Palm-sized LANdroid WiFi robots to help warfighters on the move

Posted on January 29, 2012 by admin

DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has now come up with a unique way to develop LANdroid WiFi robots, which are intelligent crawling radio-relay robots with size equal to that of a deck of cards. LANdroids are there on the DARPA’s technology wish-list. DARPA is requesting for intelligent self-directed radio relay nodes that could set up mesh networks in urban settings. Conceptually pictured above, the LANdroid WiFi robots will boast a radio, robotic platform, battery, and small processor. Warfighters will carry a many of them and would be able to drop them anywhere on the move. Collectively, these units would create a self-healing mesh network. In case, a unit is sighted by the enemy and grabbed, the network will course around the lost transmitter. The LANdroids are expected to be about the size of our palm. Via: Technovelgy

Don’t swat you moron; it’s a $10 Hex bug!

Posted on January 28, 2012 by admin

Looks like Japanese toymaker Bandai has done it again. From its proud vault will be released thousands of millions of robotic bugs that will invade our homes. But don’t even think of smashing these up cause these babies are worth $10 (approx.) each. Hex Bug series is one of the latest creations of this wonder company. This series is composed of an array of tiny bug-like robots that mimic real insects. Not only do they scurry around like the real things but even avoid obstructions of their own. A loud noise say a clap of a hand is all that is needed to make them change course at your command. The Hex Bugs run on two button cell batteries and retail here for $9.99. Unlike some of the real insects, these robotic bugs manage to look really slick with their vibrant colors. Check out the video: Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, you can touch these without any fear of nasty bites and/or picking up the accompanying infections. Finally robotics is moving in the right direction. After all isn’t this what it is all about? Making small fun objects and not some human-like AI that can take over the planet. Bugs we all can handle just keep that rolled up newspaper at hand. Via

Mitsubishi’s House Robot: The New Generation Companion

Posted on January 28, 2012 by admin

Remember the talking robot maid in Rocky IV? A decade later, we have been offered the opportunity to own man’s new faithful friend – the robot – courtesy Mitsubishi. However, Mitsubishi is not treading uncharted territory. It had experimented with its cute Wakamaru house bot a couple of years ago, but the company could find very few buyers. The flaw might have been in its advertising strategy, the pricing ($14k+) or perhaps in its concept, we may never know! All we know is Mitsubishi is back….with a cute whimper. If you have always dreamt of lazing around on your recliner or in the pool, with a robot to take care of all the household chores, you have an ideal solution in the Wakamaru House Bot (Part II). However, the company says the bot isn’t ready for sweeping and cooking yet. For now, you must be content with its primary functionality – carrying drinks or newspapers and opening doors. And, the bot can also learn a few words if you teach him, (no slang if you don’t wish to run into trouble with mom). So, if you have an internet connection (yes! that’s mandatory) and can be content with its basic features, you can order your cutesy bot now…nah! I spoke too soon. For now, Mitsubishi is targeting only corporations. So, you will have to wait longer. Via: engadget

Time for robotic invasion?

Posted on January 28, 2012 by admin

For decades science fiction writers have fascinated about a robotic age. In films they even moved a bit far away from the present, and have presented stories of robotic revolutions from time to time. It is always true that stories like robotic invasion and human fight back always been best sellers in the market. Success stories of the Terminator series prove the fact. Now is it the beginning of the era? The recent venture of iRobot Corporation may hint that way. Taser International Corporation announced that they have teamed up with iRobot Corporation to produce a new generation of robots that will be capable of delivering a shock charge to people. As it is already visible, the robot can be used in sentry operations. May be these will be the new generation of robots carrying a weapon, non lethal for the time being, but seems that the fictions are going to come true. In preliminary discussions it has been revealed that this prototype will be sold to police or military and will be used in situations where use of lethal weapons is not possible. In cases of demobilizing a suspect in everyday police operations or while pinning down a terrorist in military activities this prototype can be proved very useful. For the time being this robot will require a human interfere in its operation. Before it tries to subdue a victim it needs a human instruction. But with the advancement of AI it is inevitable that sooner or later the software used will be smart enough to decide go along without fleshy interference. When this robot will be off the assembly line is yet to be decided. The first place of its deployment is also not confirmed. But its operations are confirmed and critics all over the World are worried about a probability of science fictions coming true. Can you sniff a Terminator 3: rise of machines story readers? Source: Slipperybrick

