Ep 11. Robot Sleep Pillow

Innovation Nation is back with season 6 episode 11 and this time it's about a Robot Sleep Pillow. As the name suggests, this episode covers a fascinating invention in the sleep industry that'll make you sleep like a baby.

It all starts with a visit to the University of Washington, where the team explores the Robot Sleep Pillow. The Robot Sleep Pillow is a device invented by Dr. Sawyer Fuller, which mimics the soothing strokes of a human hand. Dr. Sawyer Fuller demonstrates how the device works and talks about its features.

The Robot Sleep Pillow is designed to help people sleep better by providing soothing sensations that replicate comforting human touch. The device is equipped with multiple sensors that determine the user's sleeping position and adjust the pressure accordingly. It also detects the user's breathing patterns and heart rate to provide personalized massage therapy to improve sleep.

The sleep pillow is easy to use. You simply charge it up, turn it on, and place it under your head. The pillow works like a massage chair, loosening the muscles and relieving the stress to ease you into sleep. Furthermore, it has three distinct modes of operation: Relax, Sleep, and Energize.

Next, the team heads to MIT to meet Prof. Sangbae Kim, who developed a robotic arm design that is inspired by an octopus tentacle. Prof. Kim talks about the flexible nature of the tentacle and how it can be used to create a robot arm that can bend and twist in various directions. The robot arm has several advantages over traditional robotic arms when it comes to manipulating objects in tight spaces.

Prof. Kim further demonstrates how the octopus-inspired robot arm can be controlled using an ordinary camera. A camera captures the location of the objects in real-time, and an algorithm determines the best path for the robot arm to move to pick up the objects.

Following that, the show takes us to Aurora Flight Sciences, where a team of engineers is working on developing a new type of drone that propels itself using a fan-like device instead of the traditional rotors. This drone is designed to fly indoors and has several applications in search-and-rescue operations, disaster relief, and military reconnaissance.

The team demonstrates how the drone works by performing a few test flights inside their laboratory. The drone is unique in that it is equipped with a fan-like device instead of traditional rotors, which allows it to fly indoors without causing any damage.

Finally, the team heads to Phoenix to meet Dr. Jennie Lawrence, who works with some remarkable squirrels. Dr. Lawrence talks about her research on squirrels and their uncanny ability to navigate complex environments at breakneck speeds. She uses her research to develop agility training courses for squirrels that improve their navigation and coordination skills.

This episode is packed with exciting and innovative inventions that showcase the power of technology in improving our lives. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in exploring the frontiers of modern science.