This week’s Video Friday brings you an exciting selection of awesome robotics videos, showcasing the latest advancements and innovations in the field. From Mars exploration to humanoid robots and intelligent systems, our friends at IEEE Spectrum have curated a great lineup for you.
First up, AeroVironment has unveiled Skyfall, a potential future mission concept for next-generation Mars helicopters developed with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The concept aims to rapidly deliver an affordable, technically mature solution for expanded Mars exploration by 2028. Skye Fall is designed to deploy six scout helicopters on Mars, which would explore top candidate landing sites and beam high-resolution surface imaging and subsurface radar data back to Earth.
Next, we have a rendering of MagicLab’s MagicDog-W, the wheeled quadruped robot, which dominated all terrains. Inspired by the octopus’s ability to wrap and grip with precision, this study introduces a vacuum-driven, origami-inspired soft actuator that mimics such versatility through self-folding design and high bending angles.
We also have a video on ICRA 2026, taking place in Vienna next June. ROBOTERA has unveiled L7, the next-generation full-size bipedal humanoid robot with powerful mobility and dexterous manipulation. Meanwhile, UBTECH’s Walker S2 achieves breakthroughs in autonomous battery swapping and continuous operation.
Other notable mentions include ARMstrong Dex, a human-scale dual-arm hydraulic robot developed for disaster response, and FlashBot Max, a delivery robot navigating elevators and delivering supplies seamlessly in high-end apartments.
Watch the videos to see the expressions on students’ faces when their robots succeed at something, or learn how NASA designed a helicopter that could fly autonomously on Mars. With these innovative developments and more, you’re sure to be fascinated by the world of robotics!
Stay tuned for upcoming conferences like RO-MAN 2025, CLAWAR 2025, ACTUATE 2025, CoRL 2025, IEEE Humanoids: 2025, World Robot Summit: 2025, IROS 2025, and ICRA 2026.
Source: https://spectrum.ieee.org/video-friday-skyfall-mars-helicopter