ROBOTS IN ACTION
How robots are transforming the world around us
Click here to see UC Berkeley robots playing ping pong. Source: UC Berkeley
Game, Set, Robot: UC Berkeley researchers have created a robot that can play ping pong, sustaining a rally of 106 consecutive shots with moves that look eerily human-like. Trained on human motion data and reinforcement learning, the bot can react to balls traveling 11 mph in under a second while maintaining perfect balance. Watch it in action here.
In a Heartbeat: UK researchers have tested drones that drop life-saving defibrillators directly to cardiac arrest victims, potentially cutting response times for the 40,000 annual emergencies where only 10% of people currently survive. Though some still struggled to use the defibrillators when they arrived, the concept could revolutionize emergency response by getting critical equipment to patients before ambulances even arrive.
In Focus: Surgeons in Chile performed the world’s first gallbladder surgery using a robotic camera that autonomously tracks and follows surgical instruments, providing surgeons with uninterrupted, stable views throughout the procedure. The system could potentially slash operating room staffing needs, cut costs, and improve outcomes by letting surgeons focus on the procedure rather than managing their view.2025-09-13T03:00:00Z