Researchers have developed a new scale to measure how human-like robots appear, identifying four key qualities: appearance, emotional capacity, social intelligence, and self-understanding. Robots lacking any of these traits risk being perceived as cold or unsettling, limiting their usefulness in customer service.
Tiny Walking Robots Advance Micro-Optics and Biological Research
Researchers have developed the smallest walking robots, measuring just 2 to 5 microns, capable of interacting with visible light for imaging and force measurement. These magnetically controlled robots can inch forward or swim through fluids while serving as diffraction elements, enabling super-resolution microscopy at scales previously unattainable.