Robotster

This is not a dream. The RoboCup 2007 held recently in Atlanta, USA, had some great robots participating in the competition. There were about 33 teams taking part in this Robo comp. Here’s more details.

The competition was organized by the Georgia Tech. College of Computing. Some of the countries were China, Japan, Iran, Israel, Germany and Brazil. So it was an international scene. This was the place for geeks from all around the world.

What were the robots doing?

The events were sports based. So the robots were playing socce in this special world cup.

The idea of the Robocup was founded back in 1993. The goal was to develop robotic teams that would be capable of playing soccer. The scary part of this project is the following:

By the year 2050, develop a team of fully autonomous humanoid robots that can win against the human world soccer champion team.

Tucker Balch, Georgia Tech College of Computing associate professor agrees with the idea of developing a fully autonomous humanoid robots.

I think this is a little bit weird and scary indeed because, robotic soccer will take the fun out of the game. This is just the beginning. Georgia tech will eventually hold several robot related events.

Image Link: Smh

Source link: Physorg

Chiba Institute of Technology has unveiled a unique robotic truck - Halluc II that encompass ‘multi-joint wheel module’ via mingled robotic technology and automobile technology in one self-directed mechanism.

This robotic truck measures around eighty centimeters in length and weighs twenty kilograms. The Halluc II runs on eight legs via special wheeled modules to move sideways, turn around in place and to drive or walk to combat obstructions until 12 centimeters. Moreover, according to the researchers, this prototype robot will assist security personnel’s in rescue operations and transportation for the mobility-impaired.

Different Modes:

In addition, the best part is that this monstrous truck comes packed with two different modes - Insect and Animal. In insect mode, the robot boycotts wheels and walks like an insect-like giant by extending its legs outwards whereas in animal mode, the machine keeps its legs beneath the truck to conquer tight areas.

How it functions:

The Halluc II functions via wireless LAN capabilities and system of cameras and sensors to detect and monitor the distance of potential obstacles and consecutively study the course to make the best use of its legs and wheels as per the terrain.

It uses 56 motors, 2 for each leg joint (3 joints per leg), plus 1 for each wheel. In addition, by bundling each joint with 2 motors it generates copious power for smooth ride and thanks to multi-motor control system, which is in fact a key component of Halluc II’s design.

The Halluc II will hit Tokyo’s upcoming Miraikan, beginning from August 1 to permit visitors to operate the vehicle via remote-control cockpit with a large screen that shows real-time video shot via an on board camera.

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Via: Technovelgy

The product has been described as ‘a friendly robot for lonely unmarried persons’. What I am talking about is an emotional and friendly Robot called YABO designed by the cool and creative designer Kim Yong Seong. It has been designed in such a way that like a nice wife/husband, it would wait for you to arrive back home, with an advantage that it would not nag you with complaints at that hour. It will also monitor the temperature at home and keep it just at the right level.

Don’t worry if you have left something on when you are away, as the robot will take care to keep any unused appliances off. Exceptional about this piece by Kim is the ability of the robot to change its facial colors, which expresses its emotions basically. YABO’s face is sphere, which isn’t that bad and can move left, right, up and down. Huh...have robots already started replacing humans!

Source: Core77

It seems, robots made by man can now challenge their intelligence in turn! It may happen that you may fail to guess rightly, what lies ahead of your journey into an unknown environment. But, a robot that do that job in an assured way!

Yes, it is no fantasizing of future robots — they are soon to be there in real life. Engineers have pulled their sleeves up to come up with the “claimed” robots that would be able to make “educated guesses,”-as you can call them.

The robots, while traversing unfamiliar surroundings, can reduce the amount of time generally needed for successful navigation to such environments, by guessing on what lies ahead!

To make the robots think ahead of humans, they are provided with a new software, which uses algorithm that enables it to create partial maps while traveling through an environment for the first time. It refers to this partial map to guess on what lies ahead.

C. S. George Lee, a Purdue professor of electrical and computer engineering said,

The more repetitive the environment, the more accurate the prediction and the easier it is for the robot to successfully navigate.

So, if you ever forget a route you have ventured to earlier, or moving into an unknown, these robots perhaps are the right guide for you.

