2020 Intelligent Systems Summer Colloquium (Part 2) Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-09-26 | 2020 Intelligent Systems Summer Colloquium (Part 2)
Anniversary Video 15 Years and counting! Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-07-09 | For the past 15 years, the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) has been home to groundbreaking research, remarkable people, and countless moments that have shaped our journey.Created for our 15th Anniversary, this short retrospective brings together photographs and video footage captured over the years, showcasing the evolution of our institute—from scientific milestones and pioneering research to memorable events, collaborations, and the vibrant community that makes MPI-IS unique.More than a look back, this video is a celebration of everyone who has contributed to our story: researchers, students, technical and administrative staff, collaborators, alumni, and friends. Together, they have helped build an institute that continues to push the boundaries of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision, and intelligent systems.Thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey. Here's to the next chapter of curiosity, collaboration, and discovery.Learn more about the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems:🌐 https://is.mpg.deFollow us on social media for the latest research, stories, and behind-the-scenes moments:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/max-planck-institute-for-intelligent-systemsInstagram: instagram.com/mpi_is
Soft electrostatic actuators reveal higher efficiency than expected Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-04-22 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems propose a method to measure the efficiency of soft electrostatic actuators, enabling systematic evaluation of electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion. Using Peano-HASEL actuators, they demonstrate efficiencies up to 63.6%, over three times higher than previously reported, and validate the approach across other actuator types, paving the way for more energy-efficient soft electrostatic robotic systems.Find out more: www.is.mpg.de/news
Anniversary Video 15 Years and counting! Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-03-18 | Happy Birthday to us! Fifteen years ago today, the Max Planck Society reorganized the Max Planck Institute for Metal Research and established our Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. In addition to the Stuttgart campus, a new branch of the institute was established at the Tübingen campus – each with four departments at the time. A video shows how our institute has developed into an international leader in the fields of robotics and AI research over the past years. Or find out more here on our anniversary website: https://anniversary.is.mpg.de/en/decad/latest
Emergent Motility of Self-Organized Particle-Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Assembly Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-03-13 | Researchers from the Physical Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed a new strategy to breathe life into synthetic cells. They utilized Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) -soft compartments made of phospholipid molecules that mimic natural cell membranes. While GUVs are ideal models for synthetic cells, making these passive structures motile has always been a significant challenge. By integrating them with microparticles under electric fields, the team achieved emergent self-propulsion. Furthermore, they demonstrated on-demand bursting for controlled cargo release by simply tuning the field parameters. Creating such adaptive, soft robots is a big challenge in robotics, but as seen in the side-by-side comparison with a human neutrophil pursuing bacteria, these synthetic assemblies successfully mirror the sophisticated motility of biological life.Find out more: https://is.mpg.de/news/blog-from-passive-vesicles-to-cell-like-microrobotsRead the paper: advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15214095/2026/38/12
Emergent Motility of Self-Organized Particle-Giant Unilamellar Vesicle Assembly Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-03-12 | Researchers from the Physical Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have developed a new strategy to breathe life into synthetic cells. They utilized Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) -soft compartments made of phospholipid molecules that mimic natural cell membranes. While GUVs are ideal models for synthetic cells, making these passive structures motile has always been a significant challenge. By integrating them with microparticles under electric fields, the team achieved emergent self-propulsion. Furthermore, they demonstrated on-demand bursting for controlled cargo release by simply tuning the field parameters. Creating such adaptive, soft robots is a big challenge in robotics, but as seen in the side-by-side comparison with a human neutrophil pursuing bacteria, these synthetic assemblies successfully mirror the sophisticated motility of biological life.Find out more: https://is.mpg.de/news/blog-from-passive-vesicles-to-cell-like-microrobotsRead the paper: advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15214095/2026/38/12
Magnetic Microrobot Swarms Enable Contactless Manipulation of Objects Through Fluidic Torque Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-02-26 | In a study, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the University of Michigan, and Cornell University show that groups of magnetic microrobots can generate fluidic forces strong enough to rotate objects in different directions without touching them. These microrobot swarms can turn gear systems, rotate objects much larger than the robots themselves, assemble structures on their own, and even pull in or push away many small objects. The work was now published in Science Advances:“Fluidic Torque-Enabled Object Manipulation by Microrobot Collectives”Steven Ceron, Gaurav Gardi, Kirstin Petersen, Metin Sittidoi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea9947https://is.mpg.de/en/news/magnetic-mi...
