Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Walt Disney World unveils incredibly scary, robotic version of President Obama]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/walt-disney-world-unveils-incredibly-poor-robotic-version-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/walt-disney-world-unveils-incredibly-poor-robotic-version-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/walt-disney-world-unveils-incredibly-poor-robotic-version-of-pr/#comments
Now, we've never been to this "Hall of Presidents" at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida (our parents instead taking us to real, disused dungeons and battlefields for family entertainment), but we're thinking about heading down there today -- not because the newest animatronic addition -- President Barack Obama -- has just been unveiled, but because his likeness is so... unlike him, so incredibly, terrifyingly creepy (and yet still impressive all the same). Yes, we'll pop all of our closest friends' children into the van and take a fantastic voyage down to the southern tip of our great nation just to see their reactions to this horrifying robotic educational presentation. What better way to celebrate our nation's independence? Come to think of it... maybe our parents weren't so bad after all. Videos of Obamatron and of the President himself recording audio for it after the break.

Continue reading Walt Disney World unveils incredibly scary, robotic version of President Obama

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Walt Disney World unveils incredibly scary, robotic version of President Obama originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animatronicsbarack obamaBarackObamadisneydisney worldDisneyWorldfloridafourth of julyFourthOfJulyhall of presidentsHallOfPresidentsobamaobamatronpotuspresident of the united statesPresidentOfTheUnitedStatesrobotrobotsFri, 03 Jul 2009 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Self-Portrait Machine binds your hands then bends your will]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/video-self-portrait-machine-binds-your-hands-before-bending-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/video-self-portrait-machine-binds-your-hands-before-bending-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/video-self-portrait-machine-binds-your-hands-before-bending-you/#comments Drawing faces is hard; and as children suckled at the teat of MTV we posses neither the patience nor the discipline required to learn the skill. So imagine our surprise to discover the Self-Portrait Machine, a device that snaps your photo and then forces you to draw your own face by dragging your bound hands around until the portrait is complete. Jen Hui Liao's project is the result of an observation that "our personal identities are represented by the products of the man-machine relationship." So it's like art and the intersection of philosophy... only it's not -- it's just a robot too lazy to make the portrait itself. See the video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Self-Portrait Machine binds your hands then bends your will

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Video: Self-Portrait Machine binds your hands then bends your will originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artdrawdrawingmachineportraitpotraitrobotself portraitself-portraitself-portrait machneSelf-portraitMachneSelfPortraitFri, 03 Jul 2009 03:44:00 EST<![CDATA[DARPA contractor shows off tiny robo-hummingbird UAV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/darpa-contractor-shows-off-tiny-robo-hummingbird-uav/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/darpa-contractor-shows-off-tiny-robo-hummingbird-uav/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/darpa-contractor-shows-off-tiny-robo-hummingbird-uav/#comments
We've seen plenty of tiny UAVs (or NAVs -- Nano Aerial Vehicles -- as they're also known), but none quite like the robo-hummingbird that's been in development at DARPA-contractor AeroVironment for the past couple of years. While we haven't heard much about it during that time, the company recently completed its most advanced prototype to date, dubbed Mercury, and it's taken advantage of the opportunity to show off all the progress it has made. As you can see in the video after the break, the bot is able to fly about and hover in place by mimicking the wing movement of a real hummingbird and, of course, be controlled completely untethered. What's more, the firm says that the final version will actually look like a real hummingbird as well, and be able to be controlled from up to a kilometer away -- even inside buildings, where a hummingbird won't look at all out of place.

[Via Danger Room]

Continue reading DARPA contractor shows off tiny robo-hummingbird UAV

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DARPA contractor shows off tiny robo-hummingbird UAV originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AeroVironmentDARPAhummingbirdNAVpentagonUAVThu, 02 Jul 2009 23:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: SCRATCHbot hunts like a rat for those trapped like one]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/video-scratchbot-hunts-like-a-rat-for-those-trapped-like-one/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/video-scratchbot-hunts-like-a-rat-for-those-trapped-like-one/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/video-scratchbot-hunts-like-a-rat-for-those-trapped-like-one/#comments
Designed for search and rescue missions - which, let's face it, are only ever one loose word away from "search and destroy" - the SCRATCHbot uses its whiskers to detect disaster survivors in inhospitable or dangerous areas. The Bristol Robotics Laboratory developed the rat-inspired people searcher over the past 6 years and now hopes to find interest for it in underground and underwater projects where vision may be impaired. Far less heroic uses are also being contemplated, such as textile inspection and implementation inside intelligent vacuum cleaners that would be able to adjust their cleaning to the particular surface they sense. Video of the new bot coming to life is after the break.

Continue reading Video: SCRATCHbot hunts like a rat for those trapped like one

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Video: SCRATCHbot hunts like a rat for those trapped like one originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bristol robotics laboratoryBristol universityBristolRoboticsLaboratoryBristolUniversityratRobot ratrobotic ratRoboticRatRobotRatrodentscratchbotSheffield universitySheffieldUniversitysurface detectionSurfaceDetectiontextilesUKunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvacuumvacuum cleanersVacuumCleanerswhiskersWed, 01 Jul 2009 08:40:00 EST<![CDATA[MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/mydeskfriend-robot-penguin-will-link-to-facebook-be-a-true-frie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/mydeskfriend-robot-penguin-will-link-to-facebook-be-a-true-frie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/mydeskfriend-robot-penguin-will-link-to-facebook-be-a-true-frie/#comments
Robots and other devices linked to social networking sites aren't exactly anything new, but few have been in the form of tiny robot penguins, and even fewer have been tiny robot penguins with hats. That bit of mold-breaking comes courtesy of upstart Arimaz of Switzerland, which is now busy showing off its MyDeskFriend "Facebook companion" that's set for release this September. As you can see in the video after the break, the bot is able to mosey about your desk without falling off and react to your voice like any good robot, but its real secret is that it can connect to Facebook and read your messages, or even be controlled (some may say tormented) by your real Facebook friends. Look for it to run $99 when it's released.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend

