Asimo stars in Living With Robots, promises not to forget the ‘little people’ (video)
January 22, 2010
Asimo stars in Living With Robots, promises not to forget the ‘little people’ (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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KIST Mahru-Z waits on you very, very slowly
January 18, 2010
We’ve seen KIST’s Marhu robot tooling around here before, but now they’re showing off the latest models, the Mahru-Z (with some help from Mahru-M), in some super useful scenarios. Mahru-Z and M have been successfully demonstrating their service abilities by carrying cups of tea, and retrieving toast from toasters and delivering it as well. The Z-version bot is a bit shorter than previous iterations, and also sports different, more dextrous arms. He stands about 4 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 122 pounds. Both bots are networked and use 3D object recognition in their task completion. Overall, the improvements to the Mahru bots are iterative, but it sure is great to hear that one day we’ll have someone to bring our breakfast to us in bed. Video is after the break.
Continue reading KIST Mahru-Z waits on you very, very slowly
KIST Mahru-Z waits on you very, very slowly originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Japanese researchers develop robotic, heroic hummingbird
December 28, 2009
This is not the first time we’ve heard about a robotic hummingbird, but they’re still a rare enough species to warrant our attention. Japanese researchers at Chiba University near Tokyo have developed a new bot which behaves much like the quick-winged bird, which is controlled by an infrared sensor. The little birdie weighs in at less than an ounce and can fly in a figure eight, moving up, down, left and right. Next steps for its development — which the researchers say will arrive by 2011 — include the ability for it to hover mid-air, and have a small camera attached to it. Ultimately, its creators see the robot (which has cost around 2 million dollars to develop) being able to help search for people in dangerous situations, such as destroyed buildings, or aiding in the search for criminals. We haven’t gotten a look at the little guy yet (the above photo is merely to whet your imagination), but we anxiously await its arrival.
Japanese researchers develop robotic, heroic hummingbird originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ASUS says EeeBots are coming, inevitably running Android OS
December 17, 2009
We’ve seen humanoid bots ranging from the cute to the downright insane with none of them ever coming close to commercial viability, but stick an Eee in front of their name and all bets are off. ASUS, the company that started the seemingly unlikely netbook revolution (sorry, FIC), is about to apply its golden touch to the field of consumer-friendly robotics. Intended to serve as an educational tool for young children to interact with, the EeeBot will be driven by a modified version of the aptly titled Android OS and ASUS is said to be hard at work developing a content and services ecosystem around the hardware. Teased technologies include voice, video and navigation abilities, but we’ll have to wait a while before we see any of it since production won’t begin for another two years.
ASUS says EeeBots are coming, inevitably running Android OS originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tetra the micromouse needs no cheese, completes maze in new record time (video)
December 12, 2009
Continue reading Tetra the micromouse needs no cheese, completes maze in new record time (video)
Tetra the micromouse needs no cheese, completes maze in new record time (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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British Library packs its least requested items into new, robot-operated facility in Leeds
December 3, 2009
The British Library’s just taken the wraps off a new facility up in Leeds where they’ll now house some lesser used items (things like patent specs and Martin Amis’ diner receipts). The new digs are a £26 million (that’s about $43 million) building in West Yorkshire controlled by seven robot operators capable of pulling items and taking them to a retrieval area when they’ve been requested by librarians. Hit the BBC Source link to check out the futuristic system for yourself.
British Library packs its least requested items into new, robot-operated facility in Leeds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samurai of Kuroda granted a cybernetic upgrade
November 30, 2009
Looking for a techno spin on the traditional, the Samurai of Kuroda have become assimilated into robot territory. They dance, they drink, they wield a great spear and use it to skewer flesh when you’re not looking — probably. Look for the creations at IREX 2009 and then after at RoboSquare in Kyushu. If you can’t make it out, or want a preview, take a peep for yourself after the break.
Continue reading Samurai of Kuroda granted a cybernetic upgrade
Samurai of Kuroda granted a cybernetic upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tokyo robosuit could make you the sack lifting champion
November 26, 2009
In Japan, the ultimate merit of a robotic suit is measured in sacks of rice. We’ve seen it before with the HAL-5. The latest suit created by students at Tokyo’s University of Science provides enough assistance to the wearer’s back to lift an additional 15 to 20 kilograms (that’s 33 to 44 pounds) — in other words, another two bags of rice for five in total. The university’s previous robosuit was heavier and more bulky by comparison, in that it provided assistance to both the wearers back and arms (though clearly some support is provided based on the image above). The suit will ultimately benefit factory workers or those with physical limitations when it goes into production sometime in 2010. Outstanding. Surprisingly, nobody from the university seems willing to talk about that kid with sawblade arms in the corner.
