iPhone, iRobot, and Wii merge for Army applications
March 28, 2008
Using a joystick to control a military Packbot is difficult. Controlling the bomb-sniffing robot while simultaneously analyzing the sensor data that gets transmitted back is even harder.
First 'technosexual' declares his love for a robot
March 27, 2008
"Zoltan," a semi-anonymous guy from Georgia, doesn't like guys or girls. Instead, he likes robots.
He recently talked with Gizmodo in a first-of-its-kind interview about his long-term, monogamous relationship with Alice. Alice is a robot that offers Zoltan physical, mental, and emotional company. And he wouldn't have it any other way.
World's Biggest Underwater Robot weighs in at 55 tons
March 24, 2008
The first UT-1 Ultra Trencher, built by Soil Machine Dynamics in the UK, has been delivered to CTC Marine Projects, another UK company that plans to use the robot to bury oil and gas pipelines at the bottom of the sea floor.
Surgeons to control Da Vinci robot with eye movements
March 22, 2008
Around the world, the surgical robot Da Vinci is enabling doctors to perform less invasive and more precise surgeries. Da Vinci has been used in tumor removal, heart repair, and other operations.
Climbing robot to investigate Martian geology
March 21, 2008
Researchers from Stanford University have built a wall climbing robot that could climb vertical cliffs on Mars, for the purpose of exploring rocks and minerals in currently unreachable locations.
The climbing robot, called "Capuchin," has two arms and two legs, and climbs a typical-looking rock wall similar to how a human would approach the challenge. Capuchin is controlled by a sophisticated computer program that guides its every move. The program's algorithms help the robot distribute its weight equally among its limbs as it shifts its weight between supports.
Man Builds Robot to Kill Himself
March 19, 2008
An 81-year-old man from Burleigh Heads, Australia, downloaded plans to build a killer robot from the Internet, built the complex machine, and then used it to kill himself in his driveway.
Life-like BigDog robot walks like a real (headless) dog
March 19, 2008
Boston Dynamics has released new footage of its four-legged versatile robot called BigDog. The headless, dog-like robot can trot up wooded terrain, walk on ice, and even keep its balance when kicked.
Boston Dynamics built BigDog with a $10 million grant from the US military. The robot is designed to carry heavy equipment over rough terrain.
Robot car racing could occur in Qatar
March 18, 2008
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and its branch campus CMU in Qatar (CMUQ) are thinking about holding robot car races in Qatar. The robot races would hopefully encourage computer scientists and engineers to develop new technology for the races, which could be adapted into cars in the future.
Robot Rips 1,000 CDs in a Day
March 10, 2008
A start-up company in Auckland, New Zealand, called Mediashifter has a workforce of three employees and one robot. It's the latter that does most of the dirty work for the music conversion company, though.
Robot Gets Soft Arms, Chest to Gently Carry Old People
March 10, 2008
One of the most physically demanding tasks for nurses who work with the elderly is moving them around. Sometimes wheel chairs can help, but other times, weak individuals must be carried short distances (such as from the bed to the bathroom). And in emergency situations where nurses aren't around, a robot could potentially pick an individual up in its arms.
Robot snakes climb pipes, walls, and legs
March 8, 2008
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have designed snake robots that use cyclic internal motions to propel themselves forward, up, down, and just about any other direction.
Robots Link Up to Contain Oil Spills
March 6, 2008
Hexagonal robots as tall as a human could be tossed into the water surrounding an accidental oil spill, and stop the slick mess from spreading further into the ocean, saving wildlife and the environment. Once contained, cleaning crews could remove the oil from the water.
Artist Uses Robot Hunting Trophies to Question Life's Value
March 3, 2008
Artist France Cadet, a robotics teacher at the Aix-en-Provence School of Art in Marseilles, has recently designed an intriguing piece of work: hunting trophies of robotic animals.
Robots Help Us Understand Human Personality
February 27, 2008
Do you like humanoids, or do you prefer more mechanical-looking robots? Your choice may reveal something about your personality, according to researchers at the University of Hertfordshire Science and Technology Research Institute.
India to launch its first consumer robot
February 25, 2008
Indian company Gridbots is planning to release the country's first major consumer robot in the next few months, with high hopes that the mechanical servant will make a big splash.
Comics Help Students Understand Robotics
February 25, 2008
In an attempt to reach out to a younger generation of engineers, Professor Ernie Hall of the University of Cincinnati is using comic books to teach the intricacies of robotics systems.
The director of the Center for Robotics at UC, Hall says that the comic books are helpful in explaining technical points for college students in his robot control class.
Robot Follows its 'Nose'
February 23, 2008
When it comes to the ability to sense chemicals, robots have nothing on sharp-nosed insects. Although robots can track chemicals both in air and underwater using man-made sensors, they're extremely slow at it.