New members in iRobots’ family

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

The co-founder and chairman of iRobot , Helen Greiner doesn’t want to open her cards about expansion of their robotic family. iRobot is public corporation based in Burlington that designs robots for businesses, homes, and the military. iRobot became popular with its product Roomba, an autonomous home vacuum cleaner. Answering to questions in a game show, Greiner told that her company had two new consumer robots that are planned to be introduced before the holiday season. But she did not like to give much information about these robots. She said, We are going to launch them from our Web space, and they are not floor-cleaning robots. They are different types of robots with mechanical features. Actually iRobot wants us to keep guessing about their future product that’s why they have not lifted the veil of mystery surrounding the two new additions to the iRobot family. We already know that the military has been using iRobot’s services in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. So how about having a robot that cooks our food, takes our dog out for a walk, waters our garden, are you listening Mrs Greiner? Via

OLE: New robot concept to combat forest fires

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

Researchers from University of Madgeburg have unveiled an innovative robot that is shaped like a millipede and can function to detect and extinguish forest fires. This eco-friendly and autonomous machine called ‘OLE’ can patrol throughout the forest at speed of 20 to 30 km per hour and exploits infrared and biosensors to detect potential forest fires to extinguish it subsequently via an impulse appliance. The robot can roll up in a ball alike bug and can retract its legs when senses danger to function on its ceramic-fibre compound fire resistant shell that can endure 1,300 Degrees Centigrade temperature. Thirty OLEs are being claimed by the researchers to be efficient to protect 2,700 square miles of forest area. Hope those wild animals don’t mind these OLEs strolling freely in their territory! Via: Research-in-germany

KornTech Rogun robot boasts of identifying faces, friend or enemy

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

KornTech recently came up with the development of a one-meter tall robot known as Rogun, which is claimed to be capable of identifying faces, walk on two feet and keeps the owners on the alert to trespassers through mobile phone. Rogun’s main claim to robot identification is his facial identification via built-in cameras and “high-end face-tracking software,” and his capability of walking (a dexterity which humans take years to become skilled at). Proving once and for all that the Teletubbies were robots underneath their cuddly exteriors, Rogun is consisted with a 7-inch LCD in his stomach region for showing brainwashing material amusement for the children. If adults don’t mind having a talk to Rogun’s middle region, his screen is also capable of routing via a video call thanks to built-in WiFi: Simply speak “Eh-Oh.” Owing to trans-lation problems with the original piece of writing, we’re not fully certain that this is an exact figure; however in so far as we are able to tell the Rogun is opting for $1m, each. A somewhat large amount to plop down on a security system, which can be put out of action with the help of a well-positioned push, however as with all technology, the price will fall, as things become more higher. Image Read

CB2: World’s creepiest robot

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

Japan Science and Technology Agency has unveiled an avant-garde child-sized robot with flexible joints and soft skin. This 33 kilogram CB2 (Child-Robot with Biomimetic Body) is 1.3-meter-tall and comes packed with optical, auditory and tactile sensors. It demonstrate the physical ability of a 1 or 2-year-old child and can turn over and stand up with support. It has 51 compressed air-powered actuators with 200 tactile sensors, implanted in its ‘skin’ and to develop strong relationship with humans it also reacts and make complete facial expressions with blinking eyes. Thanks to Techeblog, who unveiled this Child-Robot with Biomimetic Body in action. Via: Gizmodo

Robotic Desk Lamp: Your collaborative lighting assistant

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

Based on Guy Hoffman’s Ph.D thesis on human-robot fluency and nonverbal behavior a new robotic desk lamp has been developed called AUR or robotic desk lamp or a collaborative lighting assistant. The design of this lamp features an existing 5-DoF robotic arm, though the lamp don’t have any human-like specs but still it manages to develop personal relationship with its human partners via abstract gestures and nonverbal behavior. Constructed in 3D animation system this lively lamp also uses custom pipeline to enable active management of behaviors. Catch the video to see this so-called objective lamp in action. Via: Engadget

Look out for the rocking Robot Chair-Hubo FX-1

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

News regarding robots always excites us! One of the major causes for their massive fan following is that they are simply cool! They do not think much, only work accordingly. This feature makes them a little above from human beings. Well, you would be amazed to know that few robots are cooler as compare to other robots. One such super cool robot is Hubo FX-1 two-legged chair robot. It is basically a chair featuring two legs. Joystick controls the operations and makes you walk while sitting on it. It undergoes movements, such as walking, backward, side to side and turning. But, the question arises about the walking chairbot’s function on rough terrains as well as stairs. Isn’t quite exciting to sit on the robot chair and walk everywhere? Via:slipperybrick

