Robots are becoming smarter every day, but their ability to handle objects is still less accurate than that of humans. However, recent research at Kennesaw State University is working to change that by helping robots better understand movement, touch, and real-world interactions. Such abilities, Tao and his colleagues say, require advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to replicate what humans do naturally. “The human can still control it to do very subtle, dexterous tasks.” Possible applications of Tao’s research include robotic surgery, space exploration, disaster response, manufacturing, and healthcare. “Our goal is to make robots intelligent, safe, and truly helpful to people.”Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and the founder of VOCAB Communications.