MIT Develops Witty Robot Sidekick (For Your Car)

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Finally. Since I was a kid I've longed for a super-smart robot sidekick to be my best friend and come with me on my adventures. MIT's Affective Intelligent Driving Agent isn't quite that awesome, but it's a big step in the right direction. The AIDA is being built as a smart driving assistant that will make people safer and help them to find more efficient routes.

Essentially an adorable little robot that sits on your dashboard and talks to you, the AIDA is being built to recognize human facial expressions and emotional queues. Basically, they're creating a robot that knows to shut up and back off when you start to get angry at it. If some stupid dashboard droid started criticizing MY driving in the middle of agonizing gridlock traffic, I'd be sorely tempted to bludgeon it to death with my laptop bag.

Posted on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:11:19 CDT | by Robert Evans

Lying Robots: Step One on the Road to Robot Apocalypse

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Mankind took one baby step closer to creating true AI recently. While machines still can't really think for themselves or plot the downfall of humanity, researchers at Switzerland's Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne have taught them to lie. Deceit is a deeply human characteristic, and not one you generally expect to find in something with a microchip for a brain.

Engadget reports on the methods used to turn adorable little robots into liars, with their pants permanently on fire. The robots were programmed to seek out deposits of food. In their early days, they would light up to inform their fellow robot comrades of this fact. After a few “tweaks” by the researchers, the little robots learned that they would get more food for themselves if they didn't inform their friends.

Posted on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 12:50:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

Southern RobotX Hybrid RC Lawn Mower

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Mowing my lawn is one of those tasks that I hate having to do each week thanks the sweltering Texas heat. It's no fun to get out there and mow when its 150-degrees (that's how hot it feels anyway). I think if I had a remote control lawn mower, I might be able to get some of the neighborhood kids to mow my lawn for free.

Southern RobotX has a new hybrid remote control lawn mower. The mower is remotely controlled making it easy to use and particularly safe on slopes that are difficult to mow otherwise. The new mower has a patented hybrid power system to save fuel. Read more

Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2009 06:27:48 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Cellular South Launching Android Phone, Robot Invasion Continues

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It's official; Androids are taking over the world. Cellular South, which bills itself as the largest privately owned wireless communications provider in the US, just announced that it's bringing an Android to market. This is a big victory for Android fans everywhere, and yet another sign of the continuing explosion of Android adoptions in the smartphone industry.

A 2009 report from Strategy Analytics stated their expectation for Android to grow over 900% over the course of this year. Considering the bevy of sexy new smartphones and netbooks coming out in the next couple of months, I'd say they were right. In their press release Cellular South stated their expectation for Android mobiles to soon overtake even the iPhone, and they cited a 2009 Informa Telecoms and Media report as proof.

Posted on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:25:00 CDT | by Robert Evans

Rumors of Flesh Eating Robots Greatly Exaggerated

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Cyclone Power Technologies has responded to a rumor that circulated last week about the firms EATR autonomous robot called EATR. EATR stands for Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot. The project is a Phase II SBIR project that is being sponsored by DARPA.

The platform is a long range autonomous robotic platform intended to perform long-range, long-endurance mission without needing to refuel conventionally. The patent pending robotic system gets the energy it needs form biomass that it finds in the environment. Read more

Posted on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Robots Write Advertising on the Moon

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Let me just start off by saying this has to be a hoax, but it’s a cool hoax nonetheless. A company called Moon Publicity is offering to create advertisements on the surface of the moon with robots that can be seen from Earth.

The claim is that the robots will write in the lunar soil with a set of ridged wheels and the advertisements will never erode since there is no wind. The company says that it will start the bidding for the advertisements today for the fortieth anniversary of mans first steps on the moon. Read more

Posted on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:56:50 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Transformers Qosmio Notebook Robot

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You can't go to a movie today without seeing the previews for the coming Transformers flick Revenge of the Fallen. I knew when they tossed the bad guy into the ocean last time out it would come back to haunt them.

Along with the new film we are getting several odd transformer tie ins. There was a mouse last week that transformed into a robot and this week we get an odd Decepticon from the 80's called Soundwave. Back in the day, he turned into a cassette tape player. Something my son doesn’t even know exists. Read more

Posted on Tue, 26 May 2009 11:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Eerie Child Robot CB2 still alive

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We first reported about the Japanese child robot CB2 in 2007 . We thought this child android was eerie enough back then. It is still around to scare me.
New video footage has been published about the Child robot that is trying to react like a baby. Read more

Posted on Sun, 5 Apr 2009 14:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Robot Scientist makes its own Experiments and Discoveries

