Visual dexterity: In-hand reorientation of novel and complex object shapes.

In-hand object reorientation is necessary for performing many dexterous manipulation tasks, such as tool use in less structured environments, which remain beyond the reach of current robots. Prior works built reorientation systems assuming one or many of the following conditions: reorienting only specific objects with simple shapes, limited range of reorientation, slow or quasi-static manipulation, simulation-only results, the need for specialized and costly sensor suites, and other constraints that make the system infeasible for real-world deployment. We present a general object reorientation controller that does not make these assumptions.

Breaking the photoswitch speed limit.

The forthcoming generation of materials, including artificial muscles, recyclable and healable systems, photochromic heterogeneous catalysts, or tailorable supercapacitors, relies on the fundamental concept of rapid switching between two or more discrete forms in the solid state. Herein, we report a breakthrough in the "speed limit" of photochromic molecules on the example of sterically-demanding spiropyran derivatives through their integration within solvent-free confined space, allowing for engineering of the photoresponsive moiety environment and tailoring their photoisomerization rates. The presented conceptual approach realized through construction of the spiropyran environment results in ~1000 times switching enhancement even in the solid state compared to its behavior in solution, setting a record in the field of photochromic compounds.

Exploring the use of educational materials for increasing participation in a stretching program: a quality improvement project in people with motor neuron disease.

Background: Decreased range of motion is a common secondary complication of motor neuron disease (MND) that can contribute to functional decline and decreased participation in daily activities.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to develop and assess the effectiveness of educational brochures and videos aimed at improving knowledge regarding the importance of a regular stretching program.

Design: This was a quality improvement (QI) project.

GelSight: High-Resolution Robot Tactile Sensors for Estimating Geometry and Force.

Tactile sensing is an important perception mode for robots, but the existing tactile technologies have multiple limitations. What kind of tactile information robots need, and how to use the information, remain open questions. We believe a soft sensor surface and high-resolution sensing of geometry should be important components of a competent tactile sensor.

Visual wetness perception based on image color statistics.

Color vision provides humans and animals with the abilities to discriminate colors based on the wavelength composition of light and to determine the location and identity of objects of interest in cluttered scenes (e.g., ripe fruit among foliage).