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MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arimazarimaz mydeskfriendArimazMydeskfriendbotfacebookfacebook companionFacebookCompanionmydeskfriendpenguinrobotrobot penguinRobotPenguinMon, 29 Jun 2009 15:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Carnivorous Clock eats bugs, begins doomsday countdown]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/carnivorous-clock-eats-bugs-counts-down-to-doomsday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/carnivorous-clock-eats-bugs-counts-down-to-doomsday/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/carnivorous-clock-eats-bugs-counts-down-to-doomsday/#comments It's not enough that humans gave robots a place to congregate to plan our demise, now we've adapted them with the ability to extract fuel from the very nectar of life. All that innocent experimentation with fuel cells that run on blood has led to this, a flesh-eating clock. This prototype time-piece from UK-based designers James Auger and Jimmy Loizeau traps insects on flypaper stretched across its roller system before depositing them into a vat of bacteria. The ensuing chemical reaction, or "digestion," is transformed into power that keeps the rollers rollin' and the LCD clock ablaze. The pair offers an alternative design fueled by mice, another contraption whose robotic arm plucks insect-fuel from spider webs with the help of a video camera, and a lamp powered by insects lured to their deaths with ultraviolet LEDs. Man, this is so wrong it has to be right.

[Via Hack a Day, thanks Isaac]

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Carnivorous Clock eats bugs, begins doomsday countdown originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auger-Loizeaubacteriabloodcarnivorousflesh eatingFleshEatingflyfly paperFlyPaperfuel cellFuelCellinsectjames augerJamesAugerjimmy lizeauJimmyLizeaumicemousepestrobotspiderMon, 29 Jun 2009 04:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Tone-deaf robots teach each other to sing, passionately butcher a Happy Birthday rendition]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/28/tone-deaf-robots-teach-each-other-to-sing-passionately-butcher/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/28/tone-deaf-robots-teach-each-other-to-sing-passionately-butcher/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/28/tone-deaf-robots-teach-each-other-to-sing-passionately-butcher/#comments
After what must've been a few painful minutes of rehearsal, a few robots built by the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research have performed what we assume to be their first and last paid gig: a rendition of Happy Birthday to celebrate the 100th of the Science Museum in the UK. What's interesting about these bots -- outside of their horrible ear for music and laughable singing voices is the fact that they've actually been programmed to communicate and teach each other to sing through the process of singing to each other. Videos of both painful acts are after the break, and while we wouldn't call it art, we shouldn't throw stones: we've been in plenty of garage bands that sounded quite a bit worse.

[Via robots.net]

Continue reading Tone-deaf robots teach each other to sing, passionately butcher a Happy Birthday rendition

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Tone-deaf robots teach each other to sing, passionately butcher a Happy Birthday rendition originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iccmrinterdisciplinary centre for computer music researchInterdisciplinaryCentreForComputerMusicResearchmusicrobot singingrobotsrobots singingRobotSingingRobotsSingingscience museumScienceMuseumsingingsinging robotsSingingRobotsSun, 28 Jun 2009 01:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultimate Buzz Lightyear robot to the rescue, on video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ultimate-buzz-lightyear-robot-to-the-rescue-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ultimate-buzz-lightyear-robot-to-the-rescue-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ultimate-buzz-lightyear-robot-to-the-rescue-on-video/#comments
Step aside, Wall-E: Buzz Lightyear, courtesy of Thinkway Toys, has arrived to claim his rightful place at the top of the robot-based-on-Disney-character heap. Maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but Buzz's facial animation, sexy moves and trademark catch-phrases have all been wrapped up into a nice little bow here to rake in the cash when Toy Story and Toy Story 2 hit theaters this October as a 3D glasses double feature. Buzz responds to a few voice commands, can play a laser tag with the included remote, has a "Puppeteering Programming" mode to pose him for your own animations, and can even suffer an identity crisis when you tell him that he's just a toy. He'll be available this fall for $130-ish, check out a video after the break.

Gallery: Ultimate Buzz Lightyear robot to the rescue

Continue reading Ultimate Buzz Lightyear robot to the rescue, on video

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Ultimate Buzz Lightyear robot to the rescue, on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buzzbuzz lightyearBuzzLightyearrobotrobot toyRobotToytoytoy storytoy story 2ToyStoryToyStory2Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot surgeon uses frighteningly large needle to remove shrapnel, your resistance]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/robot-surgeon-uses-frighteningly-large-needle-to-remove-shrapnel/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/robot-surgeon-uses-frighteningly-large-needle-to-remove-shrapnel/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/robot-surgeon-uses-frighteningly-large-needle-to-remove-shrapnel/#commentsRobot surgeon uses frighteningly large needle to remove shrapnel, your resistanceWe've reported on many a creepy looking and dangerous sounding robot in the past, but this one might just take the cake when it comes to dominating your nightmares for the next few nights. Developed by a team at Duke University, the bot uses ultrasound to identify areas of density in human flesh, then starts probing them with a rather painfully large looking needle. It could be used to locate and extract bits of shrapnel from stricken GIs on the battlefield, but that same tech might also be deployed to pierce women's breasts and men's prostates -- ostensibly to treat cancers of those respective regions, but we can think of more nefarious reasons. The bot doesn't have a name, but once it and its kind take over, neither will you.

