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Showing posts with the label control systems

Advancing Humanoid Robots with Integrated Cognition and Control Using NVIDIA Isaac GR00T

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Humanoid robots are designed to operate in environments made for humans, combining cognitive understanding with movement and object interaction. Integrating perception, planning, and whole-body control in unpredictable settings presents significant challenges. In early 2026, NVIDIA highlighted Isaac GR00T N1.6 as a vision-language-action model and workflow approach aimed at making those challenges more tractable through sim-to-real development. Note: This post is informational only and not safety, engineering, or legal advice. Robotics systems can cause real-world harm if misused or misconfigured. Always follow lab and workplace safety procedures, and treat data collection and privacy as first-class requirements. TL;DR The hardest humanoid challenge is not “intelligence” alone, but connecting perception, planning, and whole-body control into one reliable loop. In 2026, NVIDIA described Isaac GR00T N1.6 as an open reasoning vision-language-action model a...

Enhancing Productivity at Berkeley’s ALS Particle Accelerator with AI Assistance

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The Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory runs high-stakes X-ray science where small interruptions can ripple across many simultaneous experiments. In January 2026, engineers highlighted an AI copilot called the Accelerator Assistant that helps operators move faster through routine-but-complex tasks: finding the right signals, pulling the right history, generating analysis, and producing an auditable plan before anything touches the machine. Note: This post is informational only and not engineering, safety, or compliance advice. Particle accelerators are safety-critical systems; operational decisions must follow approved procedures. Product capabilities and policies can change over time. TL;DR The Accelerator Assistant is an AI-driven copilot that translates natural-language goals into structured, safety-gated workflows for accelerator operations and analysis. It is designed to reduce setup effort for multistage tasks and...

Garmin Autopilot Advances Raise Societal Questions on AI-Controlled Flight

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Riley didn’t feel the airplane shake. He wasn’t in the cockpit. He was staring at a moving dot on a screen, watching a King Air repositioning flight head east across winter mountains. Then the dot changed. The transponder flipped to an emergency code. And a new line of text appeared: the aircraft was now talking to air traffic control on its own. Important: This post is informational only and not aviation, safety, or legal advice. Aircraft automation is safety-critical. Always follow certified procedures and current regulatory guidance. Features and policies can change over time. This story is based on publicly reported details from a real December 2025 incident. Names and some minor narrative details are simplified for readability, but the technical claims and sequence follow the published account. TL;DR A Garmin Emergency Autoland system was used in a real-world emergency situation in December 2025, guiding a small aircraft to a safe landing after a pre...

How New Control Systems Enhance Safety in Soft Robotics Automation

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Soft robots are machines made from flexible materials that can bend and change shape to perform tasks differently than traditional robots. In automation and workflows, they offer new possibilities by working safely around people and delicate objects, though controlling their movements without causing harm remains challenging. TL;DR The text says soft robots require careful control to ensure safety while maintaining flexibility and responsiveness. The article reports a new mathematically based control system that guides soft robot decisions to stay within safety limits. The text says this system enables safer integration of soft robots in automation workflows involving human interaction and delicate tasks. Safety Challenges in Soft Robotics Soft robots must adjust to changing environments and interact with humans and objects that vary in shape and strength. This interaction demands precise control to avoid damage or injury. Traditional control syst...