Magnetic Microrobot Swarms Enable Contactless Manipulation of Objects Through Fluidic Torque Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-02-25 | In a study, a team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the University of Michigan, and Cornell University show that groups of magnetic microrobots can generate fluidic forces strong enough to rotate objects in different directions without touching them. These microrobot swarms can turn gear systems, rotate objects much larger than the robots themselves, assemble structures on their own, and even pull in or push away many small objects. The work was now published in Science Advances:“Fluidic Torque-Enabled Object Manipulation by Microrobot Collectives”Steven Ceron, Gaurav Gardi, Kirstin Petersen, Metin Sittidoi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aea9947https://is.mpg.de/en/news/magnetic-microrobot-swarms-enable-contactless-manipulation-of-objects-through-fluidic-torque
ELEPHANT WHISKERS exhibit material intelligence for touch sensing Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-02-12 | In a paper published in Science, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the Humboldt University of Berlin, and the University of Stuttgart have discovered that the secret to the elephant’s amazing sense of touch is in its unusual whiskers. The interdisciplinary team analyzed elephant trunk whiskers using advanced microscopy methods that revealed a form of material intelligence more sophisticated than the well-studied whiskers of rats and mice. This research has the potential to inspire new physically intelligent robotic sensing approaches that resemble the unusual whiskers that cover the elephant trunk.Check the full video here:youtu.be/MD7Auy7lH34Publication: Schulz, A.K., Kaufmann, L.V., Smith, L.T., Philip, D.S., David, H., Zinnanti, J., Brecht, M., Richter, G., Kuchenbecker, K.J., 2026, Functional gradients facilitate tactile sensing in elephant whiskers, ScienceFind out more: https://is.mpg.de/news/elephant-whiskersSimulation repository: github.com/LawSmith408/WhiskerAnalysesRead the paper: http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx8981CitationsA. K. Schulz et al., Skin wrinkles and folds enable asymmetric stretch in the elephant trunk, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 119, e2122563119 (2022)A. K. Schulz et al., Suction feeding by elephants, J. R. Soc. Interface. 202110215 (2021)K. Arkley et al., Strategy Change in Vibrissal Active Sensing during Rat Locomotion, Current Biology, Volume 24, Issue 13, (2014)
Elephant whiskers exhibit material intelligence for touch sensing Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-02-12 | In a paper published in Science, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the Humboldt University of Berlin, and the University of Stuttgart have discovered that the secret to the elephant’s amazing sense of touch is in its unusual whiskers. The interdisciplinary team analyzed elephant trunk whiskers using advanced microscopy methods that revealed a form of material intelligence more sophisticated than the well-studied whiskers of rats and mice. This research has the potential to inspire new physically intelligent robotic sensing approaches that resemble the unusual whiskers that cover the elephant trunk.Publication: Schulz, A.K., Kaufmann, L.V., Smith, L.T., Philip, D.S., David, H., Zinnanti, J., Brecht, M., Richter, G., Kuchenbecker, K.J., 2026, Functional gradients facilitate tactile sensing in elephant whiskers, ScienceFind out more: https://is.mpg.de/news/elephant-whiskersSimulation repository: github.com/LawSmith408/WhiskerAnalysesRead the paper: doi.org/10.1126/science.adx8981@ScienceMagazine CitationsA. K. Schulz et al., Skin wrinkles and folds enable asymmetric stretch in the elephant trunk, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 119, e2122563119 (2022)A. K. Schulz et al., Suction feeding by elephants, J. R. Soc. Interface. 202110215 (2021)K. Arkley et al., Strategy Change in Vibrissal Active Sensing during Rat Locomotion, Current Biology, Volume 24, Issue 13, (2014)The authors thank Zoo Atlanta for the footage of elephants suctioning up tortilla chips and reaching for pellets. To learn more about Zoo Atlanta’s research visit zooatlanta.org
3D-printed low-voltage-driven ciliary hydrogel microactuators Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-02-04 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Koç University in Istanbul have created hydrogel-based artificial cilia that move almost exactly like real biological cilia – the closest imitation achieved so far. The researchers can program each micrometer-sized cilium to move freely in space – just like cilia in the human body. With their research, the scientists aim to investigate how natural cilia function, how they coordinate their movement, and what role they play in brain development, signal perception, and fluid movement, for example. Because the artificial cilia are soft and easy to control, they could one day be used in medical devices to help people whose natural cilia are damaged or not working properly. The fast, low-voltage motion demonstrated in their study could also inspire a new generation of tiny robots that were previously impossible at such small scales. This milestone work was published in Nature on January 14, 2026.
3D-printed low-voltage-driven ciliary hydrogel microactuators Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2026-01-14 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Koç University in Istanbul have created hydrogel-based artificial cilia that move almost exactly like real biological cilia – the closest imitation achieved so far. The researchers can program each micrometer-sized cilium to move freely in space – just like cilia in the human body. With their research, the scientists aim to investigate how natural cilia function, how they coordinate their movement, and what role they play in brain development, signal perception, and fluid movement, for example. Because the artificial cilia are soft and easy to control, they could one day be used in medical devices to help people whose natural cilia are damaged or not working properly. The fast, low-voltage motion demonstrated in their study could also inspire a new generation of tiny robots that were previously impossible at such small scales. This milestone work was published in Nature on January 14, 2026.