[Via gizmag]

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Robot surgeon uses frighteningly large needle to remove shrapnel, your resistance originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yes, you could just run out and buy a vocoder, but they're kinda pricey and this way is so much more fun! Using an IKEA clock, a fluorescent desk lamp, an HT8950 voice modulator, a condenser microphone and some miscellaneous stuff you're crafty self is bound to have just laying around, you can make one of your own! Doesn't look terribly complicated to us, but then, we love things that are terribly complicated. Get to it, sirs -- hit the read link for full instructions. Dōmo arigatō.

[Via Make]

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DIY Robot Voice Modulator makes it that much easier for you to cover Styx originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>modulatorrobotrobot voicerobotsRobotVoicevocodervoice modulatorVoiceModulatorSun, 21 Jun 2009 04:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Movie Gadget Friday: Runaway]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/movie-gadget-friday-runaway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/movie-gadget-friday-runaway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/movie-gadget-friday-runaway/#commentsAriel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

Previously on Movie Gadget Friday, we tapped into the near dystopian future of fear in Brazil. Keeping on that 1980's near-future vibe (but with a slightly more sentient twist), this week we check out Michael Crichton's Runaway, starring Tom Selleck, Gene Simmons, Cynthia Rhodes and Kirstie Alley. Filled with circuitry and hardwired chips, the movie reinforces wholesome family values by featuring warranty voids as the gateway hack to murder.



Leaping Insect Robot

Measuring in around the size of a human head, these six-legged, spider-like, autonomous robots are mechanical in movement but shockingly precise in killing prey. The autonomous insects have the ability to propel themselves up to seven feet in the air, allowing for attacks on unsuspecting victims. Dual-functioning, the legs are able to crawl and grasp a multitude of surfaces, albeit awkwardly and rather slowly. After programming targets into a mainframe, the robots are able to identify and kill victims by injecting them with acid via a probe before short circuiting and eventually exploding into a ball of flames. Sadly, the robots lack any sort of remote control, making human errors in target-programming unable to be edited.

Continue reading Movie Gadget Friday: Runaway

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Movie Gadget Friday: Runaway originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980s1984bulletcircuitsfeaturesgene simmonsGeneSimmonskirstie alleyKirstieAlleymichael crichtonMichaelCrichtonmovie gadget fridayMovieGadgetFridayrobotrobotsrunawaytom selleckTomSelleckFri, 19 Jun 2009 13:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Japanese robot reads aloud from books, whispers vague threats while you sleep]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/video-japanese-robot-reads-aloud-from-books-whispers-vague-thr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/video-japanese-robot-reads-aloud-from-books-whispers-vague-thr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/video-japanese-robot-reads-aloud-from-books-whispers-vague-thr/#comments
Perhaps our Future Robot Overlords[TM] aren't planning on decimating the human population after they take over -- they might have a good reason to retain a handful of bipedal hominidae. Who knows, really? But we're betting that if they do, the lucky slave population is going to want to hear some bed-time stories from time to time. To that end, Japanese researchers have developed Ninomiya-kun, a 3.2-foot tall aluminum-framed robot capable of reading aloud from printed material. Developed at Waseda University and recently unveiled at a trade fair in Kitakyushu, the bad boy uses cameras to "read" the text, which it parses with OCR software before synthesizing its voice. As far as we can tell, this thing still sounds like a machine, and it's vocabulary is somewhat limited (it can currently recognize over 2,000 kanji, hiragana and katakana characters), but researchers are working on a more lifelike voice and a broader vocabulary. After that, the developers would like to unload this thing on elementary schools and old folks homes, whose population won't find this thing creepy or disconcerting at all, at all. We're sure of it. Peep the video after the break.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

Continue reading Video: Japanese robot reads aloud from books, whispers vague threats while you sleep

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Video: Japanese robot reads aloud from books, whispers vague threats while you sleep originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like ZMP, a Tokyo-based robotics company that's graced the (figurative) pages of Engadget from time to time, has just introduced a Linux-based RoboCar for testing autonomous auto technologies. Which only makes sense, we suppose -- better to test all of those autonomous algorithms you've been crankin' out on a six pound model before moving up to a three thousand pound family sedan (if a lot less fun). This guy is 17-inches long and packs an AMD Geode LX800 processor, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, stereo CCD cameras, eight IR sensors, three accelerometers, a gyroscope, and a laser range finder under the hood. Prices start at $7,000, but you have to jump on this -- according to Linux Devices, only two hundred units will be sold this year. Peep the video after the break.

Gallery: ZMP's RoboCar is Linux-based, cute as hell



[Via Linux Devices]

Continue reading ZMP's RoboCar is Linux-based, cute as hell

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ZMP's RoboCar is Linux-based, cute as hell originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adorableautomobileautomotiveautonomouslinuxrobocarzmpzmp robocarZmpRobocarWed, 17 Jun 2009 10:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Laskmi-Do's Table Robot is the Segway for your beers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/laskmi-dos-table-robot-is-the-segway-for-your-beers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/laskmi-dos-table-robot-is-the-segway-for-your-beers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/16/laskmi-dos-table-robot-is-the-segway-for-your-beers/#commentsLaskmi-Do's Table Robot is the Segway for your beers
It's important to keep your guests properly hydrated at a party, but it's hard to not feel awfully demeaned while wandering around with a cocktail tray. Since hiring servants is so passe, the solution is Table Robot from Laskmi-Do Corp, a two-wheeled, self-balancing bot that features a particularly unsteady looking design. It's tall and slender, balancing a tabletop on two scrawny little wheels, a feat it showed off at last week's FOOMA Japan, Tokyo's biggest gathering for foodies and related geeks. The natural comparison is to a Segway, but this is a full-fledged robot, capable of cruising around under remote control and, soon, following you around by voice, meaning a fresh and precisely balanced mohito may soon be just a word away. Click on through for the video.