Ants study inspires robots

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

Ants are simple beings, but when foraging they present complex structures which inspire interesting solutions in this field (Soft Computing) Marco Dorigo This is the main reason why Marco Dorigo has devoted his life towards the research work into ‘Ant Colony Optimization and Ant Algorithms’ since last fifteen years. His work with robots imitating ant activities he has received a prestigious Marie Curie excellence award. There are some works that can not be done individually, but with combination of several people, the job becomes quite easier. Ants exhibit a brilliant social structure in terms of foraging. The following figure depicts their behaviour in finding shortest route between food source and their nest. The following is the snapshot of a ground breaking experiment, named ‘Double Bridge Experiment’ to cultivate the bio inspired behaviour of ants. This demonstrates how they find the right track by tracing pheromone trail density. Part of the research works of Dorigo is being exploited in the project swarm-bots, where he himself is the coordinator of the entire project. The main idea behind this project is to show that robots can mimic some activities performed by social insects, like ants. These robots are capable of doing jobs by linking up in various ways that a single robot can not perform. Their usefulness and simplicity through hardware and software implementation are their most promising features. These robots can be used in disaster management or in space environments, where using human being becomes too risky an operation. In his own lab IRIDIA Marco Dorigo is focusing on swarm intelligence research that involves the highly complicated swarm behaviour in the colony of social insects. Source: ICT

Something Cool about Predictive Dialing

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

Information technology and business process outsourcing have become an important part of the global business arena. In spite of the recent economic downturn, the outsourcing industry has been able to register slow, yet steady growth. Operation costs, in most industries, had to be reduced due to the economic downfall. This had a direct effect on the level of recruitment. Instead of hiring professionals, most organizations started outsourcing their jobs to call center employees. What are the challenges faced by the call center industry? To reduce wait-times, and enhance customer satisfaction, call centers use predictive dialers. A predictive dialer is a computer system that automatically places an outbound call, and routes answered call to agents. Predictive dialing systems automate the processes, and thus help maximize agent-output. There are three types of predictive dialer software available today- soft dialers, hard dialers, and smart predictive dialers. Soft dialers are less expensive than hard dialers as they do not require costly telecom components. In general, modern soft dialers are actually VoIP dialers. Thanks to their flexible architecture and low cost, they work well in both multi-site and distributed environments. Hardware-based dialers are known as hard dialers. They make use of dedicated telephone hardware to monitor call progress. However, these dialers attract higher total cost of ownership (TCO), and maintenance. If you are looking for a dialer that can offer automatic-dialing feature, and automatic voice messaging at the same time, you might ask for a smart predictive dialer. Recently, a new model of predictive dialer hit the markets. These are known as hosted or VoIP predictive dialers. These dialers are based on the SaaS (Software as a Service) model. You would require an Internet connection, and a telephone line for using a hosted dialer. Predictive dialers can increase the productivity in a call center. Avaya and Aspect are some of the popular vendors in the communications industry.

