Archive for the “General robotics news” Category
Not content to field yet another hulking behemoth in the upcoming 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge autonomous vehicle event, North Carolina State University has teamed with Lotus Engineering to build a modified Lotus Elise sportscar for their entry.
Check out this related DARPA Lotus Elise post for more information on the speedy driverless-vehicle to be, in addition to an extra photo or two of the impressive Elise.
(Source[s]: DrivelineBlog, NC State) – [Jeff James]
photo: © Group Lotus PLC
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While perusing the web for interesting robotics news and tidbits, I came across a short (and admittedly outdated) article over at NewScientist regarding Japanese beverage maker Asahi. According to the article, Asahi recently gave away 1000 small robots that not only can keep 6 aluminum beverage cans cold, but can also open the containers and pour out the contents.
The article goes on to include some contrasting comments from robotics researchers about the beverage bots and the Asahi promotion, which makes the article worth a quick read. (Source: NewScientist) – [Jeff James]
photo: © Asahi
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In yet another sign that we’re stepping closer to a future dominated by gun-wielding robots, Samsung has announced that it has partnered with a Korean University to produce an armed sentry guard robot that will be placed along the DMZ between North and South Korea.
According to a pair of posts over at the Defense Review and TechEBlog (link to video clip), the new robot takes the form of a stationary gun emplacement that can be equipped with a 5.56mm machine gun. A number of ambient light and thermal/infrared sensors are used for detection, while gun movement and control is managed by sophisticated pattern recognition software. The Defense Review reports that the entire system will run about $200,000 and will be available in late 2007.
I find this all a bit disconcerting, as the thought of giving robots lethal weapons doesn’t sound like a good idea. As soon as someone mentions that they’re hooking up their armed robots to an intelligent, self-aware computer network dubbed SkyNet, we’re all in big trouble. (Sources: TechEBlog, Defense Review) – [Jeff James]
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It may sound like a moniker best suited for a pack of villains seeking to do battle with the Justice League or the Avengers, but the Shadow Hand — created by the UK-based Shadow Robot Company (SRC) — is quite an impressive robotic creation.
According to the SRC website, the Shadow Hand has:
“…integrated sensing and position control, allowing precise control from off-board computers, or integration into your existing robot platform.
The Shadow Hand contains an integrated bank of 36 air muscles which make it move. The muscles are compliant, which allows the hand to be used around soft or fragile objects.
The Shadow Hand Can be fitted with touch sensing on the fingertips, offering sensitivity sufficient to detect a single small coin.”
SRC’s client list includes NASA, Carengie-Mellon University, LEGO, Matsushita, ABB and Bielefeld University. The company is hard at work on other robotic products as well, including synthetic muscles.
Check out video clips and additional info on the hand at this SRC media page. (Source: Shadow Robot Company) – [Jeff James]
photo: © The Shadow Robot Company
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The Japanese have been pioneers in robotic design, with a culture that seens to have embraced robotics to a greater degree than anywhere else.
To illustrate that point, a photo gallery has been recently posted on the BBC technology news channel that shows some of the fascinating robots that Professor Shigeo Hirose of the Tokyo Institute of Technology has worked on over the years. It’s well worth a quick browse – pour yourself a cup of joe and take a look. (Source: BBC News) – [Jeff James]
photo: © BBC
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When Radio Shack discontinued the VEX Robotics System earlier this year, it looked like the days of this inventive robotics system were numbered. Innovation First — which partnered with Radio Shack to develop the system — then rescued the product by purchasing the VEX Robotics brand name and trademark registration rights from Radio Shack earlier this year. (see news release)
Now I’m happy to pass along more good news: Robot Magazine is reporting that plastic model giant Revell has entered into an agreement with Innovation First that creates a “…global partnership for the design, marketing and distribution of the new Vex Robotics System.”
According to a joint press release issued by the two companies, Innovation First will handle the technical bits, such as R&D, design and manufacturing, while Revell will manage the sales, marketing and distribution. Check out the links below for more information.
(Source: Robot Magazine) – [Jeff James]
photo: © Vex Robotics
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A group of scientists in the United Kingdom has launched an initiative designed to raise general interest in and awareness of robotics.
