Isaac Mendez

Isaac is Centre Robotics' research correspondent, covering preprints, labs, and the academic side of robotics.

AI Models

A small open dataset is changing how robotics labs train manipulation

Open X-Embodiment was supposed to be a research curiosity. A year on, it is the default dataset for serious robot manipulation research.

Isaac Mendez · 23 May · 3 min

Research

A new paper claims to solve the "demonstration scarcity" problem with synthetic data

One of robotics' oldest bottlenecks may have a real solution. Or it may not. A new arXiv paper makes a strong case for synthetic demonstration data.

Isaac Mendez · 22 May · 3 min

Research

Why reinforcement learning is making a quiet comeback in robotics

For five years, imitation learning has dominated practical robotics research. New results suggest reinforcement learning is back, with better tooling.

Isaac Mendez · 18 May · 3 min

Research

Researchers have developed a sensor dense enough to let a robot distinguish between fabrics by feel. The applications are immediate.

Isaac Mendez · 4 May · 3 min

New data shows that 70 percent of robotics PhDs now go directly to industry rather than academia. The consequences for research are real.

Isaac Mendez · 2 May · 3 min

A decade of work on simulated locomotion training is paying off. The same techniques are being adapted for hands.

Isaac Mendez · 30 Apr · 3 min

A new tactile sensor gives robots something close to a sense of touch

Research

The robotics PhD pipeline is shifting toward industry at an unprecedented rate

AI Models

Sim-to-real transfer finally works for locomotion. Manipulation is next.