The flexibility of the ever-tapering tentacles on an octopus, combined with grippers, inspired a robotic grabbing tool. (Pseudopanax via Wikimedia Commons) When robots lend humans a hand on the ...

Part of the versatility of the human hand’s ability to pick up almost anything comes from being able to apply a gentle touch for frail or oddly-shaped objects. That’s something robots struggle with, ...

Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET. When not wallowing in weird gear and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto. Once ...

Robotic hand and claw-like grippers haven’t been able to achieve anything close to a human-like dexterity, making them a clumsy choice to pick up delicate or oddly shaped objects. Now, researchers at ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Harvard researchers, presumably to get into the Halloween spirit of ...

A new underwater robot designed with a soft, tentacle-like arm could change the way offshore infrastructure is inspected and maintained. The 3.3-foot-long (one meter) robot was developed by the UK’s ...

If you’ve ever played the claw game, you probably never thought about the scientific applications of that arcade game designed to take your money. But engineers at Harvard University must have. A team ...

Engineers and scientists have developed proof of concept for a robot that can reach some of the smallest bronchial tubes in the lungs -- to take tissue samples or deliver cancer therapy. Known as a ...