Dubbed Walking with Robots, this educational outreach program runs from January 2006 to December 2008 and — according to the program grant description page — intends to “…produce a prominent UK-wide campaign for promoting awareness of and interest in robotics amongst public audiences.”
In an article about the program by Ian Morgan over at 24Dash.com, Robotics Professor Noel Sharkey (from the University of Sheffield) is quoted as saying:
“Robots are coming thick and fast with robot domestics, gardeners, cooks, companions, lovers, taxis, factory workers, space explorers, soldiers, maybe police and certainly pets.
“Public concern about these new metal ‘friends’ is whipped up by science fiction, but what are the facts? Will these robots think? Will they have emotions? Will they be mentally superior to us? Could my boss be a robot? Will they take over the planet and write interesting sitcoms?
“The public need to be prepared for the revolution.”
Check out the 24Dash story or visit the Walking with Robots grant project page for more information.
While robots as sophisticated as the NS-5 from I, Robot (pictured, above) may still be many decades away, there’s no doubt that the robotics field is growing rapidly.
The Walking with Robots program is a great step by the United Kingdom to raise awareness of robotics in the general public.
Should the United States and other countries pursue similar programs to kick-start interest? Add a comment or two to this post and let us know what you think!
(Source[s]: 24Dash.com, EPSRC) – [Jeff James]
photo: © Fox
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Although similar in many respects to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that appears on a regular basis here in North America, the CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) event in Japan tends to feature a bit more in the way of advanced technology demonstrations at the expense of fewer stereo components, car audio bits and consumer gadgets.
One of the companies that is a regular fixture at CEATEC is Murata Manufacturing, a large Japanese manufacturer of electronic components, sensors and other materials. Murata also has a robotics project of their own: Murata Boy, a bicycle-riding robot developed as a showcase for many of the company’s existing products.
The company demonstrated the latest ieration of their bicycling bot at the recent CEATEC 2006. According to a post by Maryn Williams over at Digital World Tokyo, the intrepid cyclist managed to pedal up an incline unaided, supported by a suite of gyroscopes and other sensors.
Check out the DWT post and the Murata Boy website for more information. (Source[s]: Digital World Tokyo, CEATEC, Murata Boy) – [Jeff James]
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A recent story over at CNN.com (penned by Matthew Abshire) relates how a Georgia Tech instructor has managed to create a drumming robotic musician. Music Technology Professor Gil Weinberg and his team at Georgia Tech developed a robot — dubbed “Haile” — that can listen and analyze acoustic rythyms, then respond to that input in real-time by drumming a compatible tune. Changes in pitch, tone and rythm are all reacted too differently, making Haile a true participant in a collaborative musical experience. Check out the Haile project site for more info and some impressive video clips of this musical machine in action.
The development of Haile is undoubtedly an impressive feat, but can a robotic percussionist truly serve as a replacement for the likes of the legendary Neil Peart?
Check out some of Neil’s live concert footage (and a CGI rendition of his YYZ solo) then let us know what you think by dropping a blog comment or two in the post comment section. (Sources: CNN.com, Haile project site, Georgia Tech Innovations, Neil Peart web page) – [Jeff James]
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It may be one of the most unusual robotic applications to appear — ever — but you have to admit that artist Seth Weiner’s robotic fishbowl is one interesting piece of work.
According to a few posts and news stories scattered about the web (see sources, below), this creation — dubbed “The Terranaut Project” — positions a motion-detecting camera above a large fishbowl holding a large, brightly-colored fish. When the fish moves forward towards the front of the bowl, the camera interfaces wirelessly with a PC that makes the wheeled framework that the giant fishbowl rests upon move forward. Fishy movements to the sides and rear of the container generate similar movements in those directions as well.
Obviously created more as an art exercise than as a serious robotics application, the Terranaut Project nevertheless shows how the world of personal robotics is expanding into unexpected areas. A post over at News.com by Mike Yamamoto mentions some available YouTube video of the fish-ferrying device in action for the sceptics among us.
Discuss this interesting creation further by dropping a post or two via the comments link. (Source[s]: News.com, LiveScience, The Art Newspaper) – [Jeff James]
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