Japanese Robot HRP-4C Cybernetic Human

Japanese Robot HRP-4C Cybernetic Human

Author janet | 24.04.2009 | Category Japanese Technology, Robotics

The AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science Technology) has released its newest robotic humanoid in Japan. The HRP-4C was strutting her stuff on a runway and has become the hottest fashion model in the technology industry. Created to look like an average 5ft2″, Japanese woman with 30 motors in her body and 8 motors in her face, she can walk, move, blink and talk like a human and express emotions of anger and surprise.

HRP-4C can be re-programmed with different movements and facial expressions. The programming technology will be released to the public so everyone can contribute to new moves for the robot.

The robot is priced at 20 million yen, about $252,000 CDN.

Watch a video of HRP-4C here:
HRP-4C on YouTube

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Mini remote control robot RQ-01

Author JoeDigital | 19.04.2009 | Category Robotics

The four mini Robo Q’s in this series are ready to walk into your lives and get to know you. These toys have an AI that can think, feel and move. With a height of 3.4 cm, these miniature robots are the smallest mass produced AI machinery that are ready to play with.

Use the remote control to direct their actions, The mini robots have a fully functional movment (forward, back, left, right), crank up the speed lever and see them run, spin them around and marvel at their smooth moves. You don’t even have to worry about them crashing into things, with an infra red sensor built into their heads, they can detect obstacles before them and swerve out of harms way. These robots can be purchased at Play-asia.com They also come in RoboQ Optimus Prime and RoboQ Bumblebee models

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The God’s Hands, da Vinci Si from Intuitive Surgical

Author Ciel501 | 08.04.2009 | Category Robotics

Here is a nice robot. This is a surgical operation robot, ‘da Vinci Si’. A doctor can control this cool robot watching HD display like playing video games with game controller.
This system came from Intuitive Sugical Company makes a surgeon can recognize the surgical operation parts clearly using 2 HD optical channels. And a surgeon also control the robot arms to operate surgery quickly and accurately.

Watch Video

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Automatic robot lawn mower

Author JoeDigital | 05.04.2009 | Category Robotics

Tired of having to mow the lawn when you could by sitting in your lawnchair drinking beer? Well now you can with this new automated robot lawn mower by AutoMower. Automower Solar Hybrid is the world’s first fully automatic lawn mower that runs on electricity and partly powered by solar. The Automower will cut your grass for you while you sit around, it can be programmed to start mowing at anytime and when it is done it will return to its charging station for the next time it has to mow. the Hybrid Solar unit can mow up to 1/4 acer and has a price tag of 4000$ USD.

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Don’t Talk To Me, Talk To My Robot

Author itzco | 31.03.2009 | Category Robotics

If you are so busy, and you can take all the messages of your phone read your emails, in the Nokia Research Center in Helsinki are creating a solution for your problem. Nia is a robotic communication device that strives to make everyday communication more intuitive. It’s kind a device that takes care of your e-mails, messages, calls or news instantaneously. It adapts to your needs and executes operations as you need.

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Robot Design Seminar from Tatsuya Matsui

Author JoeDigital | 08.03.2009 | Category Japanese Technology, Robotics

Attention to all robotics enthusiasts everywhere: the highly acclaimed robotics designer Tatsuya Matsui will be giving a Robot Design Seminar this coming Monday, March 9, 2009. It will be held at 7PM at Tokyo Midtown’s design hub.

Tatsuya Matsui is known for his robotic creations that come close to humanoid capabilities like no other. Two of his most popular innovations that put him on track were Posy who debuted “Lost in Translation” and Palette, who can be found in Paris as a robotic mannequin for a Luis Vuitton shop.

The company he represents is called Flower Robotics, which focuses on developing robots for real life human activity, adding a very important element to making these innovations appeal to the human emotion and interaction – design.

If you want to take part of the seminar then you should get reservations through here as soon as possible. With robotics becoming the next big thing in the world of technology, this is an event you can’t miss.

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Wheelchair that has own mechanical arm

Author JoeDigital | 09.02.2009 | Category Robotics, Science, Technology

 

There are a growing number of people today who are confined to a wheelchair for the major portion of their lives, and an increasing number of them are completely dependent on assistance from others. Powered wheelchairs have helped a great deal, but computer technology and robotic technology have taken a bold step forward, and added a mechanical arm to a wheelchair, giving a literal helping hand to people who haven’t had one of their own for years. 

