What is a robot? - New Scientist
The word “robot” was coined by the Czech writer Karel Čapek in a 1920 play called Rossum’s Universal Robots, and is derived from the Czech robota, meaning “drudgery” or “servitude”.
The 25 best fictional robots – according to New Scientist
Jul 23, 2025 · Comment The 25 best fictional robots – according to New Scientist From R2D2 to the Terminator via Bender and Johnny-5, we choose our favourite robots from books, films and television …
Humanoid robot learns to waltz by mirroring people's movements
Jan 16, 2025 · An AI that helps humanoid robots mirror a person’s movement could allow robots to walk, dance and fight in more convincingly human ways. The most agile and fluid robotic movements, such …
Fictional female robots have a long history, and it's often quite dark
Jul 23, 2025 · Comment Fictional female robots have a long history, and it's often quite dark Sierra Greer's novel about a female robot, Annie Bot, just won a prestigious sci-fi prize, the Arthur C Clarke …
Robotic pigeon reveals how birds fly without a vertical tail fin
Nov 20, 2024 · A pigeon-inspired robot has solved the mystery of how birds fly without the vertical tail fins that human-designed aircraft rely on. Its makers say the prototype could eventually lead to …
Surgical robots take step towards fully autonomous operations
Jul 9, 2025 · Technology Surgical robots take step towards fully autonomous operations An AI system trained on videos of operations successfully guided a robot to carry out gall bladder surgery on a …
Robots news, articles and features | New Scientist
robots Technology Remarkable robot images provide a vision of the future These photographs of humanoid robots by Henrik Spohler are part of his project Tomorrow Is the Question Regulars
This robot can build anything you ask for out of blocks
Nov 12, 2024 · A robot that can create simple objects from reusable building blocks based on spoken commands could one day be used to quickly build furniture. Artificial intelligence programs can …
This robot can figure out how to open almost any door on its own
Feb 6, 2024 · A wheeled robot set loose on a college campus has figured out how to open all kinds of doors and drawers while rolling around in the real world. The robot adapted to new challenges on its …
Humanoid robots will march into factories and homes in 2025
Dec 23, 2024 · Humanoid robots are poised to enter warehouses, automotive factories and even some homes in growing numbers in 2025 – but whether they can really take hold remains to be seen. The …