Active Droplets with a Magnetic Upgrade #science Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-11-18 | In two papers published in Matter and Advanced Science, a team of scientists from the Physical Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany, developed control strategies for influencing the motion of self-propelling oil droplets. These oil droplets mimic single-celled microorganisms and can autonomously solve a complex maze by following chemical gradients. However, it is very challenging to integrate external perturbation and use these droplets in robotics. To address these challenges, the team developed magnetic droplets that still possess life-like properties and can be controlled by external magnetic fields. In their work, the researchers showed that they are able to guide the droplet's motion and use them in microrobotic applications such as cargo transportation.
Active Droplets with a Magnetic Upgrade Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-11-03 | In two papers published in Matter and Advanced Science, a team of scientists from the Physical Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany, developed control strategies for influencing the motion of self-propelling oil droplets. These oil droplets mimic single-celled microorganisms and can autonomously solve a complex maze by following chemical gradients. However, it is very challenging to integrate external perturbation and use these droplets in robotics. To address these challenges, the team developed magnetic droplets that still possess life-like properties and can be controlled by external magnetic fields. In their work, the researchers showed that they are able to guide the droplet's motion and use them in microrobotic applications such as cargo transportation.
Jamming with Magnetic Composites Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-10-27 | Could tiny magnetic objects, that rapidly clump together and instantly fall apart again, one day perform delicate procedures inside the human body? A new study from researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart and at ETH Zurich introduces a wireless method to stiffen and relax small structures using magnetic fields, without wires, pumps, or physical contact. This research, recently published in Nature Communications, is a collaboration between the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich, and the Robotic Composites and Compositions Group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart.https://is.mpg.de/news/from-stiff-to-...https://is.mpg.de/rococohttps://www.nature.com/articles/s4146...
Jamming with Magnetic Composites Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-10-20 | Could tiny magnetic objects, that rapidly clump together and instantly fall apart again, one day perform delicate procedures inside the human body? A new study from researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart and at ETH Zurich introduces a wireless method to stiffen and relax small structures using magnetic fields, without wires, pumps, or physical contact. This research, recently published in Nature Communications, is a collaboration between the Multi-Scale Robotics Lab at ETH Zurich, and the Robotic Composites and Compositions Group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart.https://is.mpg.de/news/from-stiff-to-soft-in-a-snaphttps://is.mpg.de/rococonature.com/articles/s41467-025-63729-z
IMPRS-IS boot camp 2025 Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-10-03 | IMPRS-IS boot camp for 2025 took place in both sites of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart and Tübingen, from the 24th to the 26th of September.Around 300 community members to join us for this immersive learning experience filled with scientific talks, paper discussions, tutorials, a lively debate, social activities, and more!https://imprs.is.mpg.de/https://is.mpg.de/
Magnetic Microalgae on a mission to become robots Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-03-17 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have coated a single-celled green microalga with a magnetic material and turned it into a microrobot. In nature, the ten-micro meters small algae are fantastic swimmers, propelled by their two whip-like flagella at the front. The scientists found that the micro robots maintained their swimming speed after magnetization, demonstrating an average speed of 115 micrometers per second - that’s about 12 body lengths per second. By comparison: an Olympic swimmer like Michael Phelps can only reach a speed of 1.4 body lengths per second. Note that the algae is just a cell without legs and feet. The study provides insights into how magnetic guidance enables the micro-robots to navigate with precision through narrow, tissue-like environments. The findings open the door to applications such as targeted drug delivery, providing a biocompatible solution for medical treatments with exciting potential for future innovations in biomedicine and beyond.https://is.mpg.de/news
