Engineering sciences - Microtechnics

The FireDrone is designed to deliver real-time data from high-risk areas that are too dangerous for humans and conventional drones. Developed at Empa and continued as a spin-off, the new generation of drones combines heat-resistant materials with practical robotics - for firefighting operations and industrial inspections involving extreme temperatures.

Designed to enhance safety in industrial inspection activities, Grace is a quadruped robot capable of moving and climbing in hostile environments such as shipyards, oil platforms and energy facilities. Among its distinctive features are its ability to adapt to surfaces of different nature and to respond to unforeseen events by autonomously adjusting its behaviour.

While machine learning has long been a cornerstone of robotics, the latest AI revolution is reshaping how robots are taught. Cloud-based simulations have made training faster and more efficient than ever.

A robotic hand developed at EPFL surpasses the limits of human dexterity with a dual-thumbed, reversible-palm design that can detach from its robotic 'arm' to reach and grasp multiple objects.

From a mechanical guide dog to a self-learning exoskeleton and magnetically controlled bacteria, researchers at ETH Zurich are busy devising robots for medical applications.

Scientists have integrated discarded crustacean shells into robotic devices, leveraging the strength and flexibility of natural materials for robotic applications.