Of course, you laughed yesterday when you heard Professor Noel Sharkey warn against impending apocalyptic man vs. machine battle that was to come, but it can receive news that you sing a different song. A pilot program in Nevada employing robotic sentinels of the patrol Hawthorne Army Depot is an update: 24 brand new MDARS called drones, or "Mobile Detection and Assessment and Response System." The purchase of $ 40 million will nab Army diesel robots which operate at speeds of up to 20 km / h, the use of RFID tags to keep track of locks and barriers, and can operate for 16 hours without refueling. Although robots have been tested with automatic weapons, these new versions will be equipped with non-lethal weapons, making them much less deadly when Skynet is online.

Labels: robots

iCub The robot was already well for itself in the department creepiness, but a group of researchers at the University of Plymouth are now working on the things take a big step forward by the so-called "baby-robot" to speak (as it is against the teachings of baby talk). The alleged to be in the next four years, the period in which the researchers are working together with specialists in the development of language, which usually examine the way in which their parents to the children to speak. Finally, they hope that the robot is capable of fulfilling the tasks as a basis for the accumulation of blocks of wood, and in a position to the names of objects and actions, that he spoke basis of the records, such as: "Robot uses Stock Cube, "or" I want more life, the father. "Who is more, it is that the research has not even started, one of the teachers, as nothing less than a milestone, saying that" the results of Research for the establishment of scientific and technological needs for the development of humanoid robots to develop the capacity complex behaviors, thinking and communication skills through learning and the individual's Social Committee. "Unless the robot that receives some ideas, which he owned, it is not saying.

Labels: iCub, robots

We want one. Scratch that: We need a. Check out this ridiculously cuisine super-cleaning robot called Readybot - if that is what the future of robot resembling slavery, we sign. The creators, which is part of a group called the homebrew Readybot Robot Challenge, are dedicated to the search for a breakthrough application for the consumer robotics, and team leader Tom Benson said, the answer is simple: "We believe that people want a robot that can clean the kitchen. "Uh, yes. dishwasher-size prototype Readybot is now possible to do a little less than half of your kitchen chores, but he says Benson will eventually reach 80 percent - which represents about 100 percent more than we are currently doing. Falling in love with the video after the break.

Labels: robots

So, the military is continuing on the path of the inevitable completely computer controlled autonomous robo-warriors capable of combating the deadly battles of man on our behalf - and future opponents Sheffield U prof like Noel Sharkey, , the ethics of autonomous military systems conference in London, decried by bots "self-determined killing abilities as" a threat to humanity "- especially if they are captured and re-offered by the terrorists to do their evil bidding. Sharkey exclaimed that he is "working in artificial intelligence for decades, and the idea of a robot to make decisions regarding the termination of man terrifies [him]", but - and we just it will throw out there - if they are oppressed by a race of machines run amok were actually an improvement over our governments corrupt men? Is it not a possibility, too? We will certainly continue to say that this is in some way recognizing that we managed not to be toppled by our own creations. So far.

P.S. We dare you, commentators, NOT bust welcoming our robot lords cliché.

Labels: robot news

Rufus Terrill's sturdy robot hand is on average more than your friend drinking water - in fact, four feet in height, 300 pounds Robotic Security Protection his work makes to the vandals and vagrants marring the streets of Atlanta. The inventor is an engineer-turned-bar owners who are tired of dinghies and thieves to drag his company shocked. Instead of asking experts, he builds a robot with a remote control, Flash, can be used with a projector, respiratory and to resist the water, but also the most difficult 40 ounce. Beverage cans, which inevitably its way. Better still, it can even speak to the creature, and apparently, his series of tactical scaremongering was effective enough on this day. Speak to protect and serve.

Labels: robots, security robots

We want this kind of wrong was - provisional, and we are very pleased that it is not - but you can not help but be a little bit to think that the Toshiba 815T freaked DB on Softbank, developed to a new review to the Star (you have guessed, It) robo phones called Ketai Sousakan 7th Yeah Yeah, QVGA, 3G, 3.2-megapixel camera, which is very good, but our latent fear of cancer cell in the brain just getting out of the window.

Labels: mobile, robots

Make no mistake, our hearts are floating when we finally attended the WowWee FlyTech Dragonfly buzzing about, but there is something about this creature that we really earn more. Designed and built by James G. Watt, the insect robot reportedly includes a number of solar cells that provide enough power in sunlight to the critter's wings flap. Granted, we are not told whether it is powerful enough to deliver the notes of love mathematics courses, but we are digging the concept, whatever.

