The Okibo EG7 Robotic is a plastering robotic that operates alongside staff in a building web site. | Supply: Okibo
Okibo final week introduced the opening of its U.S. headquarters in Englewood, N.J., and the official launch of its EG7 robotic within the U.S. market. After establishing its American base in 2024, Okibo’s absolutely autonomous, AI-guided portray and drywall ending robots are already lively at main building websites, having lined greater than 1 million sq. ft. (92,903 sq. m) in Europe.
“In an trade quickly adopting applied sciences to reinforce security and efficiency, Okibo robots require no setup or technical expertise to function,” said Nadav Shuruk, co-founder and chief working officer of Okibo. “They cut back mud, enhance air high quality, and remove widespread bodily accidents on web site—robots don’t fall off ladders or undergo repetitive pressure accidents.”
The EG7 is a next-generation, battery-powered building robotic requiring zero web site preparation, exterior references, or technical experience to function, in line with the corporate. In contrast to methods that rely upon exterior markers or constructing info modeling (BIM) instruments, the robotic makes use of a patented 3D scanning and real-time modeling algorithm for navigation and execution.
Okibo claimed that the EG7 can end a median of 1,000 sq. ft. (92.9 sq. m) per hour, working utterly independently—no cords, pumps, or Wi-Fi required.
Based in 2018, Okibo designed its robots to reinforce a talented building group’s effectivity, improve security, and assist deal with the labor scarcity downside in building. The firm, which additionally has workplaces in Tel Aviv, Israel, stated its merchandise require no tech expertise or setup time. They’re absolutely impartial, battery-operated models unconstrained by exterior tools or cables, it added.
Okibo hopes to sort out the development labor disaster
“Youthful generations raised on expertise anticipate safer, extra environment friendly job websites,” famous Shuruk. “Okibo helps companies meet these expectations.”
PIAP stated it expects programs like TITAN to be deployed earlier than the top of this decade. | Supply: PIAP Area
PIAP Area Sp. z o. o., a Polish developer of robotics for house functions, goals to make use of robotics to chop down the time and price of sustaining multimillion-dollar satellites. The corporate yesterday launched its TITAN robotic arm, which may carry out in-orbit inspections, repairs, and satellite tv for pc upgrades.
With the exponential development of the satellite tv for pc business, Earth’s orbit is more and more crowded with lively and inactive spacecraft, famous PIAP. This congested setting raises the chance of malfunctions, collisions, and misplaced investments. Many satellites are nonetheless operational when it comes to {hardware} however turn into unusable as a consequence of failure in only one part, the corporate stated.
With out robotics, the one method to repair a satellite tv for pc is to deorbit it and substitute it with a wholly new one. This provides to house particles and skyrocketing mission prices. That’s why autonomous in-orbit servicing (IOS) is quickly turning into a strategic precedence for the European Area Company (ESA) and the worldwide house sector.
TITAN is PIAP Area’s response to those challenges. The corporate designed the robotic particularly for on-orbit functions.
“TITAN is probably the most superior of this sort of robotic manipulator ever developed in Poland and certain one of the succesful in its class throughout Europe,” stated Paweł Paśko, head of the mechatronics part at PIAP Area. “We designed it to be scalable, modular, and versatile sufficient for orbital and planetary missions. With correct sealing, it could possibly additionally function in dusty environments — together with the lunar floor coated in regolith.”
PIAP is prepared for future servicing missions
PIAP developed the high-precision robotic arm for orbital operations akin to satellite tv for pc inspection, part alternative, docking help, and module set up. TITAN has a 2 m (6.5 ft.) attain and 7 levels of freedom, permitting for sub-millimeter accuracy — 0.5 mm in positioning and 0.1° in orientation.
The corporate geared up it with a redundant structure to make sure uninterrupted efficiency. Every joint options unbiased energy strains, information buses, and thermal management to stop system-wide failure.
TITAN’s modular design additionally permits the arm to be geared up with numerous customized finish effectors, together with multipurpose grippers, sensors, and power interfaces. Its common electrical-mechanical interface allows fast configuration for satellite tv for pc seize, cable dealing with, refueling, or orbital meeting. PIAP stated this flexibility makes it appropriate for numerous use instances — from important servicing to complicated building operations in orbit.
The Warsaw-based firm, performing as prime contractor and consortium chief, introduced the profitable completion of the engineering mannequin and remaining testing. Funded by ESA with a €2.6 million ($2.9 million U.S.) contract, TITAN has achieved Expertise Readiness Stage 6 (TRL 6), proving its performance in a simulated orbital setting. This implies the system is now prepared for integration into future servicing missions.
PIAP can also be adapting TITAN for the IOSHEX initiative — a joint undertaking between ESA and SAB Aerospace. The undertaking’s purpose is to ascertain a long-term, in-orbit servicing platform in low Earth orbit (LEO), the place robotic arms like TITAN will carry out upkeep and refurbishment duties.