Tondon the janitor robot

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

Robots no more gets special treatment in Japan. Fuji Heavy Industries and Sumitomo have designed a Tondon robot that will now clean the apartments. Tondon robot features a special ‘Balinese’ paint job (means yellow with scribbles all over it) to go with the building it works in. Tondon robot cleans everything from carpets to gutters with its heavy-duty brush/vacuum combo. Moreover, it can tour 14 floors without any without any grumbles requiring just the mandatory charge. The Tondon is currently assigned to clean hallway floors of a new 14-story Bali-themed luxury apartment complex in Tokyo without any supervision. There are number of safety features that enable it to move freely from one to other without any hindrance. It uses an optical communication system to control the building’s elevators. Tondon also features a set of video cameras out of which four cameras record robot’s every move and hard disk that stores video feed. These cameras can also be used for the supervision thus, serving also a watchful security while cleaning. Source: Pinktentacle

Trio: World’s first master of ceremonies

Posted on January 30, 2012 by admin

World’s first robot that acted as master of ceremonies at a South Korean wedding of Seok Gyeong-Jae, one of the engineers who designed it. This Trio robot features a cone-shaped body, two arms and a dark-glassed face with eyes and a mouth of flashing lights that indicated smiles for guests. The robot introduced the couple to the guests in male voice and performed its programmed duties. Hanool Robotics manufacturer of this smart robot claims that it is for the first time a robot has been used as master of ceremonies at a wedding. However, some other small robots were also present at the ceremony to guide guests or to show their skills but Trio whose value is 200 million yen (some 215,000 dollars) after performing its marital duties will also soon get up gradation to perform various other functions too. Via: Davesdaily

Zeno: An emotional robot by Hanson Robotics

Posted on January 29, 2012 by admin

Let’s meet with Zeno. Yet, he can not talk or walk but he can blink eyes to track people. His face will hold your interest with a range of expressions. David Hanson, the genius inventor and father of ‘Frubber’ life-like robotic skin has introduced his 18 month-old son Zeno, who smiles as he is bound through his father’s restricted office. Zeno can learn and use your face and name, express artificial emotions and even make eye contact with humans and family pets. Sometimes, when I talk in the room, Zeno will look me in my eye and say ‘Hi’. Isn’t cool? A group of engineers, designers and programmers at Hanson Robotics in Texas have created a 17 inch tall, 6 pound robot boy named him Zeno. Hanson will show this robot Zeno in front of 12-grade students at the Wired NextFest Technology conference. Hanson claimed that Zeno has an interactive learning companion, a synthetic pal who can engage in conversation and convey human emotion through a face made of a skin like patented material, called ‘frubber’. Unlike other robots, Zeno’s brain is not inside in it but its brain is wirelessly connected with a PC running a variant of Massive software. Zeno would be available within the next three years for $200 to $300. Image: Cache

The Rise of the Machines

Posted on January 29, 2012 by admin

Humans would one day become a thing of the past. Movies like Terminator, i-Robot and Cyborg have been fuelling people’s fears of becoming obsolete. Observing the rate at which robots are developing, to do almost everything that only we humans can, it is a cinch that they would replace us as the most sought-after labor, a few years from now. In recent times, we have been witness to the fact that machines can be trained to do almost everything. The advancements in Artificial Intelligence have drawn our attention to the reality that machines can learn to improvise too. Take for example, the fruit-picking robot fabricated by Vision Robotics, a California based company. The fruit-picking robot can perform a variety of farming tasks, starting with a dual machine, where a top robotic arm handles grapevine-trimming chores. Of the two rolling robots that comprise this machine, the first identifies and notes the position of the fruits and calculates the most effective and efficient way to pluck them. When this information is passed on the second robot, it picks the fruits with no resultant damages to the tree or other fruits. On first thought, it is delightful and amazing. However, it is an indicator of the imminent danger of losing our jobs to machines that are a lot more efficient than us. With the tremendous growth in the robotic industry, it is undeniable that we are losing the battle to the machines. The machines are rising!! Via: scifi