Artificial Muscles for Tremor Suppression Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-03-06 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, the University of Tübingen and the University of Stuttgart under the Bionic Intelligence Tübingen Stuttgart (BITS)(bionic-intelligence.org) collaboration developed a biorobotic arm that can mirror human tremors, such as those experienced by individuals that live with Parkinson's disease. Artificial muscles on either side of the forearm contract and relax to suppress the involuntary shaking of the wrist and hand. The researchers see their biorobotic arm not only as a platform for other scientists in the field to test new ideas in exoskeleton technology. The arm also serves as a test bed to see how well artificial muscles known as HASELs can one day become the building blocks of wearable devices. The vision is to one day develop a sleeve that tremor patients can comfortably wear to be able to better cope with everyday tasks such as holding a cup.doi.org/10.1016/j.device.2025.100719Department Video: youtu.be/4E_fLxoD5mQhttps://is.mpg.de/news
Navigating AI Convergence in Human–Artificial Intelligence Teams Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-02-28 | This study examines how the alignment of signals between AI and human teammates, along with the option to seek AI advice, impacts decision-making in human-AI teams in high-stakes contexts such as facial recognition or recruitment.doi.org/10.1002/job.2856The Wiley Journal for Organizational Behavior prepared a promotional video for this paper.https://is.mpg.de/news
CUTE Wearable Devices: Expanding the Boundaries of Haptic Technology Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2025-01-07 | Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems developed compact wearable devices that deliver rich, expressive, and pleasant haptic sensations, that go far beyond the buzzing vibrations of today’s consumer devices. Cutaneous electrohydraulic (CUTE) wearable devices are electrically driven and can produce a remarkable range of haptic sensations, including making contact with the skin, slow and calming touch, and vibrations at a wide variety of frequencies, from low to high. The haptic feedback can be freely customized to deliver multiple types of cutaneous sensations, tailored to the desired haptic experience.📣 Find out more: https://is.mpg.de/news/electrohydraulic-wearable-devices-create-unprecedented-haptic-sensations📄 Publication: "Cutaneous Electrohydraulic (CUTE) Wearable Devices for Pleasant Broad-Bandwidth Haptic Cues" onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/advs.202402461🎥 Technical video: youtube.com/watch?v=Lu0mzC6bAFghttps://is.mpg.de/news
Robotic leg powered by HASELs Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2024-09-09 | Scientists at our Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems together with a team at ETH Zurich developed a robotic leg powered by electro-hydraulic artificial muscles known as HASELS. Inspired by living creatures, the leg jumps across different terrains such as grass, pebbles – even rocks – in an agile and energy-efficient manner. Plus, the artificial muscles are self-sensing, allowing the entire leg to detect collisions with obstacles and overcome them. More so, the leg uses up almost no energy when holding still and shows no observable temperature change – so very different to electric motors which would heat up. This innovative leg is a Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems research project. The paper with the title “Electrohydraulic musculoskeletal robotic leg for agile, adaptive, yet energy-efficient locomotion” was published in Nature Communications on Sept 9th, 2024.https://is.mpg.de/newsPaper: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-51568-3Technical video: youtu.be/MOFWrJ_XA7Ehttps://is.mpg.de/news
Soft Robotic Tool provides new eyes in endovascular surgery Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2023-08-21 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have developed a soft robotic tool that promises to one day transform minimally invasive endovascular surgery. The two-part magnetic tool can help to visualise in real time the fine morphological details of partial vascular blockages such as stenoses, even in the narrowest and most curved vessels. It can also find its way through severe blockages such as chronic total occlusions. This tool could one day take the perception of endovascular medical devices a step further: https://is.mpg.de/news/soft-robotic-tool-provides-new-eyes-in-endovascular-surgery
Pangolin the inspiration for medical robot Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2023-06-21 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have developed a magnetically controlled soft medical robot with a unique, flexible structure inspired by the body of a pangolin. The robot is freely movable despite built-in hard metal components. Thus, depending on the magnetic field, it can adapt its shape to be able to move and can emit heat when needed, allowing for functionalities such as selective cargo transportation and release as well as mitigation of bleeding. The research was published in Nature Communications on 20 June 2023.