The IOSHEX module will stay in orbit for as much as 5 years as a robotic service station, whereas the ESA Area Rider car will ship alternative elements and return out of date gear to Earth for recycling. PIAP Area is liable for offering a robotic arm able to conducting exact operations in microgravity — together with on-orbit half alternative and {hardware} disassembly.
PIAP Area has already developed superior options for planetary exploration, together with the robotic arm for the ESA ARGONAUT lunar lander beneath the MANUS program. The corporate has additionally delivered a collection of modular robotic grippers developed beneath the ORBITA undertaking, contributed to satellite tv for pc refueling ideas, and took part in growing the In-Area Transportation Car (ISTV).
PIAP will formally current the TITAN prototype on April 14 and 15 in the course of the ESA Area Safety Convention in Warsaw.
Analysis has principally centered on butterflies, bumblebees and dragonflies in elements of Europe and North America (picture: A white-tailed bumble bee, a typical UK species)
Regardless of fears over ‘insectageddon’, there’s a lack of knowledge about nearly all insect species globally, in line with a examine led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and ZSL (Zoological Society of London)
Bugs are the dominant type of animal life on our planet, offering people and wildlife with pollination, meals, and recycling companies however, regardless of considerations about inhabitants declines, little is thought about how 99% of species globally are faring.
A brand new strategy is required to raised monitor species and shield them from the impacts of local weather and land use change, air pollution and invasive non-native species as quickly as doable.
The researchers, whose work has been printed within the journal Science, level on the market are a million identified insect species globally however there have been IUCN assessments for simply 1% –12,100 species, with round 20% of those thought-about threatened.
Monitoring is essentially confined to butterflies, bumblebees and dragonflies in elements of Europe and North America, with little identified about bugs in elements of Asia and South America and nearly no information on species in Africa.
Incomplete image Regardless of stories of catastrophic insect declines, the examine authors say the worldwide state of insect biodiversity stays unclear as a result of sheer complexity of bugs’ existence and fluctuating inhabitants tendencies, in addition to an enormous lack of knowledge.
Of their examine, they suggest a brand new framework for monitoring populations and analysing the influence of threats that integrates all accessible strategies for finding out bugs. These are: evaluating variety and abundance over time and throughout completely different habitats, and thru gathering knowledgeable opinion and finishing up experiments.
Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeller at UKCEH and joint lead creator of the examine, defined: “We have to discover out whether or not insect declines are widespread and what’s inflicting them. The problem is sort of a large jigsaw puzzle the place there are literally thousands of lacking items, however we don’t have many years to attend to fill these gaps after which act.
“There’s a variety of curiosity in monitoring charismatic species akin to bees and butterflies, however few individuals care in regards to the supposedly disagreeable bugs, regardless that they too present advantages for us. For instance, earwigs feed on aphids and different backyard pests whereas cockroaches eat decaying materials and preserve soils wholesome.”
Undervalued and understudied Dr Charlotte Outhwaite of ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, joint lead creator of the examine, added: “Bugs are an extremely essential a part of our ecosystems, pollinating round 80% of flowering plant species and very important for 35% of worldwide meals manufacturing, but they’re undervalued and understudied.
“With one million described species it will take too lengthy to determine what works greatest for every species. As an alternative we need to discover large-scale actions that profit essentially the most bugs. For this, we have to use all of the accessible data we now have.”
The examine authors clarify which means that, when there’s a lack of knowledge, consultants would make judgments about how local weather, land use, air pollution or invasive non-native species are affecting sure species based mostly on the identified impacts on comparable varieties of bugs. Their proposed framework would combine 4 varieties of analysis strategies:
Time collection tendencies, for instance a decline within the variety of butterflies over a 10-year interval.
Spatial comparisons, akin to taking a look at variations in species numbers or abundance throughout completely different habitats or areas.
Experiments to analyze the response of bugs to completely different threats, akin to evaluating a subject sprayed with pesticides to 1 with out, or eradicating invasive non-native species from one space however not one other.
Skilled opinion on the response of bugs to threats, for instance, a scientist declaring that butterfly counts are usually increased in hotter fairly than colder forests.
Future research By combining information from a spread of sources, scientists can acquire a extra full image of how bugs reply to drivers of change whereas permitting transparency in uncertainty and information gaps.
The subsequent step for the researchers is to implement their strategy through the use of the vary of analysis strategies to mannequin insect responses to key threats. Consolidating all accessible information will present an up to date overview of the state of the world’s insect populations.
The work is a part of a mission funded by the Pure Atmosphere Analysis Council (NERC), which is bringing collectively numerous sources of knowledge together with knowledgeable data to evaluate the influence of particular person threats.
The World Insect Menace-Response Synthesis (GLiTRS) mission includes UKCEH, the Pure Historical past Museum, College School London, the Zoological Society of London, the College of Cambridge, Queen Mary College of London, the College of Stellenbosch, the College of Studying, the College of Exeter and Imperial School London.