Because such problems are often indicative of complete paralysis, the robotic arm is controlled using EEG, which amount to brain waves. This isn’t exactly the same as human to machine telepathy, but it sure looks a lot like it to people who aren’t familiar with today’s computer aided machines.

This chair, which is not yet ready for market, but may be available within the next five years, was developed by a team at the University of South Florida. Not only does the device offer a mechanical arm to manipulate objects, but it gives a paralyzed owner something that is not available with any form of human assistance: self-respect and personal esteem.

Initial testing by human users has successfully proven that the WMRA control system can be used without having the user to use even a single muscle. The WMRA also will not use any pre-programmed movements unless chosen by the user beforehand. Rajiv Dubey, professor and chair of the USF Department of Mechanical Engineering, and director of the Center for Rehabilitation Engineering & Technology, has mentioned in passing that such a design (in the field of intelligent therapeutic and assistive robotic systems such as the WMRA) is based on sensor-fusion technology, which is utilized to map limited human input into complex motion via a method known as “sensor-assisted scaled teleoperation.” 

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Pole Climbing Robotic Rescue Worker

Author JoeDigital | 01.01.2009 | Category Robotics, world news

Critical Inspections are one of many recognized uses for the HyDRAS robotic Climber

The Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) of the College of Engineering from Virginia Tech won the grand prize at the 2008 International Capstone Design Fair, recently. Their entry was a robotic device intended to be used for rescue and other high risk missions that involve vertical climbing. Little more than a set of computerized wheels, the device is able to wrap itself around a pole or other vertical object, cling to it, and manuver upwards.

Inspecting high rise buildings, or the pilings under bridges are other potential uses for the HyDRAS, which is approximately 1 meter (3 feet) long, and employs computers and cameras both for navigation and for inspection on arrival at a work location when in use. These pole climbing rescue workers could be used for shuttling equipment and information, as well as other tasks that would endanger additional lives.

Another contender in the competition was the CIRCA, which was similar, but employed compressed air for movement and actuation, as opposed to the electrical methods used with HyDRAS. Both showed enormous potential, and may soon be saving lives and preventing human endangerment in hazardous locations worldwide.

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VEX Robotics World Championship

Author JoeDigital | 18.12.2008 | Category Computers, Robotics

Doing things on a larger scale this year, the VEX robotics world championship competition is moving to the Dallas convention centre and arena. The competition, which will takes place April 30^th to May 2^nd 2009 will have over 200 teams from about 13 countries, drawing students from middle to high schools and a college pilot program, a first.

New game play activities are planned for this year’s event. The focus this year will be on the new game elevation along with the traditional team alliance matches. Also the students will be able to showcase their skills with separate categories for elevation programming skills and robot skill challenges. Contestants can even show off their skills prior to the competition by entering into online challenges in three different categories on the official website.

The teams will have an opportunity to work on the VEX Robotics system, as well as interact will peers from all over the world. The competition is aimed at promoting interest in students in the fields of maths and science, while teaching real world skills like teamwork and project management in the process.

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Aiko – Humanoid Robot Hobby

Author JoeDigital | 05.11.2008 | Category Computers, Robotics

Project Aiko is an entertaining and exciting robotic creation from Canada. While it is not yet an autonomous robot (it does not currently change location under its own power), this fascinating invention holds a great deal of promis for future development. Get Wikipedia’s Take.

Take, for instance, it’s ability to process face recognition as well as object regcognition.  Add to that the link to everybody’s favorite animation, anime, and you’ve got a real winner. But if you still crave a little more, we’ll give Aiko a sweet voice, and throw in a bit of self awareness. Watch the Aiko Video!

Not only that but Aiko (which translates to “love child”) has B.R.A.I.N.S.  No, really,  that’s the software (Biometric Robot Artificial Intelligence Neural System) developed by Mr. Le designed, its creator. Aiko speaks English and Japanese, and is programmed with over 13000 spoken phrases, and has touch sensors in her body and arms to allow her to interact more humanly. She is able to learn what pain is, and avoid it.

Aside from being the only one, she is the cutest Japanese fembot we have ever seen.

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