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Iván Hernández Dalas: Handle with care: Soft robot gripper picks ripe fruit without bruising

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Cornell researchers used stretchable fiber-optic sensors to create a soft robot gripper that can predict the ripeness of strawberries by touch. Credit: Anand Mishra. By David Nutt When assessing the ripeness of fruit, sight and smell can tell you a lot, but the best indicator is often how the fruit feels. Cornell researchers used stretchable fiber-optic sensors to create a soft robot gripper that can predict the ripeness of strawberries by touch, then gently twist them off their branch or vine without causing any damage. The technology, developed in the lab of Rob Shepherd , the John F. Carr Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Cornell Duffield College of Engineering, could lead to more resilient and ecological food production and increase the availability of fruit species that are difficult to cultivate. Shepherd’s Organic Robotics Lab previously demonstrated the potential of stretchable fiber-optic sensors to give soft robotic systems the ability to feel the same dynami...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: A guide to Day 1 of the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo

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The Robotics Summit & Expo is here! The show is bringing together over 5,000 developers focused on building robots for aerospace and defense, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and other markets. We’ll be kicking things off at 9:00 a.m. ET at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston with two back-to-back keynotes in Room 253 ABC. The first is called “ Building the Next Era of Robot Autonomy .” That panel will feature insights from Aaron Parness, the director of applied science at Amazon Robotics ; Anders Beck, vice president of AI robotics products at Universal Robots ; Hamid Montazeri, the senior vice president of software and AI at  Locus Robotics ; and John Wall, the president of  QNX . The second panel, “ The State of Humanoids ,” will start at 10:00 a.m. It will include Al Makke, the head of humanoid robotics in North America for Schaeffler ; Mike Nielsen, the chief marketing officer at  RealSense ; Aaron Prather, th...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Why robots still struggle to see the real world

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Orbbec offers a range of cameras for robot perception, picking, and navigation. Source: Orbbec The robot on the trade show floor looks effortless. It glides toward a bin, identifies the object, reaches in, and places the item exactly where it needs to go. The crowd nods. Investors take notes. Engineers celebrate. Then the robot ships to its destination, and the world stops behaving like the demo. This demo-to-deployment gap remains one of the most persistent challenges in robotics. Machines that perform beautifully under controlled conditions often struggle with shifting light, reflective surfaces, transparent materials, moving people, and forklift traffic. Robots don’t need to see like humans. Robotic perception should be reliable, task-specific, and measurable under real operating conditions. The controlled environment problem Lab conditions often favor the perception stack. Lighting, object position, and backgrounds are controlled, and the robot is given every advantage. Real-w...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: XELA Robotics to show tactile sensing at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo

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Demonstration, in collaboration with Waseda University, shows how a sensitive robotic nail can pick up a playing card autonomously, as a learned skill, following a human demonstration. Source: XELA Robotics XELA Robotics Co. plans to exhibit its latest tactile sensing innovations at three events in May and June 2026, including the Robotics Summit & Expo this week in Boston. Its updates and live demonstrations will span new sensor hardware, software improvements, and expanded integrations with leading robotic platforms. Technologies to see at the Robotics Summit Robotic fingertip with nail:  In an industry first, XELA Robotics has developed a robotic fingertip with a six-axis, force-sensitive nail, also including 30 tri-axial force sensing points distributed in the pulp. The robotic nail complements the tactile sensors in the fingertip to enable the dexterous grasping of extremely thin objects including thin cards and keys and the conducting of actions as complex as scraping ta...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: A guide to everything happening at the 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo

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The 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo kicks off tomorrow in Boston. The event will bring together more than 5,000 robotics experts and over 200 exhibitors over its two-day run at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center. The show will have more than 50  sessions  in tracks on artificial intelligence, design and development, enabling technologies, healthcare, and logistics. The Engineering Theater on the show floor will also feature presentations by industry experts. More than 70 speakers are confirmed from companies such as  Fictiv ,  Harmonic Drive ,  maxon ,  PickNik Robotics ,  RealSense ,  Tesla , the  Toyota Research Institute , and more. To help you keep track of everything going on, we’ve compiled a summary of all of the activities at the Robotics Summit & Expo. In addition, you can download the Robotics Summit App  to plan your personal schedule, network with fellow attendees, find exhibits, and more. Registration is available onsite. Prepare for a busy ...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Simulation vs. digital twin: A strategic lens on virtual manufacturing

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Discrete event simulation and digital twin technology can play crucial roles during the ideation and planning phases of factory layout design. Source: Visual Components As manufacturers increasingly turn to virtual tools, the goal extends beyond visualization to understanding, testing, and optimizing processes before they ever reach the shop floor. While simulation and digital twin technologies have become central to digital transformation strategies, their differences remain unclear for many manufacturers looking into implementing virtual technology in their processes. Clarifying these distinctions and understanding where each fits within the lifecycle of system design, planning, and operation is critical to making informed decisions that deliver real value. At their best, both simulation and digital twin approaches make realistic virtual representations of physical scenarios. But the purpose, level of integration with real data, and scope of that representation differ. With clarity...
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Iván Hernández Dalas: Sortera uses physical AI to double capacity in a Tennessee sorting facility

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Sortera creates recycled fractions from existing scrap streams, enabling the domestic production of metals for manufacturing. | Source: Sortera Technologies Sortera Technologies Inc. announced that its second state-of-the-art processing facility in Lebanon, Tenn., is moving into full operational status this month. The company developed an upcycling platform powered by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced sensors. With the new facility, Sortera has increased its annual processing capacity to an estimated 240 million lb. (108.8 million kg). This includes the company ‘s success with its flagship facility in Markle, Ind. “The performance of our Markle facility proved there is strong appetite for sustainable, high-quality recycled aluminum,” said Michael Siemer, CEO of Sortera Technologies. “By bringing our Lebanon operation online, we are meeting that demand head-on—effectively doubling our capacity and providing a streamlined, localized supply ch...
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