[Via DigInfo]

Continue reading Laskmi-Do's Table Robot is the Segway for your beers

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Laskmi-Do's Table Robot is the Segway for your beers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foomajapanlaksmi-dolaksmi-do table robotLaksmi-doTableRobotself-balancingservanttabletable robotTableRobottokyoTue, 16 Jun 2009 08:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Chef Robot makes its video debut, nightmares forthcoming]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/chef-robot-makes-its-video-debut-nightmares-forthcoming/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/chef-robot-makes-its-video-debut-nightmares-forthcoming/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/chef-robot-makes-its-video-debut-nightmares-forthcoming/#comments
Sure, a few still photos of the sushi-making Chef Robot now on display at the International Food Machinery and Technology Exhibition in Tokyo are all well and good, but there's nothing quite like a high def video to really bring all that creepiness home, and one has now surfaced courtesy of the brave folks at DigInfo. In case you missed it, the robot itself is actually just a standard issue FANUC M-430iA robot arm with a way too realistic hand attached to it, which apparently not only helps it prepare sushi, but some tasty desserts as well. Head on past the break for the must-see video, you've nothing to lose but your ability to unsee it.

Continue reading Chef Robot makes its video debut, nightmares forthcoming

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Chef Robot makes its video debut, nightmares forthcoming originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chef robotChefRobotfanucfanuc m-430iaFanucM-430iaindustrial robotIndustrialRobotm-430iasushiMon, 15 Jun 2009 16:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Willow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/willow-garages-pr2-robot-breaks-enters-steals-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/willow-garages-pr2-robot-breaks-enters-steals-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/willow-garages-pr2-robot-breaks-enters-steals-electricity/#commentsWillow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity Robots may be impressive and occasionally frightening things that will some day rule our lives and societies, but right now they're rather co-dependent, unable to even recharge themselves without a helping hand. The latest from robo-startup Willow Garage is different, a bot called PR2 that's capable of maneuvering through a crowded office, opening (non-locked) doors, and pilfering a little taste of that good, good, alternating current juice. What's more, he's sensitive to your time constraints, so the demonstration video below has been thoughtfully edited to minimize footage of aimless wandering, spinning, and general confusion. Next step: learning to knock.

[Via Robots.net]

Continue reading Willow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity

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Willow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargeplugplug inPlugInpr2rechargewillow garagewillow garage pr2WillowGarageWillowGaragePr2Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Life-sized Gundam complete and no, you can't borrow it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/life-sized-gundam-complete-and-no-you-cant-borrow-it/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/life-sized-gundam-complete-and-no-you-cant-borrow-it/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/life-sized-gundam-complete-and-no-you-cant-borrow-it/#comments
In the Universal Century, we suppose this sort of thing will be rather blasé. But until then, there's really no better way to get our geek hearts a-flutter than some up close and personal pics of this 1:1 scale model of the classic RX-78-2 Gundam mecha, built to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the franchise. We've been watching the construction of this thing rather closely and we're proud to announce that the finished product is every bit as badass as we'd hoped. If you're not planning on making the trip to Tokyo any time soon, feel free to take a gander at the thing in the gallery below. And our thanks to blogger Punynari for the awesome pics!

Gallery: Life-sized Gundam



[Via Examiner]

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Life-sized Gundam complete and no, you can't borrow it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like the RoBe:Do gang, who recently blew our minds (well, filled our tummies) with their Twitteriffic Popcorn Poppin' Bot, are back on the scene with another one of those modular robot chassis designed for those of you looking to get into the robot game with nothing more than a spare netbook, some serious programming chops, and a few hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket. The newest creature, named "Three," features a simplified design, faster motors, and a larger base for those six-plus-pound laptops of yours. Just dig into the supplied high level software libraries and code yourself a robot! And if you're feeling frisky, check out the various options -- including infrared sensor and webcam. Order now and it's yours for $399, or hold off until July 1st and pay the full $439. Peep the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: RoBe:Do's newest 'just add netbook' robot kit for sale



[Via SlashGear]

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RoBe:Do's newest 'just add netbook' robot kit for sale originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>netbookrobe:dorobe:do threeRobe:doThreerobedorobedo threeRobedoThreerobotroboticsthreeFri, 12 Jun 2009 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Chef Robot makes sushi even more dangerous]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/10/chef-robot-makes-sushi-even-more-dangerous/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/10/chef-robot-makes-sushi-even-more-dangerous/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/10/chef-robot-makes-sushi-even-more-dangerous/#comments If you're squeamish about eating sushi then we doubt this is going to help. Chef Robot, on display at the International Food Machinery and Technology Exhibition in Tokyo, is really just FANUC's M-430iA sanitary food and pharmaceutical robot with a fleshy appendage -- guess the rest of the human is right there on the serving tray. Soylent Green is people!