Tokyo robosuit could make you the sack lifting champion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Robots perform synchronized interpretive dance for the holidays, fill us with cheer
November 20, 2009
You know what we love? Dancing robots and Christmas tunes. So combining the two and throwing the video up on YouTube would be akin to heaven, right? Well, as you’ll see in the amazing video after the break: it doesn’t get much better than this. In fact, it might even be enough to clear the “bah humbug” out of us for good.
Continue reading Robots perform synchronized interpretive dance for the holidays, fill us with cheer
Robots perform synchronized interpretive dance for the holidays, fill us with cheer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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DIY Robolamps are part lamp, part robot, all awesome
November 17, 2009
While we’re mostly concerned with covering the latest in gadgets and technology, there’s occasionally some humble creations that spend months building up enough stream to finally break into the public’s consciousness, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t take notice. One such piece of magic is the Robolamp series of, well, robot lamps that Robert Matysiak has been working on for the past two years, and looks to have recently gone all out with in the last few months. As you can see for yourself in the gallery below, those consist of everything from some fairly recognizable lamp-shaped devices to more elaborate “robots” that can apparently be repositioned and accessorized. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Matysiak is quite ready to part with them just yet, but he is looking for a place to exhibit the designs if there happens to be any adventuresome gallery owners out there.
[Via Pocket-lint]
Filed under: Household, Robots
DIY Robolamps are part lamp, part robot, all awesome originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iRobot creates new business unit for healthcare robotics
November 5, 2009
Well, it doesn’t have a Roomba that will check up on your vitals just yet, but it looks like iRobot is betting on healthcare robotics in a fairly big way, with it taking advantage of the recent TEDMED conference to announce that it’s forming a new business unit focused solely on the still burgeoning industry. That unit will be headed up by Tod Loofbourrow, who says that he believes the business “has the potential to make a significant difference in the field of healthcare,” and adds that he thinks “the long-term potential of robotics to extend independent living is profound.” While he’s just as light on specifics, iRobot CEO Colin Angle is no less ambitious about the company’s goals, saying that iRobot’s “healthcare mission is add a million years of independent living to our customers.” And in case you’re wondering, the image at right isn’t an iRobot robot, but it is all too real.
[Via So, Where's My Robot?]
Filed under: Robots
iRobot creates new business unit for healthcare robotics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Robovie rescue bot hunts high and low for lost princesses (video)
November 3, 2009
If you’ve been feeling blue because you haven’t got enough green to keep the old bank account in the black, we’ve got just the tonic for you, dear friend. There’s nothing that gets us all perked up and cheerful quite like an adorable humanoid robot negotiating an obstacle course in the performance of a rescue mission. In fact, if you layer on your own “save the princess” narrative atop the on-screen events, the pep in your step should be back in no time. The smile-inducing video can be found after the break.
Continue reading Robovie rescue bot hunts high and low for lost princesses (video)
Filed under: Robots
Robovie rescue bot hunts high and low for lost princesses (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Laziness on the move: robot plays Rock Band on the iPhone
October 31, 2009
Why confine your nerdy sloth to your living room, where large robots mime fake guitar and serve you sloppy mixed drinks? Take that zest for the sedentary life with you on the road by having one of your robot ninjas steal this iPhone Rock Band robot from its ingenious creator, Joe Bowers. The Arduino-based device uses ambient light sensors to detect the falling notes and then taps out the music with some conductive foam attached to some squeaky fake fingers. Joe did a fairly detailed write-up, and even uploaded his code, so there’s presumably nothing stopping you from actually doing something with your life and building one of these with all that free time you’ve saved up by hacking your way through all the console-based guitar games. Video is after the break.