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NASA has funded a reported $450,000 for three robots that are to be used in a mission to explore life near the hot springs under the ice of the Arctic ocean. These robots will be used to take pictures and collect specimens of living organisms along the tectonic boundary between Eurasia and North America.

The robots will be used by researchers from “Cape Cod Hope” who will go on a 40 day mission in July. Although two of these (Puma and Jaguar) robots can work cable-free under ice and have the ability to go as deep as 3 miles under water and work almost near the bottom of the sea, their progress in this case, will be hampered by the extreme terrain and ice in the Arctic ocean. If the “pumas” and “jaguars” get stuck in the ice - thats it “Mission Over.”

Image:engadget

Behold the glory of world’s first ever robotic servants. Is it that your worst fears of machines invading your homes have realized? Well, not quite! The robots that this post focuses on are completely harmless beings. They are only there to serve their owners, which you could classify as, provided you’ve got no scruples for spending your child’s college fund. Yes, these things are extremely pricey.

MobileRobots, for years, has specialized in selling bots to businesses and production houses. Now it has shifted its focus onto home-owners with its mobile servants.

Robotics have come a long ways. Newer models of robots are constantly being equipped with new equipments, so that they can perform more tasks. The latest model and apparently the smallest robot in the world is the Picobot.

As of now, the robot has not been assigned any specific functions. It has been equipped with sensors, camera, and GPS technology. I wonder what they are going to use this for. The robot has already taken the first step i.e. it has moved off the table! How exciting!

After assisting in, surgeries, rescue operations and other human-like works robots has marked another major breakthrough by defeating universal law that no one can walk on water.

Yes, it is true because this basilisk lizard-like robot Jesus Christ lizard has made it happen for which Carnegie Mellon University researchers (CMU) gave their millions of years hard work to develop this highly advanced innovation, that is now finally accomplished.

This Jesus Christ lizard runs across the surface of water with its flailing rear legs. I think this hi-tech robot should get NO-1 spot in aquatic robot segment.

Via: Switched

It seems that day will come when robots will manage all the functions in robot-loving country Japan. Now, by availing the offer of Japan’s leading technology company Misubishi to replace front desks babes with their Wakamaru robots, People Staff the Nagoya-based temporary staffing agency has hired the fleet of 10 robots to function as dispatch workers so that they can be send out for work at businesses and other institutions in the Tokai region of central Japan.

Vital specs:

Wakamaru is 1-meter tall, weighs 30-kilograms and is covered with bright yellow shell. It runs via its wheels and was developed in 2003 by Mitusbishi, as a servant robot to perform household tasks. After appearing at the World Expo in Aichi in 2005 now, he is Japan’s most identifiable robot.

Capabilities:
The robot is capable to identify faces and can communicate by using its 10,000 words vocabulary. As Wakamaru can perform simple manual jobs as a front desk attendant, it can also perform numerous other functions in offices and hospital. It can thanks visitors for waiting, it can sing songs and can navigate visitors to reach their destination within premises.

Service charges:

To avail Wakamaru service users have to shell minimum 120,000 yen ($1,000) per day for short-term and as low as 3 million yen ($25,000) for one year.

Nevertheless, one query is eating my mind that why company is looking ahead to spend such a massive amount when they can get young gorgeous babes for as high as for $10,000, I think the agency is looking ahead to paint their unique image worldwide by exploiting robots to accomplish their selected tasks and to impress their customers or visitors.

Via: Pinktentacle

Have you been complaining about how lonely you are? Have you been plagued by boredom with nobody around to have a decent conversation with? Well, if you have tried ringing up your friends and given up trying to persuade them to put up with a bore like you, then you need this perfect companion. It might appear to be a child’s playmate but trust me, the ‘Roboco’ will entertain you like no other.

This interactive robot doesn’t, however, take an insult hands down. If it doesn’t like you it would only shake around and swing its arms. If you manage to pamper it crazy, it could even treat you with a melody, a fortune or a pretty digital smile on its LCD face. The choice is yours. Take home this cutie for $11 and enjoy its company.

Via:gizmodo