The SwiftUI ScrollView lacks some options I would like and so I created a customized MyScrollView primarily based on UIScrollView wrapped inside a UIViewControllerRepresentable. Whereas this works nice typically I do know got here throughout a really unusual drawback:
When MyScrollView is utilized in a sheet and its content material touches backside SafeArea, the UI freezes as quickly because the ought to be displayed.
The code under exhibits the issue as properly in preview as on the simulator and on units. Please observe that the code is tuned do the show measurement of an iPhone 16 Professional. When working on totally different units one would possibly want to regulate top of the Shade.yellow.
Within the demo code the UI freezes if the Shade.yellow has a top between 738 to 771 pixels. Each different top is ok.
Is there one thing fallacious with my implementation of MyScrollView? When utilizing ScrollView as a substitute, all the things works nice.
Code:
struct ContentView: View {
@State non-public var showSheet: Bool = false
var physique: some View {
ZStack {
Button("Present Sheet") {
showSheet = true
}
}
.sheet(isPresented: $showSheet) {
VStack {
Textual content("Some Header Content material")
MyScrollView {
VStack {
Shade.yellow
//.body(top: 737) // works
.body(top: 738) // does NOT works
// ...
//.body(top: 771) // does NOT works
//.body(top: 772) // works
}
}
.ignoresSafeArea()
}
}
}
}
struct MyScrollView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
let content material: Content material
init(@ViewBuilder content material: () -> Content material) {
self.content material = content material()
}
func makeUIViewController(context: Context) -> UIViewController {
let scrollViewVC = UIViewController()
scrollViewVC.view.backgroundColor = .clear
let scrollView = UIScrollView()
scrollView.backgroundColor = .clear
let contentVC = UIHostingController(rootView: self.content material)
contentVC.view.backgroundColor = .clear
context.coordinator.contentVC = contentVC
context.coordinator.scrollView = scrollView
scrollView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
scrollViewVC.view.addSubview(scrollView)
NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
scrollView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollViewVC.view.topAnchor),
scrollView.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollViewVC.view.bottomAnchor),
scrollView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollViewVC.view.leadingAnchor),
scrollView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollViewVC.view.trailingAnchor)
])
contentVC.willMove(toParent: scrollViewVC)
scrollViewVC.addChild(contentVC)
contentVC.view.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
scrollView.addSubview(contentVC.view)
NSLayoutConstraint.activate([
contentVC.view.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollView.contentLayoutGuide.topAnchor),
contentVC.view.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollView.contentLayoutGuide.bottomAnchor),
contentVC.view.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollView.contentLayoutGuide.leadingAnchor),
contentVC.view.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollView.contentLayoutGuide.trailingAnchor),
contentVC.view.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: scrollView.frameLayoutGuide.widthAnchor)
])
contentVC.didMove(toParent: scrollViewVC)
return scrollViewVC
}
func updateUIViewController(_ uiViewController: UIViewController, context: Context) {
context.coordinator.contentVC?.rootView = content material
}
func makeCoordinator() -> Coordinator {
return Coordinator()
}
class Coordinator {
var contentVC: UIHostingController?
var scrollView: UIScrollView?
init() {
//...
}
}
}
#Preview {
ContentView()
}
Metal measuring tape is an attention-grabbing materials, in that it is inflexible sufficient to carry its form when prolonged, however versatile sufficient that it provides approach underneath stress. Scientists have taken benefit of that twin nature in a intelligent new robotic gripper designed for dealing with fragile gadgets.
Created by Assoc. Prof. Nick Gravish and colleagues at UC San Diego, the mechanical appendage is called “GRIP-tape,” the phrase GRIP standing for “Greedy and Rolling In-Aircraft.” It grasps objects of varied sizes and shapes between two grippy however compliant triangular fingers.
Every of these fingers is product of a few lengths of measuring tape that are laid lengthwise one on high of the opposite, and adhesive-taped collectively in that configuration … in order that they type a single two-layered ribbon that is bent/buckled on the tip of the finger. Two motorized reels – one at both finish of that ribbon – roll it in and spool it out as wanted.
A New Robotic Gripper Primarily based on Measuring Tape is Sizing Up Fruit and Veggie Selecting
By various the path through which every of the 4 reels (two per finger) rotate relative to at least one one other, the fingers could be made longer or shorter, they will rotate an merchandise grasped between them, or they will draw that merchandise in or out, conveyor-belt-style. Your entire gripper may roll back and forth and tilt up and down, swiveling on its robotic wrist.
It’s hoped that after the expertise is developed additional, it could possibly be utilized in fields corresponding to agriculture, for choosing vegatables and fruits with out damaging them. In actual fact, UCLA’s EEWOC (Prolonged-reach Enhanced Wheeled Orb for Climbing) robotic already makes use of a measuring-tape-based magnetic limb for climbing metallic buildings.
A better have a look at the GRIP-tape gripper
UC San Diego
”We prefer to search for non-traditional, non-intuitive robotic mechanisms,” says Gravish. “The tape measure is such a beautiful construction due to its mixed softness and stiffness collectively.”
A paper on the research was not too long ago printed within the journal Science Advances.
