This paper provides an overview of the latest trends in robotics research and development, with a particular focus on applications in manufacturing and industrial settings. We highlight recent advances in robot design, including cutting-edge collaborative robot mechanics and advanced safety features, as well as exciting developments in perception and human-swarm interaction. By examining recent contributions from Kinova, a leading robotics company, we illustrate the differences between industry and academia in their approaches to developing innovative robotic systems and technologies that enhance productivity and safety in the workplace. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates the tremendous potential of robotics to revolutionize manufacturing and industrial operations, and underscores the crucial role of companies like Kinova in driving this transformation forward.

Rolling spherical robots have been studied in the past few years as an alternative to legged and wheeled robots in unstructured environments. These systems are of uttermost interest for space exploration: fast, robust to collision and able to handle various terrain topologies. This paper introduces a novel barycentric spherical robot, dubbed the Autonomous Robotic Intelligent Explorer Sphere (ARIES). Equipped with an actuated cylindrical joint acting as a pendulum with two degrees-of-freedom (DoF), the ARIES has a continuous differential transmission to allow simultaneous rolling and steering. This mechanism allows an unprecedented mass allocation optimization, notably to provide a low center of mass. Kinematics and dynamics of this novel system are detailed. An analysis of the steering mechanism proves that it is more efficient than a more conventional 2-DoF tilting mechanism, while also retaining more space for a payload, for instance to host sensors for simultaneous localization and mapping, in the upper part of the sphere. Moreover, the kinematic input/output equations obtained significantly simplify the device's control. Finally, we present a first complete prototype with preliminary experimental tests.

Underactuated mechanisms are commonly used in robotic hands and grippers to improve their ability to adapt to the shape of an object. These underactuated mechanisms can be characterized by their global stiffness as measured by their actuator. Using this with self-adaptive fingers, it is possible to elaborate equations highlighting the relationship between the stiffness measurements and the contact locations. In this paper, a complete stiffness analysis of a general double tendon underactuated finger is performed with the aim of establishing the contact locations without any tactile sensors.