[Via TokyoMango]

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Chef Robot makes sushi even more dangerous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chef robotChefRobotfanucindustrial robotIndustrialRobotm-430iarobotsushiWed, 10 Jun 2009 03:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Israeli military develops robot snake for battlefield, children's nightmares]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/israeli-military-develops-robot-snake-for-battlefield-children/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/israeli-military-develops-robot-snake-for-battlefield-children/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/israeli-military-develops-robot-snake-for-battlefield-children/#comments
While this is by no means the first time we've seen a robotic snake prototype, it isn't every day that we find one so close to deployment. This self-propelling, two feet long robot can crawl along the ground, climb through debris, and even stand erect to give the operator a better view. The Israeli Defense Force is will use this thing for routine surveillance and reconnaissance, broadcasting video and sound to a monitor and control station. And if this is not enough? In that case, the prototype can be wired with explosives -- making it, according to the Jerusalem Post, a "suicide snake." Fun! And rather upsetting. No proposed price or timetable yet, but you can see the thing in action for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Israeli military develops robot snake for battlefield, children's nightmares

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Israeli military develops robot snake for battlefield, children's nightmares originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's the feel bad and then feel good again story of the year: bankrupt Ugobe's intellectual property and assets, including the intensely lovable and yet nearly unloved Pleo, are being snapped up by Jetta Company Limited, which currently manufactures the robotic baby dino. The company plans on re-launching Pleo, and says that all its manufacturing processes for Pleo and related accessories are still intact. Better yet, the company is well established and no stranger to robots: it also builds parts for iRobot's consumer products. Could this be love?

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Pleo IP adopted by Pleo's big-hearted manufacturer, Jetta Company Limited originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jettajetta company limitedJettaCompanyLimitedpleopleo ipPleoIpugobeTue, 09 Jun 2009 00:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers develop a robot that reads your intentions, says you're 'thick']]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/06/researchers-develop-a-robot-that-reads-your-intentions-says-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/06/researchers-develop-a-robot-that-reads-your-intentions-says-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/06/researchers-develop-a-robot-that-reads-your-intentions-says-you/#comments
Robots won't be able to wrest control of the planet from us silly humans until they learn how to collaborate. Sure, they can mow the lawn or mix a drink, but only when you give 'em explicit instructions. Luckily for our future robot overlords, The EU's JAST project is studying the ways that humans work together, in the hope that it can someday teach robots to anticipate the actions and intentions of a human partner. "In our experiments the robot is not observing to learn a task," explains Wolfram Erlhagen from the University of Minho. "The JAST robots already know the task, but they observe behavior, map it against the task, and quickly learn to anticipate [partner actions] or spot errors when the partner does not follow the correct or expected procedure." This bad boy has a neural architecture that mimics what happens when two people interact, and the video below shows the rather melancholy automaton trying to convince his human partner to pick up the right pieces to complete a simple task. Watch it in action after the break.

Continue reading Researchers develop a robot that reads your intentions, says you're 'thick'

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Researchers develop a robot that reads your intentions, says you're 'thick' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiartificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencecognitioncooperateeueuropean unionEuropeanUnionJASTrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypsethinkingUniversity of MinhoUniversityOfMinhoWolfram ErlhagenWolframErlhagenSat, 06 Jun 2009 07:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Patent app shows Roombas pooping on potties, being big boys]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/patent-app-shows-roombas-pooping-on-potties-being-big-boys/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/patent-app-shows-roombas-pooping-on-potties-being-big-boys/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/patent-app-shows-roombas-pooping-on-potties-being-big-boys/#commentsPatent app shows Roombas pooping on potties, being big boys
Roomba vacuums tend to be pretty self-sufficient, cleaning floors, committing burglaries, and even making futile attempts at communication. Cleaning themselves, however, is something they cannot do, but that may change if a recently unearthed 2007 patent application filed by iRobot ever results in an actual product. The app shows a variety of designs for docks that would either suck the detritus right out of your little guy or replace its dirt cartridge altogether, strip any wound-up hair from its brushes, and then send it back on its way to give your cat a lift to is litter box. No word on whether iRobot has something based on these designs anywhere near production-ready, but we wouldn't recommend giving away that robot changing table.

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Patent app shows Roombas pooping on potties, being big boys originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's kind of strange, really, how we can see just how near the end is, yet these so-called geniuses employed within the realm of academia are totally oblivious to their own evil deeds. Take cognitive science professor John Long, for instance, who is currently conducting a Preyro robot experiment in a Vassar College lab that intends to "allow robots to mimic animals far better than before." To him, he's just hoping to study evolutionary patterns in order to better understand how certain tweaks to things like fins and tails affect performance in the place we call reality. Though, there's a very real possibility that this research could accelerate the impending robot apocalypse by at least a score. Oh, what we'd give to be incognizant of the truth.

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Preyro robot experiment could enable robots to better mimic animals, kill us all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biologyevolutionPredator XPredatorXPreyroresearchrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypserobotsscienceTadiatorVassar collegeVassarCollegeMon, 01 Jun 2009 06:42:00 EST<![CDATA[G4 Cube given wheels, automation, the will to race Woz's Segway]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/30/g4-cube-given-wheels-automation-the-will-to-race-wozs-segway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/30/g4-cube-given-wheels-automation-the-will-to-race-wozs-segway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/30/g4-cube-given-wheels-automation-the-will-to-race-wozs-segway/#comments
Not wanting the Allspark to beat them to the punch, the gang at thinkingbricks has given life to an Apple G4 Cube, complete with LEGO Mindstorms NXT-borne retractable wheels, a Bluetooth controller, automation via sensors, and a creepy red LED. That transparent base really makes the wheel deployment much more dramatic, a nice touch if we do say so ourselves. There aren't any step-by-step instructions, but there should be plenty of information at the page if you're thiking of making your own as a weekend project. Either way, be sure to check it out on video, located after the break.

