Video Friday: Extreme Omnidirectional Robot

Video Friday: Extreme Omnidirectional Robot

Video Friday is your weekly selection of awesome robotics videos, collected by your friends at IEEE Spectrum robotics. We also post a weekly calendar of upcoming robotics events for the next few months. Please send us your events for inclusion.

ICRA 2026: 1–5 June 2026, VIENNARSS 2026: 13–17 July 2026, SYDNEYSummer School on Multi-Robot Systems: 29 July–4 August 2026, PRAGUEActuate 2026: 18–19 August 2026, SAN FRANCISCO

Enjoy today's videos!

What is the Right Number of Legs for a Robot?

Two? Four? No, the answer is obviously all of them. All of the legs. [Argus]

This video showcases the Argus robot, an omnidirectional robot that can move in any direction without the need for a fixed axis. The robot's design allows it to move freely in all directions, making it ideal for applications such as search and rescue, surveillance, and exploration.

The Rabona: A Skill That Robots Have, But Humans Don't

Sigh, yet another skill that I as a soccer-playing human should have but a robot has instead: the rabona. [Boston Dynamics]

This video shows the Boston Dynamics robot performing a rabona, a difficult soccer move that requires a lot of skill and practice. The robot's ability to perform this move highlights the advancements in robotics and the potential for robots to perform complex tasks that are difficult for humans.

The Eco-Score for Robots: A New Approach to Evaluating Sustainability

Robots are rapidly becoming part of our everyday lives, from drones and industrial machines to home assistants and humanoid robots. As their presence continues to grow, an important question arises: How can we choose the right robot—not only in terms of performance and cost but also in terms of sustainability? This video introduces the Eco-Score for Robots, a new approach to evaluating the environmental impact of robotic systems. Just as eco-labels help consumers make informed choices in other industries, the Robotics Eco-Label provides a clear and transparent way to assess how sustainable a robot truly is. [Robotics EcoLabel]

The Eco-Score for Robots is a new approach to evaluating the environmental impact of robotic systems. The score takes into account factors such as energy consumption, material usage, and end-of-life disposal. This approach provides a clear and transparent way to assess the sustainability of a robot, allowing consumers to make informed choices.

Robotic Manipulation: From Two-Ball Paddle Juggling to AthenaZero

Robotic manipulation has come a long way since the 1990s. We’ve gone from the two-ball paddle juggling robot to AthenaZero, who can juggle barehanded using onboard vision feedback. By moving away from task-specific passive end-effectors such as cups or paddles and using multifingered hands, it can transition between a wide range of patterns including cascade, half-shower, tennis, shower, and box. [Robotics and AI Institute]

This video showcases the advancements in robotic manipulation, from the early days of two-ball paddle juggling to the latest developments in multifingered hands. The use of onboard vision feedback and multifingered hands allows robots to perform complex tasks with precision and accuracy.

Zero Legs. One Hat. $13K.

From its elegant design to the advanced technology powering every step, Luna is more than a machine—it’s a leap into the future. [LimX Dynamics]

This video showcases the Luna robot, a humanoid robot that can walk and move with ease. The robot's design and technology make it a leap into the future, highlighting the potential for robots to perform complex tasks with precision and accuracy.

A Human Hand, a Robot’s Arm—Together Tracing Circles of Trust and Precision

A human hand, a robot’s arm—together tracing circles of trust and precision. No missteps. No hesitation. Just pure, algorithmic grace. [UBTECH]

This video showcases the collaboration between a human hand and a robot arm, highlighting the potential for robots to work alongside humans with precision and accuracy.

Low-Gravity Planetary Exploration with a Quadruped

Low-gravity planetary exploration with a quadruped just looks like fun. [Autonomous Robots Lab]

This video showcases the use of a quadruped robot for low-gravity planetary exploration, highlighting the potential for robots to perform complex tasks in challenging environments.

The ARISTO Hand: A Research Platform for Manipulating Small, Thin, and Fragile Objects

We show here the ARISTO (Anthropomorphic, Robotic, Integrated-Sensing, Tendon-Operated) Hand. Developed in collaboration with Sony Group Corporation, this research platform is engineered to address the complex requirements of manipulating small, thin, and fragile objects. [University of Texas Human Centered Robotics Lab]

This video showcases the ARISTO hand, a research platform designed to manipulate small, thin, and fragile objects. The hand's design and technology make it ideal for applications such as assembly, packaging, and handling.

Moby: A Robot That Can Pick Up, Carry, and Place Adaptable Payloads

Moby shows what useful mobile manipulation looks like in the real world: picking up, carrying, and placing adaptable payloads. The video shows payload handling across increasing crate loads, including a 50.3-pound load, while maintaining balance, control, and mobility. This is the kind of capability that matters outside the lab—moving real objects, in real spaces, with practical reliability. [Noble Machines]

This video showcases the Moby robot, a robot that can pick up, carry, and place adaptable payloads. The robot's ability to handle complex tasks with precision and accuracy highlights the potential for robots to perform complex tasks in real-world environments.

Hollow Minds: A Pair of Animatronic Heads Capable of Speaking, Blinking, and Displaying Lifelike Facial Expressions

What does it take to make a robot look human? Harvard SEAS students Hailey Block, Henry Tavistock, and Evan Crowley created “Hollow Minds,” a pair of animatronic heads capable of speaking, blinking, tracking movement, and displaying lifelike facial expressions. [Harvard University]

This video showcases the Hollow Minds animatronic heads, a pair of robots designed to look and act like humans. The heads' ability to speak, blink, and display lifelike facial expressions highlights the potential for robots to interact with humans in a more natural and intuitive way.

The Humanoid vs. Purpose-Built Debate

The longevity here is impressive, but the obvious question here is why the heck you’d ever do this task with a bipedal humanoid robot. It also doesn’t seem to have any error recovery, which is obviously fixable, but highlights the fact that real humans are versatile and humanoid robots are not. [Figure]

This video highlights the debate between humanoid robots and purpose-built robots, highlighting the limitations of humanoid robots and the potential for purpose-built robots to perform complex tasks with precision and accuracy.

Conclusion

The videos showcased in this article highlight the advancements in robotics and the potential for robots to perform complex tasks with precision and accuracy. From the Argus robot's omnidirectional movement to the ARISTO hand's ability to manipulate small, thin, and fragile objects, the robots showcased in this article demonstrate the potential for robots to perform complex tasks in a variety of environments. As robotics continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see the new advancements and applications that emerge.

Forward-Looking Thoughts

As robotics continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see the new advancements and applications that emerge. Some potential areas of focus for future research and development include:

• The development of more advanced sensors and perception systems that allow robots to better understand and interact with their environment.
• The creation of more advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques that enable robots to learn and adapt to new situations.
• The development of more advanced human-robot interaction systems that allow humans and robots to communicate and collaborate more effectively.
• The creation of more advanced robotic systems that can perform complex tasks with precision and accuracy, such as assembly, packaging, and handling.

As these advancements emerge, it will be exciting to see the new applications and uses that robots will have in a variety of fields, from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and education.

Source: https://spectrum.ieee.org/video-friday-rabona-soccer