[Via Daily Mobile]
Continue reading Laziness on the move: robot plays Rock Band on the iPhone
Filed under: Cellphones, Robots
Laziness on the move: robot plays Rock Band on the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ROPID the adorable humanoid can jump 3-inches into the air, sweep you off your feet
October 28, 2009
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a humanoid robot this size do anything very new or interesting — mostly they seem busy with their slow-mo dance moves — but the new ROPID bot by Tomotaka Takahashi, the man behind Panasonic’s Evolta bots, not only has a few new tricks up its plastic sleeves, but has personality to spare. The bot can rotate its upper torso, which seems to help immensely in keeping it balanced while jumping, running and skipping around. It’s still the tried-and-true “bent knees” method of balance, but ROPID is “rapid” enough to make it look almost lifelike. The movements are expressive enough, but with some slightly articulated hands and a moving mouth, ROPID ups the adorable-ness factor over some of its nuts and bolts counterparts. ROPID can also respond to a few voice commands and speaks as well. Takahashi designed and built the bot himself, which makes us wonder what we’ve been doing with our lives that’s so-very-important for the past couple of decades. Video of ROPID in action is after the break.
[Via Plastic Pals]
Continue reading ROPID the adorable humanoid can jump 3-inches into the air, sweep you off your feet
Filed under: Robots
ROPID the adorable humanoid can jump 3-inches into the air, sweep you off your feet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Prosthetic, robotic ‘Smart Hand’ has feelings, too
October 24, 2009
Researchers in Italy and Sweden have spent the last ten years developing what they call the “Smart Hand,” a prosthetic hand which enables feeling in its fingertips. The hand — which was recently wired up to a test patient through a surgical procedure — has four motors and forty sensors which are linked directly to the brain. In the surgery, the nerve endings of the patient were linked up to receptors in the hand, which allows for feeling in the fingertips of the hand, even though the hand is not really a part of his body. In the video after the break, you can see the greater precision and dexterity this hand allows for. Though the research still needs to be refined before practical use, it looks pretty far along — and pretty awesome — to us.Continue reading Prosthetic, robotic ‘Smart Hand’ has feelings, too
Prosthetic, robotic ‘Smart Hand’ has feelings, too originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation
October 16, 2009
Advances in autonomous helicopters have been many over the years, but as far as we can tell, there’s essentially no limit to how awesome they can get. MIT’s recently developed an autonomous, robotic helicopter which is also able to navigate itself intelligently through a changing environment. The helicopter, which is equipped with a dual-camera array and a laser scanner, maps its terrain in real time, identifying changes along the way. An integrated autonomous exploration module allows the heli to interact with the changing, unknown environment it is mapping. The helicopter was shown off at the AUVSI 2009 International Aerial Robotics Competition, completing five missions — a feat not before seen in the 19-year history of the show. Check out the very educational video after the break.
Filed under: Robots
MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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‘Spider pill’ bowel scanner will be ready within a year
October 12, 2009
Endoscopy, or the examination of a person’s bowels via a tube-mounted camera, is not exactly the most pleasant medical procedure one could undergo. In 2004, we noted the early stages of a project to alleviate the (literal) pain of the procedure with a spider pill, which — once swallowed by the hopefully willing patient — can be remotely controlled and positioned inside the human body. Yes, it’s a tiny, wirelessly communicating robot with a camera for a head crawling inside you. Hit the read link for the full BBC report, it really is worth seeing, and start your Innerspace jokes … now!
Filed under: Portable Video, Robots
‘Spider pill’ bowel scanner will be ready within a year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Physicist wants to test Hyperdrive Propulsion in Large Hadron Collider
October 11, 2009
[Via Technology Review]
Filed under: Science
Physicist wants to test Hyperdrive Propulsion in Large Hadron Collider originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NSF awards Harvard $10 million for robot bees (video)
October 9, 2009
[Via Switched]
Continue reading NSF awards Harvard $10 million for robot bees (video)
Filed under: Robots
NSF awards Harvard $10 million for robot bees (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Yamaha’s singing robot quietly trolls, slyly frightens at CEATEC (video)
October 8, 2009
As with most robots that sing, Yamaha’s demonstration at CEATEC was nothing short of terrifying. Oh sure, it’s sort of impressive that the modified HRP-4C could take requests from a pre-selected list of jams on an iPhone, but after witnessing actual artists perform at Club Quattro in Shibuya, we’d say this chick has aways to go before she’s accepted into the blossoming Japan music circuit. Judge for yourself after the break, Simon.
Continue reading Yamaha’s singing robot quietly trolls, slyly frightens at CEATEC (video)
Filed under: Robots
Yamaha’s singing robot quietly trolls, slyly frightens at CEATEC (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