Continue reading G4 Cube given wheels, automation, the will to race Woz's Segway

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G4 Cube given wheels, automation, the will to race Woz's Segway originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volleyball-playing robots may only come around every ten years or so, but they at least bring along some fairly big improvements when they do show up -- like actual mobility, in this case. Of course, "volleyball-playing" is still a bit of a stretch. The bot is actually designed to be more of a training aid, with it making use of a range of sensors, built-in GPS, a compass, and an iSight camera (all linked to a Mac mini) to track down balls and set them up for spiking drills. As you can see in the unfortunately short video after the break, all of that more or less works as advertised, although it seems that we'll still have to wait quite a while for the inevitable robot vs. robot match.

Continue reading Volleyball-playing robot has Mac mini brain, heart of a champion

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Volleyball-playing robot has Mac mini brain, heart of a champion originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botmac miniMacMinirobotsportsvolleyballvolleyball robotvolleyball-playing robotVolleyball-playingRobotVolleyballRobotFri, 29 May 2009 17:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Dustbot takes out the Eurotrash]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/29/video-dustbot-will-clean-up-the-eurotrash/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/29/video-dustbot-will-clean-up-the-eurotrash/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/29/video-dustbot-will-clean-up-the-eurotrash/#comments Push up those Armani shades and tighten your white trousers, the Dustbot is coming to wash the scum off the streets like a Segway riding Travis Bickle. Give him a call from your mobile and the Dustbot will come to your house and dispose of the rubbish. At least that's the plan for this Italian disposal-bot fitted with GPS navigation, gyroscope, and a bevy of sensors meant to keep it from crushing the innocents. Look, we get that it's a prototype and is meant to traverse the narrow streets of ancient cities, but a trash collecting robot with the capacity of just two kitchen cans seems like a serious limitation. Watch the long slow ride after the break.

[Thanks, Craig]

Continue reading Video: Dustbot takes out the Eurotrash

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Video: Dustbot takes out the Eurotrash originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dustbotitalyrobotrubbishtrashtrash collectionTrashCollectionvideoFri, 29 May 2009 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar-powered Trilobot takes wistful stroll outdoors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/solar-powered-trilobot-takes-wistful-stroll-outdoors/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/solar-powered-trilobot-takes-wistful-stroll-outdoors/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/solar-powered-trilobot-takes-wistful-stroll-outdoors/#comments
A solar-powered robot that's fully autonomous and able to control it's own energy acquisition may seem like a frightening proposition to some. But set aside those preconceptions for a minute and take a look at the Trilobot's video debut after the break, and then try to tell us you don't want to get one, name it Buddy and love it forever.

Continue reading Solar-powered Trilobot takes wistful stroll outdoors

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Solar-powered Trilobot takes wistful stroll outdoors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 06:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousbotrobotsolarsolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarPoweredtrilobotThu, 28 May 2009 06:38:00 EST<![CDATA[KOBIAN humanoid robot packs full range of emotions to creep you out]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/25/kobian-humanoid-robot-packs-full-range-of-emotions-to-creep-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/25/kobian-humanoid-robot-packs-full-range-of-emotions-to-creep-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/25/kobian-humanoid-robot-packs-full-range-of-emotions-to-creep-you/#comments
Japan's Tmsuk and Waseda University have certainly proven themselves capable of pushing the boundaries of robotics on their own, but few could have been prepared for what they were able devise when they teamed up, their creation itself included. That somewhat startled face you see above is the KOBIAN Emotional Humanoid Robot, which is not only able to walk about and interact with humans, but use its entire body in addition to its facial expressions to display a full range of emotions. That's apparently possible in part thanks to a new double-jointed neck that lets it achieve some more expressive postures and, of course, a slew of motors in its face that lets it move its lips, eyelids and those all-important eyebrows. Still sleeping a little too comfortably? Then head on past the break for the video. There's always a video.

[Via Pink Tentacle]

Continue reading KOBIAN humanoid robot packs full range of emotions to creep you out

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KOBIAN humanoid robot packs full range of emotions to creep you out originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 May 2009 07:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emotional humanoid robotemotional robotEmotionalHumanoidRobotEmotionalRobothumanoidhumanoid robotHumanoidRobotkobiantmsukwasedawaseda universityWasedaUniversityMon, 25 May 2009 07:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Gundam turns 30, celebrates with the most awesome statue ever]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/gundam-turns-30-celebrates-with-the-most-awesome-statue-ever/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/gundam-turns-30-celebrates-with-the-most-awesome-statue-ever/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/gundam-turns-30-celebrates-with-the-most-awesome-statue-ever/#commentsGundam turns 30, celebrates with the most awesome statue ever Statue of Liberty? Striking, but a bit demure. Trenchcoat-clad Stalin statue in Gori, Georgia? Iconic, but disheartening. Giant RX-78-2 Gundam statue at Shiokaze Park in Tokyo, Japan? Unquestionably badass. The massive biped is currently under construction, part of a celebration for the 30 year anniversary of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. When completed it will be full-scale, standing 59-feet tall, weighing 35 tons, and even shooting "light or mist" from 50 different points along its structure. All systems should be fully operational by July 11 -- hopefully soon enough to stop the forthcoming Zeon armada.