Jellyfish-like robots could one day clean up the world’s oceans Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2023-04-25 | Roboticists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart have developed a jellyfish-inspired underwater robot with which they hope one day to collect waste from the bottom of the ocean. The almost noise-free prototype can trap objects underneath its body without physical contact, thereby enabling safe interactions in delicate environments such as coral reefs. Jellyfish-Bot could become an important tool for environmental remediation.Read more here: www.is.mpg.de/newsRobotiker des Max-Planck-Instituts für Intelligente Systeme in Stuttgart haben einen von Quallen inspirierten Unterwasserroboter entwickelt, mit dem sie eines Tages Abfälle vom Meeresgrund aufsammeln wollen. Der nahezu geräuschlose Prototyp kann Objekte berührungslos unter seinem Körper einfangen und bewegt sich somit störungsfrei in empfindlichen Umgebungen wie zum Beispiel Korallenriffen. Jellyfish-Bot ist ein Hoffnungsträger – Schwärme dieser Roboter könnten eines Tages helfen, die Weltmeere zu säubern.Mehr Infos gibt es hier: https://is.mpg.de/de/news
Diverse Image Dataset Collection Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-10-13 | Scientists from our Human Aspects of Machine Learning research group are looking for people of all demographic and ethnic groups who can help contribute to our diverse facial image dataset.Go to www.faces.is.mpg.de to learn more.The current facial image datasets not only lack diversity regarding age, gender, race, and skin tone, but they are also often not ethically sourced. As the team works on ethical AI, with your help, we want to build the largest ethically sourced and diverse facial image dataset. Your images are collected only for research purposes and we ask you to self-identify your demographical attributes.#AI #KI #MachineLearning #ComputerVision #DeepLearning #NoBias #Fairness #Inclusion #ArtificialIntelligenceEditing, composition, animation and mixdown: Alejandro Posada, Visual Content Creator at MPI-IS VoiceOver: Sara Sorce, IMPRS-IS Communications ManagerVector artwork and raw animation: Mahboobeh Mohammadzakihttps://is.mpg.de/news
The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-09-07 | The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems is a world leading research institution in the field of AI, Machine Learning and Robotics. Our goal is to understand and investigate the fundamental problem of Perception, Action and Learning, asking the question: How are intelligent systems able to operate autonomously in, and adapt to, complex, changing environments? We use nature’s blueprint to design state-of-the-art artificially intelligent systems. They range from life-like avatars to humanoid robots with a sense of touch, to algorithms that detect patterns in huge datasets. Find out more here: www.is.mpg.deScript: Linda Behringer, Press Officer at MPI-ISEditing, composition and mixdown: Alejandro Posada, Visual Content Creator at MPI-IS
IMPRS IS FAQs Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-05-05 | Thinking about applying to begin a PhD at IMPRS-IS? Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked applicant questions here! Plus, for more info, check out the application page of the IMPRS-IS website: https://imprs.is.mpg.de/application
IMPRS-IS Application Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-05-05 | Thinking about applying to begin a PhD at IMPRS-IS? This is a video where you can find all the steps to apply. Also check out the application page of the IMPRS-IS website: https://imprs.is.mpg.de/application
Microrobot collectives display versatile movement patterns Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-04-26 | Collective behavior and swarm patterns are found everywhere in nature. Robots can also be programmed to act in swarms. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS), Cornell University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have developed collectives of microrobots, which they can move in every formation they wish. The research project was published in Nature Communications. Find out more here: https://is.mpg.de/news
BirdBot sehr energieeffizient dank der Natur als Vorbild Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-03-16 | Graziös, elegant, kraftvoll – Laufvögel wie der Strauß sind ein mechanisches Wunderwerk. Die teilweise über 100kg schweren Tiere rennen mit bis zu 55km/h durch die Savanne – oder wie hier durch ein Labor. Anders als Menschen klappen Vögel den Fuß nach hinten zurück während sie das Bein zum Körper hochziehen. Warum machen das die Tiere, wieso ist diese Fußbewegung beim Gehen und Rennen energieeffizient, und wie lässt sich der Aufbau der Vogelbeine mit all seinen Knochen, Muskeln und Sehnen auf Laufroboter übertragen? Am Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme haben Wissenschaftler der Forschungsgruppe Dynamische Lokomotion ein Roboterbein konstruiert, das wie sein natürliches Vorbild sehr energieeffizient ist – und tauften es BirdBot. BirdBot braucht weniger Motoren als andere Laufroboter und könnte theoretisch riesig groß gebaut werden. Die Forschungsarbeit, die in Zusammenarbeit mit der University of California, Irvine, entstand, wurde im Fachjournal Science Robotics publiziert: www.is.mpg.de/news
Meet BirdBot, an energy-efficient robot leg - research published in Science Robotics Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-03-16 | A team of scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and the University of California, Irvine constructed a robot leg that, like its natural model, is very energy efficient. BirdBot benefits from a foot-leg coupling through a network of muscles and tendons that extends across multiple joints. In this way, BirdBot needs fewer motors than previous legged robots and could, theoretically, scale to large size. On March 16th, the researchers will publish their work in Science Robotics.Find out more here: www.is.mpg.de/news
Welcome to Germany MPI-IS Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-03-02 | Thinking about joining the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems to pursue a Ph.D.? Over 50% of our doctoral researchers come from somewhere outside of Germany. We are happy to support our international researchers with relocation. This video can help to explain the general process of moving to one of our two locations of Stuttgart or Tübingen, Germany.
