Recent Articles
WPI robot helps power Hollywood movie 'Rule Breakers'
As a leading university in robotics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute has designed robots that have performed tasks all over the world. When producers from Hollywood saw a YouTube video of a WPI robot that could be used to detect and destroy landmines, they reached out to see if WPI would create a robot for a film.
WPI Develops Innovative Robotic System to Enhance Kidney Transplant Screening
Worcester Polytechnic Institute researchers believe a new robotic technology they’re developing can help save lives by improving the process of matching kidney donors with people awaiting a transplant. Their approach seeks to advance medical evaluations that determine whether a donated kidney is viable to be transplanted.
WPI Researchers to Develop Robotic Arm for Wheelchairs
When someone envisions a robotic arm, they probably are thinking of a large, heavyweight tool used to assemble Ford pickups in Michigan. Or maybe they think of the do-it-all robotic arm from the Iron Man movies that assists Tony Stark in his mansion. Either way, it doesn't seem a practical tool to use around the house.
Research on improved cardiac imaging published in Scientific Reports
Robotics Engineering Ph.D. Candidate, Shang Gao, Robotics Engineering undergraduate student, Haotian Liu, and Associate Professor Haichong (Kai) Zhang, faculty member in the Departments of Robotics Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, and affiliated faculty member with the Department of Computer Science, have led pioneering research in image-guided interventions, resulting in the publication of a research paper, “Enhancing Boundary Detection of Radiofrequency Ablation Lesions through Photoacoustic Mapping,” in the journal Scientific Reports.
Neehal Sharrma- Building a More Accessible Future with Robots
Neehal Sharrma’s journey in robotics has been defined by hands-on innovation, leadership, and a commitment to community building. As a master’s student in Robotics Engineering (RBE) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Sharrma is pushing the boundaries of soft robotics and prosthetics while fostering a collaborative and inclusive robotics community on campus.
RBE in the WPI Magazine
Ancient Folding Art Inspires Flexible Robotics Arm
Inspired by origami, robotics engineering researchers are developing a lightweight, flexible robotic arm that will enable a wheelchair user to safely grasp, lift, and carry objects that would otherwise be out of reach.
The Humanity of Robots in the Workplace
The NSF-funded FORW-RD program trains graduate students on human-robot workplace interactions, fostering a research community with mentoring and industry support.
Wearable Robot Offers Hope
Robotics PhD student Tess Meier’s work on the HOPE hand exoskeleton, inspired by her friend's hand impairment, is leading her to improve the device to aid physical therapy and explore its impact on brain activity.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Berk Calli and James Akl are developing the first robotic shipbreaking system to improve efficiency in hazardous environments. Funded by European Metal Recycling, their work combines human-robot collaboration and advanced algorithms to automate metal cutting, aiming for commercial deployment to boost productivity.
A Welcome Invasion of City Walls
Researchers developed a lizard-like soft robot for inspecting tight spaces and 3-D mapping, funded by a $50,000 NSF grant. Its flexible design allows it to navigate walls and ductwork, improving safety and efficiency in building retrofitting and climate adaptation.
A Robotics Resource for Solving Problems
ROSE-HUB, WPI's NSF-supported research center, bridges the gap between academic research and commercial robotics technologies. Since 2020, it has collaborated with six companies, secured over $700,000 in funding, and provided real-world experience for students.
Lobster Traps protect
‘Ropeless’ Lobster Traps Protect Right Whales
Lobster fishing is critical to New England, but the ropes that connect traps to buoys pose a threat to the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. With less than 350 of these whales left, conservationists are calling upon solutions to keep the species from going extinct. Lobstermen using traditional traps have been limited to where or when they can fish, but current ropeless traps can cost thousands of dollars.
Blaise Schroeder Understands Everyone Has a Story
Blaise Schroeder ’23, a robotics engineering major, finds the concept of "sonder"—the realization that everyone has a complex life—deeply inspiring, influencing both their personal and professional life at WPI. Through their leadership in mental health initiatives and work with WPI’s Career Development Center, Schroeder hopes to leave a lasting impact on campus, focusing on inclusivity and meaningful change rather than personal recognition.
The Pollinators of the Future: Robotic Bees
With native bee populations in decline, robotics professor Nitin Sanket is developing eco-friendly, autonomous robotic bees to serve as an innovative alternative for pollination.