[Via technabob]

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Gundam turns 30, celebrates with the most awesome statue ever originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awesomegundamjapanrx-78-2shiokazeshiokaze parkShiokazeParkstatuetokyoFri, 22 May 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: RB2000 featured in new, improved Robo Catcher]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/video-rb2000-featured-in-new-improved-robo-catcher/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/video-rb2000-featured-in-new-improved-robo-catcher/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/video-rb2000-featured-in-new-improved-robo-catcher/#comments
Ah, a childhood favorite revisited. Years back, our hearts were taken by the one and only Robo Catcher, and now it seems the famed toy snatching game has seen a revamping that features JR Robotics' RB2000 as the main grabber. The entire unit has also been freshened up in the design department, and the addition of a joystick control system brings it up to speed with all of its "just a claw game" rivals. Hop on past the break for a look at what you're missing out on here in the states.

Continue reading Video: RB2000 featured in new, improved Robo Catcher

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Video: RB2000 featured in new, improved Robo Catcher originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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H+, our favorite transhumanist magazine, has just published a chat with Peter Asaro, the author of a paper titled "How Just Could a Robot War Be?" In this interview (co-authored by our old friend R.U. Sirius) the gentleman from Rutgers explores the philosophical implications of things like robot civil war, robots and just war theory, and the possibilities of installing some sort of "moral agency" in the killer machines that our military increasingly relies on. But that ain't all -- the big thinkers also discuss the benefits of programming automatons to disobey (certain) orders, drop science on a certain Immanuel Kant, and more. We know you've been dying to explore the categorical imperative as it relates to the robot apocalypse -- so hit that read link to get the party started!

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Philosopher ponders the implications of robot warfare, life with a degree in philosophy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defenseImmanuel KantImmanuelKantjust warJustWarPeter AsaroPeterAsarophilosophyr.u. siriusR.u.Siriusrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypserobotsrutgerswarThu, 21 May 2009 11:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Life-sized Tachikoma loose on the streets of Tokyo (update: video!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/life-sized-tachikoma-loose-on-the-streets-of-tokyo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/life-sized-tachikoma-loose-on-the-streets-of-tokyo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/19/life-sized-tachikoma-loose-on-the-streets-of-tokyo/#comments
You know, we see a lot of kick-ass vehicles 'round Engadget HQ, so it's easy to grow a little jaded. Who can forget that Batman Tumbler we saw tearing up the asphalt last summer? Or the Halo Warthog -- complete with UN Space Command BDUs? Sure, either of those would make for a fun-filled weekend (or a lifetime of weekends), but what about something a little more suited to urban environs? Next time you're in Tokyo, make sure you look up a gentleman named San Kougei, who put together a joystick-piloted replica Tachikoma (of Ghost In The Shell fame). Who knows? Maybe he'll even let you take it for a spin. We're looking forward to seeing some YouTube video of this bad boy, but in the meantime we present you with one more pic (after the break).

Update: Video found... from 2006. Hey, it's new to (most of) you!

[Via Tokyo Mango]

Continue reading Life-sized Tachikoma loose on the streets of Tokyo (update: video!)

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Life-sized Tachikoma loose on the streets of Tokyo (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 May 2009 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ghost In The ShellGhostInTheShellHalojapanmangarobotTachikomaTokyoTue, 19 May 2009 20:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Kondo bot acquires iPod touch headgear]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/video-kondo-bot-acquires-ipod-touch-headgear/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/video-kondo-bot-acquires-ipod-touch-headgear/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/video-kondo-bot-acquires-ipod-touch-headgear/#comments
If you're a Kondo KHR-2HV hobbyist and the usual choices for headgear all seem a little too safe, you might want to check out this next item. YouTube user 'ogutti' has posted a video of the robot he built using an iPod touch for its control unit and user interface. Details are skint, but apparently the device uses the Robochan app to program and play back the robot's various movements. At the very least, this thing does have a rather cute animated visage -- although it does seem a little too top heavy for any serious tournament fighting. See it in action for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Video: Kondo bot acquires iPod touch headgear

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Video: Kondo bot acquires iPod touch headgear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kondokondo khr-2hvKondoKhr-2hvMon, 18 May 2009 13:44:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot's military Ember bots are tiny treaded hotspots]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/irobots-military-ember-bots-are-tiny-treaded-hotspots/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/irobots-military-ember-bots-are-tiny-treaded-hotspots/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/irobots-military-ember-bots-are-tiny-treaded-hotspots/#comments Remember the LANDroids initiative, which resulted in iRobot scoring a $2.5 million contract to create tiny, miniaturized bots that could crawl through battlefields and your nightmares? The company is showing off the early fruits of that contract, the Ember microbot, which is so small it slipped entirely under our radar. It's not quite as tiny as DARPA seemed to hope, which depicted a bot little bigger than a pack of cards, but shrinking a Packbot down to paperback size is no small task -- even it is a James Clavell paperback. The bot's primary function is to set up a roving military network on the battlefield, but, with an integrated webcam and extension via USB and SDIO, who knows what kind of functionality they'll provide. The goal is to get these down to $100 or less, and for that price we could see plenty of civilians investing in these just to keep an eye on the activities of household pet insurgents.