Labels: robot news, robots

We saw a lot thanks to the fantastic replicas always fascinating eBay pages before, but this is apparently creating hit home with a good number of affluent buyers nerds. Reproduction of fiberglass Gort from the famous 1951 classic The Day The Earth Stood Still is currently sitting just above $ 4000, and there are still a few hours, quite left for bids to fly in ' other galaxies. Unfortunately, the winning bidder will be forced to trek to San Francisco to pick it up, but at least you can expect the audit of its screen tilt and sound effects to melt before your portfolio and call you master.

Labels: robots

We'll be straight with you - Wizkid would be much easier to be taken seriously when they are expected, even from afar, as a companion Ling Earth, or at least one animal. Instead, we expect a very unusual, but absolutely brilliant robot, which can be applied to the grindstone human faces, forget your hand and the preferences of motions. In essence, the creature is determined that our lives to the start of the wave when it comes to a stereo CD into his box, with the Solitaire, souls and we keep busy with other on-screen interactive applications. Not a word about what kiddo is for the sphere, but the people very curious can go to say hello, The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Labels: robots

Prepare to be amazed. Thank you for the good lorf embedded video, because the words to express our admiration and Dan's Paluska and Jeff Lieberman's hurling table tennis ball, robotics orchestral Absolutely quartet on your machine boxes LCD cells, the rods and cones. If you ... A poet. The video after the break.

Labels: absolut quartet, robots

If you have the time, about you, you might not find that in this year's season of festivals storage technology, but ten months, and apparently, Mattel, believes that there is a series of toys, the hottest thing already understood. Granted, we put our bets on this angry animated Elmo Live colleagues (and yes, Kota legitimate dark horse), but with $ 150 D-Rex dinosaur is still quite smooth. It's aimed at children aged between six and (simply), the interactive features dino would have 100 different roars, "alive" in the skin (saywha?), And the ability to respond to a variety of commands, or just a piece of your ankle ' It prefers. Looks like Pleo's got his work cut, how?

Labels: robots

Engineering at the University of Tokyo Tsuyoshi Horo has a new system to control the robot (or in this case a shift in the chair), with the help of a simple hand gestures and body. The researchers used a circular route from cameras to detect and follow the movements of the body in a controlled environment, and these movements to action for a PLC. The cameras are used to provide a real-time 3D volumetric model of the objects or persons in the room, then in a virtual cube psychedelic pile to be read and how the data is processed. Seen movement allows a user, the bot something of a direction to show how they want them to go. Of course, this is very good, but we are interested in ourselves Tron-ed in a very complex Rubik's Cube - where we register? See the video after the break to secure the system (and blocks), in the action.

Labels: robots

Known technologist and futurist Ray Kurzweil is in the folder on the intelligence of the man-machine interface, the parity: it is 2029, then be prepared to fully to the new digital levels. Apparently, the machines "that both the hardware and software to the level of artificial intelligence of the people" until then, but even if they are not in the form of termination meatbag cyborgs, Kurzweil Is considers a future of intelligent machines is in the nano-level interfaces to our own physiology and intelligence. Oh, sure, these things completely pie in the sky - but it remains amusing absurd to think about this kind of crazy shit 21 Century, which hold.

Labels: robots

Cooks not far from humans are extraordinary, but the last culinary guru handicrafts in Japan has a predilection for extreme. Apparently, EZ Commander Robot was sighted in Osaka exciting octopus balls (all things), but apparently, the creature has a plate concoct anything from the very beginning. Interestingly, this demonstration is not really used to the food value of their benefits, but the identification of other issues, such as the recognition of the language and the ability to carry out routine tasks without human intervention. Click here to view the video, but remember that we are not responsible for the ruin your appetite.

Labels: robots

Forget your dreams of control - after all, this is not the idea of a mechanical friend, regardless of your brain from wrong idea until the last night, much more attractive? In an interesting pressure, Fernando Orellana and Brendan Burns have joined the development of a humanoid who actually sophisticated dream interpretation of the results (derived by the analysis of data from a variety of sensors) and deeds show what it is happening in the mind. Frankly, we are still not sure whether we want you to remember some of these trips at night - and even less to see some bot play it back - but when you glanced this border and immediately the finger for a video on The leap to the head in the past, do exactly that.

Labels: robots

If you did not notice now, Elmo is rapidly on the path to be a toy creepy laugh - and annoyingly difficult to find during the holidays - to be a real creepy robot ... And even more difficult to find during the holidays. The new Elmo Live, which is Fisher-Price announced at Toy Fair 2008 this week, his words can mouth like a Muppet-live, and may sit, stand and gesture as he tells stories, jokes, sing and play games. Of course, we are convinced that you can still tickle him and set him on fire, but the depth of interaction Elmo Live brings should certainly bring the creepiness factor to all new levels. That's why this is potentially the best toy ever. Hopefully you can re-program him drop kick your Pleo. Elmo Live will be available on October 14 to $ 60.

