Science Robotics

A new Viewpoint discusses how onboard foundation models could revolutionize robot swarms by making them more adaptable and enhancing communication during real-world applications. @volkerstrob @IRIDIA_ULB Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/4cRlHgi

A new Science #Robotics Focus calls for the careful design of guardrails to prevent malicious users from tricking AI-enabled robots into dangerous or violent behaviors. @AlexRobey23 @zicokolter @pappasg69 scim.ag/4uef3HV

Scientists have developed a framework that provides vision-language models with a library of information about object shapes and orientation, boosting spatial awareness for more precise robotic manipulation. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/4cN2r3m

A new Viewpoint calls for a shift towards collaborative robotic foundation models that are aware of social norms and can respond appropriately in different contexts. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/48WL1jC

A new Science #Robotics study highlights a method that can represent curved objects in task-relevant keypoints, enabling robots to inspect and manipulate everyday items with varying shapes and orientations. scim.ag/3OixgF7

A new Focus discusses the sci-fi novel, Mechanize My Hands, and considers real-world challenges involving agricultural robots and automation. @robinrmurphy Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/4e6mkVy

A new Science #Robotics Viewpoint outlines six design pillars that could cultivate collaborative intelligence to enable robotic foundation models to learn with humans and other robots, and not just for them. @rienerr @s_albrecht scim.ag/4toyWfb

A new approach uses diffused orientation fields to help robots transfer skills across curved objects of diverse shapes and sizes, enabling them to peel and slice varied fruits and vegetables. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/3OixgF7

A new Science #Robotics study finds that “fine-tuned” large behavior models are more data-efficient and successful than single-task policies at teaching robots complex new tasks like coring and slicing an apple. @ToyotaResearch scim.ag/4tdZYpA

A new Science #Robotics study classifies robots according to their joint constraints and endows them with this self-awareness, enabling diverse robots to learn the same skill safely and without retraining. scim.ag/4tP2bYr

Robots can learn complex #manipulation tasks, like assembling a breakfast tray, more efficiently using large behavior models and multitask datasets, when compared with single-task policies. @RussTedrake @RaresAmbrus Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/4tdZYpA

Embedding robots with an internal understanding of their own joint limits, or #kinematic intelligence, can enable #TransferLearning across various robot types after a single demonstration. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/4mslTXu

The April 2026 issue of Science #Robotics is out! This month's cover highlights large behavior models that can outperform single-task policies at complex manipulation tasks like installing a bike rotor. Learn about this research and more: scim.ag/41u39xn

A recent Science #Robotics study describes a #bionic eye that can simulate irregular pupils such as a cat’s vertical pupil for precise focus while hunting and a toad's heart-shaped pupil for improved depth perception. scim.ag/4r4eIq5

A recent Science #Robotics study highlights a high-performance #dielectric #elastomer that can operate at household voltages and drive wearable fluidic circuits and untethered soft robotic crawlers. scim.ag/3MEBtSp

A recent Science #Robotics Focus article discusses how soft robotics and assistive technologies are intertwined and explores how innovations in these fields could benefit society at large. scim.ag/46daFPZ

Scientists have developed #dielectric elastomer actuators, or artificial “muscles,” that can operate at low voltages while still producing high output to drive #untethered, soft robotic fish movements. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/3MEBtSp

Can driving exams for autonomous cars increase the trustworthiness of these systems? A recent Focus discusses whether this model could build trust without shifting responsibility away from manufacturers. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/4lRaJLB

Scientists have developed soft artificial electrofluidic fiber muscles that can be bundled together like skeletal muscles to lift heavy weights or launch objects in the blink of an eye. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/3NZaYYD

A bat-inspired approach denoises ultrasound echolocation signals, enabling a palm-sized drone to navigate challenging environments while avoiding transparent or thin obstacles. Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/484QmF0