Fingertip Sensitivity for Robots - a publication in Nature Machine Intelligence Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2022-02-23 | Striving to improve touch sensing in robotics, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems developed a thumb-shaped sensor with a camera hidden inside and trained a deep neural network to infer its haptic contact information. When something touches the finger, the system constructs a three-dimensional force map from the visible deformations of its flexible outer shell. This research invention significantly improves a robot finger’s haptic perception, coming ever closer to the sense of touch of human skin. On February 23, 2022, the work was published in Nature Machine Intelligence. More information can be found here: www.is.mpg.de/news
The Anniversary Celebration of the MPI-IS and MPI-MF on September 30, 2021 Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-10-01 | The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) emerged ten years ago from the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research (MPI-MF), which was founded in 1921. At a hybrid event on Thursday, the MPI-IS directors celebrated the 10- and 100-year double anniversary at one of the most beautiful venues in all of Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart's Neues Schloss. Together with the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, and the President of the Max Planck Society, Prof. Dr. Martin Stratmann, the directors Michael Black, Siegfried Dietrich, Christoph Keplinger, Katherine Kuchenbecker, Bernhard Schölkopf, Giesela Schütz and Metin Sitti viewed with pride what both institutes have achieved. They reflected on the impressive 100-year history and looked back at the people who have made both institutes world-renowned in their respective fields of research. Meanwhile, staff, alumni, and friends of the institute were able to watch the celebrations from their screens. www.is.mpg.de
10 years MPI for Intelligent Systems, 100 years MPI for Metals Research Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-09-29 | The MPI for Intelligent Systems emerged 10 years ago from the MPI for Metals Research, which was founded in 1921. We are taking the double anniversary as an opportunity to show the exciting history of both institutes in a film. The social and political changes that led to the collapse of the Weimar Republic, the seizure of power by the National Socialists and World War II, the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany, the German economic miracle and an increasingly technological and digital world that can no longer do without artificial intelligent systems – all this is reflected in our history. As different as the research conditions have been, it has always been about basic research at the highest international level – for over 100 years.Video by: Alejandro Posada MPI-IS
10 Jahre MPI für Intelligente Systeme, 100 Jahre MPI für Metallforschung Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-09-29 | Das MPI für Intelligente Systeme ging vor 10 Jahren aus dem 1921 gegründeten MPI für Metallforschung hervor. Das doppelte Jubiläum nehmen wir zum Anlass, die spannende Geschichte beider Institute in einem Film zu zeigen. Der gesellschaftliche und politische Wandel, der zum Zusammenbruch der Weimarer Republik führte, die Machtergreifung der Nationalsozialisten und der II. Weltkrieg, die Gründung der Bundesrepublik, das Deutsche Wirtschaftswunder und eine zunehmend technologisierte und digitale Welt, die ohne künstliche intelligente Systeme nicht mehr auskommt – all das spiegelt sich wider in unserer Historie. So unterschiedlich die Forschungsbedingungen waren, so ging es immer um Grundlagenforschung auf internationalem Spitzenniveau – und das seit über 100 Jahren.Video by: Alejandro Posada MPI-IS
Frequently Asked Questions When Applying for a CLS Doctoral Fellowship Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-09-09 | Are you thinking of applying to do your Ph.D. with the Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS)? This video talks you through the application process and offers useful tips.What is special about the CLS doctoral fellowships? (00:12)How do I apply? (01:00)When is the application deadline? (02:00)How do I decide which researchers to name? (02:53)How do I write my motivation letter? (04:18)Who should I pick as referees? (05:22)Who can apply? (06:56)Credits: Produced by Alejandro Posada for the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsCLS Team: Sarah Danes and Natalia MarciniakMore information: learning-systems.org/apply
Relocating to Germany with IMPRS-IS Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-09-06 | Thinking about joining IMPRS-IS to pursue a Ph.D.? Over 50% of our doctoral researchers come from somewhere outside of Germany. We are happy to support our international researchers with relocation. This video can help to explain the general process of moving to one of our two locations of Stuttgart or Tübingen, Germany.