Labels: robots

First make sure innovation seems maintain a steady pace with its VEX robotics system, with the company now follows his ROBOTC programming has released its new VEX kit with RCR WiFi Mini kit and a new control system. The first, as you have no doubt surmised, is a smaller and cheaper version of the standard of innovation VEX system, which he believes will be particularly attractive to primary school pupils on the spot. The control system VEX WiFi, on the other hand, apparently VEX will work with all robots, and somewhat ominously, the possibility of making a "simultaneous operation of hundreds of wireless robots." No word on the price or exact release date for the WiFi system only for the moment, but you can look for RCR VEX Mini will be available in August for "less than $ 100."

Labels: robots, wireless

It is still formal clinical trials, but Dean Kamen called "Luke" artificial arm already has its share of tests, we are now lucky to catch a glimpse of a new video courtesy of the folks at IEEE Spectrum Online. The same video also offers helpful a few more details on the arm, including word that they can be controlled through a variety of means, including foot pedals, nerves or muscles, and that it packs force feedback to give the carrier a reference to Grip strength, according Among other sci-fi-like things. Of course, all this does exactly the arm of the law, so be sure that you have the video on the link below to read, to see it for yourself in action.

View video!

Labels: artificial arm, ArtificialArm, dean kamen, DeanKamen, luke arm, LukeArm, robot arm, RobotArm

Of course, we have seen bots DS before, but some young people in France have control over the whole question of the "next level." Apparently six students in genius has decided to move quickly on a IA Robot (open, modular, as Roomba-bot), the collection of dust, and the most important DS controls in his little brain. The end result is a multi-platform control of the implementation is based entirely on the portable console from Nintendo, which provides wireless control of the robot with the pad, touch screen, motion sensors, trains and pen, so that a target group Super Mario 64 DS, and the voice commands on the system of the microphone. The video you can after the break to see the little guy in action, but you should avoid the gaze, when he himself aware, the people are so ineffective, and will kill an angry-angry.

Labels: DS-controlled, robots

As if the robot is not enough, our jobs, a group of Dutch inventors have now the task of the veil of their new car robot with food, which he hopes will one day be the filling of the tank to a nearby station from their homes . With respect to the negotiation of the price of € 75000 ($ 111,100), which was apparently can identify the cars because they upwards, and the reference in a database to determine the type of fuel and to use the base type of the fuel, which should be avoided Malchances. Oddly enough, admit that the inventor of the technology is not a completely new idea, and they provide the means for inspiration for the robot for milking the cows, he said that "if a robot can do that, then why can it not a car tank fill. "Although it is apparently not a fait accompli at this stage the team say they hope to provide the robot with a" handful "of the Dutch gas at the end of the year.

Labels: car fuelling robot, robots

We know how men can become attached to their robots - particularly those that have had a hand in creation. Fortunately, the advent of mobile broadband is what allows us to stay closer and closer to our mechanics, even when we are there. All gushing aside, TeMo home is a pretty swank concoction - it is mainly built from Lego Technic and comprises five servo motors, an arm (you know, to do things), a microcontroller and it's very own cell phone, with an unlimited data package. Put simply, a creature of the device runs a Web server that can be accessed from anywhere, in theory, give the owner the ability to transmit commands halfway (or fully) in the World wide. Best of all, the truth of how TeMo ticks is sprawled read in the link below, so be sure to give some attention if it seems to be the perfect solution to that strained relationship long distance.

Labels: mobile, robots, wireless

The research is still in its infancy, but the concept makes have stepped straight out of science fiction. Some friendly folks at Carnegie Mellon University working towards electromagnetic microscopic robots that can cling together, and take virtually any form. The line indicates that the rapid prototyping, the promise of "claytronics," and the mysterious deaths of the plane crash victims, but current examples of technology are anything but smooth. The main element is that uniting the robots currently under development have no moving parts, the place with the help of magnetic forces to draw around themselves relative to each other. Peep the video after the break for some samples.

Labels: carnegie mellon, CarnegieMellon, claytronics, magnetic bots, MagneticBots, robot news

In another example of robots to obtain short-term staff, a weather forecast Japanese society is set to deploy a swarm of more than 200 robots sniffer pollen throughout the country, which will warn us l 'man of any interference pollen threats (not neutral frighten some animals unsuspecting in the process). As you can see, robots are the spherical variety, and are barely a foot in diameter and weighing about 2.2 kilograms. Sticking true to creepy robot conventions, they also benefit from glowing eyes that glow in one of five different colors to indicate the level of pollen in the air. Oddly enough, this information takes a rather roundabout way back to the company's headquarters, with 200 volunteers to monitor allergy suffers robots rely on their status and return to the company.

Labels: gadgets, japan robots, pollen-sniffing robots, robots