Robots to perform "Phantom of the Opera"
December 15, 2008
An all-robot cast is preparing to perform the classic musical “The Phantom of the Opera” in Taiwan on December 27. According to the China Post, the event could mark the world’s first robot theater.
Chinese Farmer an Unlikely Robot Inventor
December 8, 2008
If you’ve ever wondered if some people were born to be engineers, look no further than Wu Yulu, a 46-year-old repairman who lives in a small village outside of Beijing. Ever since he was 11 years old, Wu has been building robots out of scrap, simply to see how they work.
Roofus the robot plows roof snow
November 19, 2008
Michal Glogowski’s snow-shoveling robot is currently just a concept, but Roofus seems like it could definitely make human lives a bit easier.
Roofus is a robotic snowplow that can shovel and dump snow either autonomously or via remote control. The 220-pound robot is specially designed to clear off flat roofs, especially on those large commercial buildings that otherwise require a lot of man-hours.
Musical robots coordinate to sing novel tunes
November 3, 2008
At first, the two robots had two completely different musical styles. But after a few weeks of “jamming,” the robots began to synchronize their music and sing more or less in harmony.
Robots could replace service dogs for disabled people
October 29, 2008
Researchers from Georgia Tech are designing a robot to take the place of service dogs that help disabled people with everyday activities. Like a service dog, the robot can fetch objects and open drawers on command.
Snake-arm robot built of vertebrae, not elbows
August 19, 2008
The US Department of Defense was looking for a robot that could inspect small, cluttered spaces. But the problem with most conventional industrial robots was that their “elbows” got in the way, allowing them to bend only at certain places. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, endoscopes were flexible enough but too floppy to be precisely positioned.
US Air Force Converts First Wing of Combat Planes to UAVs
August 14, 2008
Pilots of the US 174th Fighter Wing have begun a new job this week. Instead of flying their F-16 combat planes over Iraq and Afghanistan, they’ll be flying robotic MQ-9 Reaper drones remotely, mostly from stations in the US.
Artificial neural network guides ‘playful robots’
August 13, 2008
By controlling computer simulations with an artificial neural network that is roughly modeled on the human brain, researchers hope to create robots that can take on lives of their own, as much as possible.
Robotic sub to explore world’s deepest undersea volcanoes
August 11, 2008
Researchers are planning to send two submarines – one autonomous – down to depths of 6 km (3.6 miles) in the Cayman Trough, located in the Caribbean Sea. Because these waters will have temperatures of around 500C (930F) and are completely unexplored, the scientists predict that one out of two sea creatures the subs see will be an undiscovered species.
Alabama plans to build multi-million-dollar robotics center
April 18, 2008
The state of Alabama is planning to build a multi-million-dollar robotics center that will focus on industry training and education. Governor Riley hopes to make Alabama a leader in robot technology education, as well as ensure that industries have the robotics technicians they need for future manufacturing.
New Robots Can Provide Elder Care For Aging Baby Boomers
April 17, 2008
Baby boomers are set to retire, and robots are ready to help, providing elder care and improving the quality of life for those in need. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a robotic assistant that can dial 911 in case of emergencies, remind clients to take their medication, help with grocery shopping and allow a client to talk to loved ones and health care providers.
Robot hawk scares birds from Dutch airport
April 13, 2008
Birds loitering on the runways at the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam can present a pest to pilots ready for take-off.
Officials have tried to scare the birds away with everything from laser beams, loudspeakers mimicking bird warning calls, and even specially-trained bird-chasing dogs.
Bio-inspired robot climbs three-story building
April 14, 2008
Luckily, RiSE the robot isn't afraid of heights. Looking somewhat like a mutated scorpion - with six legs and 25-50 toes per foot - the robot uses technology inspired by geckos, squirrels, cockroaches, and other natural climbers to scale three-story buildings, among other feats.
Fully automated 'robot' restaurant opens in Germany
April 11, 2008
In the southern German town of Nuremberg, diners at 'S Baggers can order, receive, and pay for their food, all without ever having to see a single human waiter. The restaurant is the first fully automated "robot" restaurant in the world, and so far it has been an overwhelming success.
An Interview with Terri the Robot
April 11, 2008
At the State Science and Engineering last week in Honolulu, a robot named Terri attended to educate young students on science.
Terri (The Educational Resource Robot Initiative) was designed by Conceptual Visions, and can carry on conversations without any outside help.
MIT builds Nexi the emo robot
April 4, 2008
Researchers in the MIT Media Lab are developing a team of small humanoids that are especially "human."
How do you talk to a robot?
April 1, 2008
In order for robots to be our servants, we must know how to tell them what to do.
The most natural language for humans is, of course, speaking in words. By choosing those words carefully, we might be able to talk to robots in a way that they too can understand.
TUG robot chugs through children's hospitals
March 31, 2008
"Express train with an express delivery!" says the train conductor of the newly remodeled TUG robot. TUG was designed to move equipment and toys throughout hospitals, allowing employees to focus more on the patients.
Humanoid leg could help amputees walk better
March 31, 2008
Researchers from the Institute of Field Robotics are using their knowledge of robot leg design in order to help human amputees walk easier.