International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems IMPRS-IS Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-06-30 | Interested in pursuing a Ph.D. at the International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems? IMPRS-IS seeks students who want to earn a doctorate while contributing to world-leading research in areas such as Computational Cognitive Science, Computer Graphics, Computer Vision, Control Systems, Haptics, Human-Computer Interaction, Machine Learning, Micro- and Nano-Robotics, Perceptual Inference, Robotics, and more! To find out more about IMPRS-IS and how to apply, check out our website https://imprs.is.mpg.de/application
Electrohydraulic arachno-bot a fascinating lightweight Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-06-16 | It is not the first time that spiders have served as biological models in the research field of soft robotics. The hydraulic actuation mechanisms they apply to move their limbs when weaving their web or hunting for prey give them powers many roboticists and engineers have drawn inspiration from. A team of researchers of the Robotic Materials Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and at the University of Colorado Boulder in the US has now found a new way to exploit the principles of spiders’ joints to drive articulated robots without any bulky components and connectors, which weigh down the robot and reduce portability and speed. Their slender and lightweight simple structures impress by enabling a robot to jump 10 times its height. At the end of May, the team’s work titled “Spider-inspired electrohydraulic actuators for fast, soft-actuated joints” was published in Advanced Science:onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202100916doi.org/10.1002/advs.202100916Read the full story here: https://is.mpg.de/news
A modular building platform for the most ingenious of robots Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-04-29 | A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems has developed a system with which they can fabricate miniature robots building block by building block, which function exactly as required. As one would do with a Lego system, the scientists can randomly combine individual components. The building blocks or voxels – which could be described as 3D pixels – are made of different materials: from basic matrix materials that hold up the construction to magnetic components enabling the control of the soft machine. “You can put the individual soft parts together in any way you wish, with no limitations on what you can achieve. In this way, each robot has an individual magnetisation profile,” says Jiachen Zhang. Together with Ziyu Ren and Wenqi Hu he is first author of the paper entitled “Voxelated three-dimensional miniature magnetic soft machines via multimaterial heterogeneous assembly”. The paper was published in Science Robotics on April 28, 2021. Find out more here: https://is.mpg.de/en/news/a-modular-building-platform-for-the-most-ingenious-of-robots
From a real fish to a soft robotic model - a publication in Wiley’s Advanced Intelligent Systems Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-03-18 | The body stiffness of fish is so finely tuned for efficient swimming that even a dead fish will passively swim upstream in response to a vortex wake.A team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in Germany, from Seoul National University in Korea, and from Harvard University in the US has developed a soft robot that emulates the performance-enhancing body dynamics of real fish. Their work "Modeling and Control of a Soft Robotic Fish with Integrated Soft Sensing" was published in Wiley’s Advanced Intelligent Systems journal, in a special issue on "Energy Storage and Delivery in Robotic Systems".The robot is made entirely of soft, flexible materials including a liquid metal stretch sensor that detects bending in real-time.The team’s data-driven model of the robot (black line) allows the scientists to accurately simulate the motion of the soft fish robot (blue line).The simulation is also able to capture the stiffness changing effect of the pneumatic actuators as they inflate and deflate.The model uses a genetic algorithm to match experimental data, and can also predict the robot’s response to hydrodynamic forces. This has allowed us to design and tune control algorithms for efficient swimming, using feedback from soft strain sensors.Find out more here: https://bio.is.mpg.de/ or https://is.mpg.de/news
Worlds first video recording of a space-time crystal Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-02-09 | Periodic pattern consisting of magnons is formed at room temperatureA team of researchers has succeeded in creating a micrometer-sized space-time crystal consisting of magnons at room temperature. With the help of an ultra-precise X-ray microscope, they were able to capture the recurring periodic magnetization structure in a movie. The research project “Real space observation of magnon interaction with driven space-time crystals” was published in Physical Review Letters: https://is.mpg.de/news/world-s-first-video-recording-of-a-space-time-crystal
University of Stuttgart & IMPRS-IS Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-01-18 | The International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems brings together the MPI-IS and the Universities of Tübingen and Stuttgart. Through this partnership, IMPRS-IS seeks to create a new generation of young scientists and engineers, within a highly multi-disciplinary environment, enabling them to tackle the fundamental challenges of intelligent systems.This video will showcase one of the IMPRS-IS partner institutions. The University of Stuttgart. The Team:Alejandro PosadaFelipe V. RochaLeila MasriLinda BehringerMelina DanieliSara SorceSarah DanesArchive Footage thanks to:Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Wohnungsbau Baden-WürttembergStaatspreis Baukultur Baden-Württemberg 2020Zentrum für Medienkompetenz der Universität TübingenHochschulkommunikation Universität TübingenTourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-WürttembergUniversitätsklinikum TübingenWIT Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Tübingen mbH / Jannik Wiese, Moritz SchnellStuttgart-Marketing GmbHDrone Footage by Jun.-Prof. Aamir Ahmad, University of StuttgartCoverrSpecial thanks to:Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsUniversity of Stuttgart University of Tübingen
