vehicles for delivery and micro-transit; A chatbot that gives movie recommendations; and Robots that can perform automated lifesaving surgeries. Full Story
This 3D Printed Gripper Does Not Need Electronics To Function
July 27, 2023
This soft robotic gripper is not only 3D printed in one print, it also doesn’t need any electronics to work. The device was developed by a team of roboticists at UC San Diego, in collaboration with researchers at the BASF corporation, who detailed their work in a recent issue of Science Robotics. Full Story
Robotic Hand Rotates Objects Using Touch, Not Vision
July 25, 2023
Inspired by the effortless way humans handle objects without seeing them, a team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a new approach that enables a robotic hand to rotate objects solely through touch, without relying on vision. Full Story
UC San Diego teams earn four of 18 Qualcomm Innovation Fellowships in North America for 2023
July 24, 2023
Four UC San Diego teams have been awarded prestigious Qualcomm Innovation Fellowships for North America in 2023. The teams are affiliated with UC San Diego's Center for Visual Computing; Center for Wearable Sensors; and Contextual Robotics Institute. Full Story
Bot inspired by baby turtles can swim under the sand
July 18, 2023
This robot can swim under the sand and dig itself out too, thanks to two front limbs that mimic the oversized flippers of turtle hatchlings. It’s the only robot that is able to travel in sand at a depth of 5 inches. It can also travel at a speed of 1.2 millimeters per second–roughly 4 meters, or 13 feet, per hour.​​ This may seem slow but is comparable to other subterranean animals like worms and clams. The robot is equipped with force sensors at the end of its limbs that allow it to detect obstacles while in motion. It can operate untethered and be controlled via WiFi. Full Story
Four-legged robot traverses tricky terrains thanks to improved 3D vision
June 13, 2023
Researchers led by UC San Diego have developed a new model that trains four-legged robots to see more clearly in 3D. The advance enabled a robot to autonomously cross challenging terrain with ease--including stairs, rocky ground and gap-filled paths--while clearing obstacles in its way. Full Story
Making Robots for Humans: Robotics Experts Present at ICRA 2023
June 1, 2023
From robotics surgery to better algorithms for robots working in teams with humans, researchers at the UC San Diego Contextual Robotics Institute are presenting 16 papers at the ICRA 2023 conference from May 29 to June 2 in London. Full Story