Imperial News

Science for robotics and robotics for science

by Jo Seed

Hamlyn Centre Director, Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, leads on the launch of new Science journal to cover the most important advances in robotics.

Robots are everywhere!  From molecular machines to large-scale systems, from outer space to deep-sea exploration, and their impact on our lives and society is growing at an accelerating pace. 

Science Robotics has been launched this week to cover the most important advances in robot design, theory, and applications and promotes the communication of new ideas, general principles, and original developments. Its content will reflect broad and important new applications of robots (e.g., medical, industrial, land, sea, air, space, and service) across all scales (nano to macro), including the underlying principles of robotic systems covering actuation, sensor, learning, control, and navigation.

A giant leap

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Take SALTO for example, which was featured in the debut edition of Science Robotics.  SALTO is an agile jumping robot that was inspired by some of the animal world's best leapers which aims to help in rescue efforts after earthquakes or building collapses.

The 10 inch tall robot can jump higher than a bullfrog and almost as high as a galago, or bush baby and can also jump one yard in less than a second!

Robotics community  

In addition to original research articles, the journal will also publish invited reviews. There are also plans to cover opinions and comments on current policy, ethical, and social issues that affect the robotics community, as well as to engage with robotics educational programs by using Science Robotics content. The goal of Science Robotics is to move the field forward and cross-fertilize different research applications and domains.

Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, Director of the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery and founding editor of Science Robotics said “We are delighted to launch this new journal, as it gives us a key platform on which we can learn about new and emerging robotic innovations whilst also building a growing community of robotic scientists”.  

To find out more, visit the website.