A simpler method for learning to control a robot
Researchers develop a machine-learning technique that can efficiently learn to control a robot, leading to better performance with fewer data.
3 Questions: Honing robot perception and mapping
Luca Carlone and Jonathan How of MIT LIDS discuss how future robots might perceive and interact with their environment.
A step toward safe and reliable autopilots for flying
A new AI-based approach for controlling autonomous robots satisfies the often-conflicting goals of safety and stability.
Driven to driverless
Cindy Alejandra Heredia’s journey from Laredo, Texas, took her to leading the MIT autonomous vehicle team and to an MBA from MIT Sloan.
Probabilistic AI that knows how well it’s working
It’s more important than ever for artificial intelligence to estimate how accurately it is explaining data.
Exploring new methods for increasing safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles
A new study finds human supervisors have the potential to reduce barriers to deploying autonomous vehicles.
Using reflections to see the world from new points of view
A new computer vision system turns any shiny object into a camera of sorts, enabling an observer to see around corners or beyond obstructions.
Drones navigate unseen environments with liquid neural networks
MIT researchers exhibit a new advancement in autonomous drone navigation, using brain-inspired liquid neural networks that excel in out-of-distribution scenarios.
New algorithm keeps drones from colliding in midair
Researchers create a trajectory-planning system that enables drones working together in the same airspace to always choose a safe path forward.
Resilient bug-sized robots keep flying even after wing damage
New repair techniques enable microscale robots to recover flight performance after suffering severe damage to the artificial muscles that power their wings.
Mix-and-match kit could enable astronauts to build a menagerie of lunar exploration bots
Robotic parts could be assembled into nimble spider bots for exploring lava tubes or heavy-duty elephant bots for transporting solar panels.
New “traffic cop” algorithm helps a drone swarm stay on task
By keeping data fresh, the system could help robots inspect buildings or search disaster zones.
3Q: What we learned from the asteroid-smashing DART mission
Saverio Cambioni discusses new results revealing the redirected asteroid Dimorphos to be a dust-trailing rubble-pile.
Responsive design meets responsibility for the planet’s future
Senior Sylas Horowitz tackles engineering projects with a focus on challenges related to clean energy, climate justice, and sustainable development.