Max-Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS) - doctoral training at MPI for Intelligent Systems Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-01-15 | The Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS) is a joint academic program on artificial intelligence between ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Society. CLS offers a unique doctoral training program, where Ph.D. students are co-supervised by one advisor from ETH, and one from the MPI for Intelligent Systems, or a CLS Senior Fellow. Find out here about life at the MPI for Intelligent Systems.Credits: Produced by Felipe V. Rocha for the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsMPI-IS Team: Alejandro Posada, Leila Masri, Linda Behringer, Sara Sorce, Sarah DanesMore information:learning-systems.orghttps://www.is.mpg.de/en
Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS) - doctoral training at ETH Zurich Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-01-15 | The Max Planck ETH Center for Learning Systems (CLS) is a joint academic program on artificial intelligence between ETH Zurich and the Max Planck Society. CLS offers a unique doctoral training program, where Ph.D. students are co-supervised by one advisor from ETH, and one from the MPI for Intelligent Systems, or a CLS Senior Fellow. Hear from CLS doctoral fellows based at ETH Zurich about their experiences.Credits: Produced by Dario Schmieder for ETH ZurichETH/CLS Team: Natalia Marciniak, Paulina Motyka, Olaf A. Schulte, Sarah Danes More information:learning-systems.orghttps://www.ethz.ch
Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems & IMPRS-IS Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-01-15 | The Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems- or MPI-IS, for short - is one of currently 86 institutes and facilities of the Max Planck Society, Germany’s leading national organisation for basic research.The MPI-IS is split between two sites, one in the major city of Stuttgart and one in the nearby smaller city of Tübingen. Both lie in the state of Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany, an area of breathtakingly beautiful nature with forests and mountains. In this film, we want to show you what it is like to work as a researcher here at MPI-IS.The Team:Alejandro PosadaFelipe V. RochaLeila MasriLinda BehringerMelina DanieliSara SorceSarah DanesArchive Footage thanks to:Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Wohnungsbau Baden-WürttembergStaatspreis Baukultur Baden-Württemberg 2020Zentrum für Medienkompetenz der Universität TübingenHochschulkommunikation Universität TübingenTourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-WürttembergUniversitätsklinikum TübingenWIT Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Tübingen mbH / Jannik Wiese, Moritz SchnellStuttgart-Marketing GmbHDrone Footage by Jun.-Prof. Aamir Ahmad, University of StuttgartCoverrSpecial thanks to:Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsUniversity of Stuttgart University of Tübingen
University of Tübingen & IMPRS-IS Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2021-01-15 | The International Max Planck Research School for Intelligent Systems brings together the MPI-IS and the Universities of Tübingen and Stuttgart. Through this partnership, IMPRS-IS seeks to create a new generation of young scientists and engineers, within a highly multi-disciplinary environment, enabling them to tackle the fundamental challenges of intelligent systems.This video will showcase one of the IMPRS-IS partner institutions. The University of Tübingen.The Team:Alejandro PosadaFelipe V. RochaLeila MasriLinda BehringerMelina DanieliSara SorceSarah DanesArchive Footage thanks to:Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Arbeit und Wohnungsbau Baden-WürttembergStaatspreis Baukultur Baden-Württemberg 2020Zentrum für Medienkompetenz der Universität TübingenHochschulkommunikation Universität TübingenTourismus Marketing GmbH Baden-WürttembergUniversitätsklinikum TübingenWIT Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Tübingen mbH / Jannik Wiese, Moritz SchnellStuttgart-Marketing GmbHDrone Footage by Jun.-Prof. Aamir Ahmad, University of StuttgartCoverrSpecial thanks to:Max Planck Institute for Intelligent SystemsUniversity of Stuttgart University of Tübingen
The AI research ecosystem Cyber Valley Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2020-11-27 | Founded at the end of 2016, Cyber Valley has quickly grown into Europe’s largest ecosystem for research and innovation in machine learning and related fields. Located in southwestern Germany, Cyber Valley counts four research institutions among its partners, namely the Universities of Stuttgart and Tübingen, the Max Planck Society, and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. It also comprises seven industrial partners, a start-up network, and an investor network. Cyber Valley’s overarching aims are to train the AI researchers of the future, promote knowledge and technology transfer between basic and applied research, and foster a culture of entrepreneurship among scientists in the Stuttgart-Tübingen region. Of course, none of this would be possible without outstanding basic research: with a growing number of professorships, research groups, and clusters of excellence, Cyber Valley institutions have some of the world’s leading scientists among their faculty. At present, the Cyber Valley ecosystem counts more than 1000 researchers, among them 160 Ph.D. students. Researchers at Cyber Valley partner institutions have consistently had a high number of papers accepted to the world’s leading machine learning conferences. At NeurIPS 2020, the Universities of Stuttgart and Tübingen, the Max Planck Institutes for Intelligent Systems and Biological Cybernetics, and the Bosch Center for Artificial Intelligence have a total of 31 papers. More information about Cyber Valley can be found here: www.cyber-valley.de
Bioinspired cilia help understand which movement pattern generates maximal fluid flows Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems 2020-11-11 | Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany, develop artificial cilia that can be programmed to move in waves. In experiments, the researchers show how the millimeter-small cilia can pump viscous liquids just as effectively as their natural counterparts. Their research helps shed light on the mystery regarding which movement pattern generates a maximal fluid flow. Published in Science Advances, their findings contribute to a better understanding of the biomechanics of real cilia, and to the development of miniature robotic pumping devices that could one day be used inside the human body.https://is.mpg.de/news