KUKA KR 1000: World’s largest and strongest robot

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

After getting acquainted with the world’s first creepiest robot CB2, today let’s peak into the German industrial robot manufacturer KUKA Robotics’ world’s largest and strongest robot – KUKA KR 1000 titan 6-axis robot. This latest robot is equipped with nine motors to generate mid-sized car-like power and can lift up to 1000kg. By keeping in view its reach ability of 3.2 meters and its ability to withstand a static torque of 60,000 newton meters (Nm), this stout robot is an ideal machine to cover distance of up to 6.5 m and helps to pick objects such as engine blocks, stone, glass, steel sections, components for ships and aircraft, marble blocks and precast concrete parts. It is made of robust steel base frame and features a new drive concept. While the Axes 1 and 3 have a single gear unit for two motors whereas, Axis 2, gets its power from two motors that have their own respective gear unit. According to Stuart Shepherd, president of KUKA Robotics Corporation: This new robot can be implemented in applications which until now required at least 2 robots, lift stations or other lifting equipment thus saving valuable floor space and increasing efficiency. Its payload capacity gives production planners the speed and dynamics they previously only dreamed of. Via: Gizmag

Female Robot by Takahashi

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

We all know that robots come in various sizes and shapes, such as large, masculine wtc. Recently, Tomotaka Takahashi has created something more interesting. He has created a female robot with all the feminine movements. In Tech Epoch, last night he displayed his creation. Takahashi has impressed the crowd, as his FT(female type) made striking poses similar to the models. Moreover, this FT is actually pretty and tiny. It is comprised of 23 motors and two gyroscopes. To make it look pretty, Takahashi did a thorough homework by consulting fashion models and programmed her graceful movements accordingly. Usually robots are designed using healthy helping of testosterone. But, FT is a little different from them and has broken this custom. Takahashi has created two FT robots. He is also planning for auctioning at a starting cost of $300,000! Via:Scifi

Robot Games: Is the Future Now?

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

For years our wildest imaginations have depicted robotic forms in various media – movies, novels, and even games. In all of these depictions the robots were part of a future world, but with all the robot games and technology available today, the question must be asked – is the future now? For a long time technologists have been working on various robotic projects. We have seen robotic pets of various shapes and sizes, able to do various things that have impressed us over the years. In the medical arena robotic technology has been developed to aid surgeons with various intricate processes, and robots have even been used to perform some basic tasks in households. Now, robot games are a thing of the present and no longer a distant imagining of a future world. There are many different types of robot games, and indeed the term “robot game” can be taken to mean many different things. One application of the term could be used to describe the way in which artificial entities behave in various games. In these games they truly behave in the manner we would attribute to robots if we were still thinking in the futuristic sense, and many would be amazed at how much has been accomplished thus far. Many online games available today make use of robotic intelligence that was not possible in the not too distant past. Another description could be robot games in which people play games with actual physical robots. On the television show “Prototype This” this phenomenon was depicted in which the team built robots that were almost life-like and operated them from a distance, making the robots battle each other in response to the users’ punches. This is but a small example of how close to the “future” our present technology actually is.

Japanese prefer robots to hot receptionists

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Whenever I think of receptionists, I wonder why I always see hot women dressed up in tight fitting clothes. But that is a different topic for a different day and of course, for a different blog (wink). We all know that Japanese love robots. Japan’s leading technology company Misubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. is offering companies to replace their front desk babes with ‘wakamaru’ robots. The robots are available for working at a variety of places like front desk of offices, hospitals and other places that need (in)human touch. Vital stats Wakamaru is 3 feet tall and weighs 30 kilograms. It has the ability to recognize 10,000 words and respond with basic sentences. Not only that, it moves around without bumping into objects and being a robot, guarantees there will be no sick days (although may break down occasionally) or belated entries in the morning. I concede these are some requirements that a blonde receptionist will find hard to match. The charges are a paltry $1,000 per day (for up to five days). In case you are willing to engage the services of this wonderful creature for three weeks to a month, the charges drop to 20,000 yen or $150 a day. By the way, in 2005, the company had sold the same robots for $13,000 each, so if you are looking for a full-time addition to your workforce, do consider. Don’t go by the expression on the face of young girl at the front, Wakamaru looks one nice robot to me. Maybe I should reconsider the type of receptionist I would want at my front desk. Nah, I would still stick with a young hottie! Via