Helping robots grasp the unpredictable
MIT CSAIL’s frugal deep-learning model infers the hidden physical properties of objects, then adapts to find the most stable grasps for robots in unstructured environments like homes and fulfillment centers.
A technique for more effective multipurpose robots
With generative AI models, researchers combined robotics data from different sources to help robots learn better.
School of Engineering welcomes new faculty
Fifteen new faculty members join six of the school’s academic departments.
MIT scientists learn how to control muscles with light
A new study suggests optogenetics can drive muscle contraction with greater control and less fatigue than electrical stimulation.
2024 MAD Design Fellows announced
The 10 Design Fellows are MIT graduate students working at the intersection of design and multiple disciplines across the Institute.
From NASA to MIT to Formlabs
Audrey Chen ’24 landed an internship at NASA before she was old enough to drive. Here’s her secret to success.
Robotic palm mimics human touch
MIT CSAIL researchers enhance robotic precision with sophisticated tactile sensors in the palm and agile fingers, setting the stage for improvements in human-robot interaction and prosthetic technology.
Robotic “SuperLimbs” could help moonwalkers recover from falls
A new MIT system could help astronauts conserve energy and extend missions on the lunar surface.
Using ideas from game theory to improve the reliability of language models
A new “consensus game,” developed by MIT CSAIL researchers, elevates AI’s text comprehension and generation skills.
A better way to control shape-shifting soft robots
A new algorithm learns to squish, bend, or stretch a robot’s entire body to accomplish diverse tasks like avoiding obstacles or retrieving items.
Three from MIT named 2024-25 Goldwater Scholars
Undergraduates Ben Lou, Srinath Mahankali, and Kenta Suzuki, whose research explores math and physics, are honored for their academic excellence.
Natural language boosts LLM performance in coding, planning, and robotics
Three neurosymbolic methods help language models find better abstractions within natural language, then use those representations to execute complex tasks.
Julie Shah named head of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics
An expert in robotics and AI, Shah succeeds Steven Barrett at AeroAstro.
The MIT Edgerton Center’s third annual showcase dazzles onlookers
Fourteen Edgerton Center student-led engineering teams displayed their latest creations, from solar cars to rockets to assistive eating devices.
Extracting hydrogen from rocks
Iwnetim Abate aims to stimulate natural hydrogen production underground, potentially unearthing a new path to a cheap, carbon-free energy source.