[Via Robot Stock News]

Gallery: iRobot Ember microbot

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iRobot's military Ember bots are tiny treaded hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darpaemberirobotirobot emberirobot ember microbotIrobotEmberIrobotEmberMicrobotlandroidmicrobotusbMon, 18 May 2009 07:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Microbot controls swarm of bacteria, puts all flea circuses to shame]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/17/microbot-controls-swam-of-bacteria-puts-all-flea-circuses-to-sh/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/17/microbot-controls-swam-of-bacteria-puts-all-flea-circuses-to-sh/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/17/microbot-controls-swam-of-bacteria-puts-all-flea-circuses-to-sh/#comments Sylvain Martel, what hast thou sown? The director of the NanoRobotics Laboratory at the École Polytechnique de Montréal this week is presenting his latest microbot at ICRA in Japan, and it's got a pretty crazy trick. The solar panel-equipped device sizes up to about 300 x 300 microns, and using a sensor to detect nearby pH levels, it's been shown as capable of controlling a swarm of 3,000 bacteria using electromagnetic pulses. Sure, Martel suggests there'll be some eventual medical uses for the technology, but we'd be lying if we said the video demonstration didn't give us the willies. See for yourself in the video linked below.

Read - Announcement
Read - Video

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Microbot controls swarm of bacteria, puts all flea circuses to shame originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 May 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's important to remember that when we make inevitable war with the machines, it was really all our fault -- take this guy Lin, for example. Sure, he means well, building this massage chair out of scrap for his aging wife, who suffers from joint pain, but future generations scraping together a meager existence as they huddle for protection from homicidal robots and a rage-filled Christian Bale won't be exactly forgiving of Lin's plight. "Why couldn't he just travel backwards in time to stop the joint pain before it started?" they'll ask. "Didn't he know he was endangering the entire human race?"

[Via Make]

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Home built massage chair strikes inexpugnable fear into aching joints originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 May 2009 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diymassagemassage chairMassageChairSun, 17 May 2009 01:49:00 EST<![CDATA[ACE robot asks for directions, purpose in life]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/ace-robot-asks-for-directions-purpose-in-life/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/ace-robot-asks-for-directions-purpose-in-life/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/ace-robot-asks-for-directions-purpose-in-life/#comments
The Tweenbots project already demonstrated that at least some folks are willing to help a lost robot find its way, but this new ACE bot developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich has now ramped things up in a fairly big way, with it actually asking passers-by for directions and developing a map as it moves through the city. Apparently, the robot uses a series of cameras to detect people nearby, and it then asks them to simply point towards the destination indicated on its screen, which it is able to recognize, although it does also asks them to confirm the direction on the screen just to be safe. In initial tests, that appears to have been relatively successful, with ACE (or Autonomous City Explorer) able to reach its destination 1.5 kilometers away in five hours after relying on directions from 38 people. But don't take our word for it. Head on past the break to check out its people skills for yourself.

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

Continue reading ACE robot asks for directions, purpose in life

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ACE robot asks for directions, purpose in life originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceautonomousautonomous city explorerAutonomousCityExplorerbothuman interactionHumanInteractionrobottechnical university of munichTechnicalUniversityOfMunichFri, 15 May 2009 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[HIRO, the realistic 'torso bot' for researchers and fans of El DeBarge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/hiro-the-realistic-torso-bot-for-researchers-and-fans-of-el-d/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/hiro-the-realistic-torso-bot-for-researchers-and-fans-of-el-d/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/hiro-the-realistic-torso-bot-for-researchers-and-fans-of-el-d/#comments
Are you a serious scientific researcher / evil genius looking for a robot for serious scientific research / "evil genius" research? Do you need something whose movements more closely approximates those of the humans who you might wish to help / destroy? Kawada Industries and General Robotix in Japan (GRX) have teamed up to develop a little something called HIRO, or "Human Interactive Robot." Designed to move in a more lifelike fashion that any robot on the market these days, this bad boy has fifteen degrees of freedom (including two in the neck, six in each arm and one in the lower back). It can also carry an object weighing up to 2kg in each arm, and its finger tip features an operating force of up to 10kgf. If that weren't enough, it also includes a head-mounted double-lens stereo vision camera, two robot hands, two hand cameras, a control PC, and a PC for information processing. For the OS, this device uses that perennial favorite of evil genuises everywhere (Windows XP) while it uses something called QNX for control systems. Available for delivery to academic research institutes and mad scientist's hideouts sometime this fall for a price of ¥7.4 million (just about $77,000) -- or, if you're on a tight budget, the basic package (which excludes the head-mounted camera, the two robot hands, and includes a simplified neck) is priced at ¥5.4 million (roughly $57,000). One more pic after the break.

Continue reading HIRO, the realistic 'torso bot' for researchers and fans of El DeBarge

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HIRO, the realistic 'torso bot' for researchers and fans of El DeBarge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The folks at Boston Dynamics have already made quite a name for themselves in the world of creepy robotics, but it looks like they're not ones to keep all their know-how to themselves, and they've now lent the University of Pennsylvania's Kod*lab a hand with this new RiSE V3 pole-climbing robot. That, as you've no doubt surmised, is a followup to RiSE V1 and V2, which were developed without the help of Boston Dynamics and were more suited to climbing flat surfaces than poles. In addition to a vastly different leg mechanism, this latest model also makes use of some brushless DC motors that increase the power density to let it climb poles at rates up to 22cm per second, which the researchers say make it well-suited for a wide range of tasks. As you can see for yourself in the video after the break, the bot mostly seems to work remarkably well, although it's obviously not quite ready to tackle critical jobs all by itself just yet.

[Via Hacked Gadgets]

Continue reading Boston Dynamics-designed RiSE V3 robot climbs poles, haunts dreams

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Boston Dynamics-designed RiSE V3 robot climbs poles, haunts dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 00:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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