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Robot Adam does not have a body and a face like the humanoid Japanese robots, but he can plan his own experiments.
At Aberystwyth (it is really spelled this way; proof) University in Wales, Ross King and colleagues have created a robot called Adam that can not only carry out experiments on yeast metabolism but also reason about the results and plan the next experiment. Read more

Posted on Fri, 3 Apr 2009 01:50:21 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Fashion Robot HRP-4C bores at Tokyo Fashion Week

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Last week the new Japanese robot HRP-4C with the cute Anime face got unveiled. HRP-4C had now her first catwalk appearance at the Japanese Fashion Week 2009. I expected that the fashion robot would actualy walk down the catwalk wearing some clothes.
The researches gave the $2m robot model only a helmet with a mic to introduce the Shinmai Creator's Project Fashion Show. You can watch a video of the HRP-4C appearance at the Tokyo Fashion Show below courtesy of the Telegraph. Read more

Posted on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:10:37 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Gogic Robot walks funny

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The Japanese Gogic robot is cute little robot with a very funny walking style. See the video of Gogic below.
The Gogic player DIY robot kit sells for $499.99 on Gizmine.

Elekit's Gogic player DIY robot kit features five servo-motor controls that allow it to walk, and sit. Read more

Posted on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:52:17 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony PS3 Robot Companion coming?

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Sony has filed a patent application describing a robot companion for the Sony PS3.
The PS3 robot would sport a camera, display, GPS, Gyro sensor and a microphone. The feature set suggests that the robot could roam around your home autonomously. The patent does not specify functions of the PS3 robot.
Japan is in love with robots and there are already many companion robots available that have Wi-fi connection to offer up services via the web or a PC. Read more

Posted on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:57:05 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Japan's Next Top Model is Robot HRP-4C

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Japan got the first female fashion robot who will hit the Catwalk at the Tokyo Fashion Week.
The HRP-4C robot is 158cm tall and weighs 43kg including battery. The robot is not actually tall enough for a fashion model.
The Japanese are in love with humanoid robots and every year they get better. The HRP-4C already has some smooth movements, but the Actroid already had skin. Now they AIST researchers need to combine the looks of the Actroid and the movements and technology of the HRP-4C and they've got something. Read more

Posted on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

iRobot continues to ship PackBots to US Military

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iRobot announced another order from the US military. This time the robot company got a $7.8 million order for 90 iRobot PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit robots and spare parts.
This is the ninth order under the $286 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) xBot contract, bringing the current total contract value to approximately $80 million.

iRobot would have to sell a lot of their cleaning consumer robots to reach that order volume.
The PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit, employed in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was developed for reconnaissance missions and to identify roadside bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other unexploded ordnance. Read more

Posted on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Walk like a Gundam Robot with these Gundam Slippers

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Mobile Suit Gundam is a legendary Japanese anime franchise featuring giant robots. To walk like a Gundam robot you can put on these Gundam Slippers that have sound effects in them. This slippers are a perfect Valentine's gift for him.

When you walk with the Gundam slippers you sound like a robot walking.
The anime robot slippers are powered by 4 AA batteries. Read more

Posted on Sat, 7 Feb 2009 18:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Get a Robotic Arm for your Desk

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I have recently been to a BMW plant and watching the robot slaves weld together cars for us is a spiritual experience. I highly recommend a visit to a car plant to see the robots performing their "dance".
ThinkGeek now offers a smaller version of a industrial robot arm for your desk.
The Edge Robotic Arm Kit has five axes of robotic movement that you control with a wired remote.

Command the gripper to open and close, wrist motion of 120 degrees, an extensive elbow range of 300 degrees, base rotation of 270 degrees, base motion of 180 degrees, vertical reach of 15 inches, horizontal reach of 12.6 inches, and lifting capacity of 100g. Read more

Posted on Wed, 4 Feb 2009 09:20:27 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Today's Gadget Video Show features Spiderman Robot

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Check out today's fresh Gadget Video News Report from our video partner Wannahaves.
Today our Gadget Video Show features the T-34, a Japanese made robot that can be controlled by a mobile phone.
Other topics in today's fast paced Gadget Video Show include D-Link SideStage, Portable Hybrid Solar Charger and Verizon Hub.
Watch the Gadget Show Now.
Read more

Posted on Tue, 3 Feb 2009 11:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Robotic Duck Hunter unveiled at CES could be huge Toy Hit in 2009

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Yesterday at the CES Unveiled Show Shane spotted the new Duck Hunter toy. Duck Hunter takes the indoor R/C helicopter and the WowWee Dragon Fly concepts and created something that promises to be a lot of fun.
Duck Hunter lets you shoot down an autonomous flying little duck. This is like a real world video game. Read more

Posted on Wed, 7 Jan 2009 06:43:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

WowWee Rovio Spy Robot on Sale for only $199.99 on Amazon

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This holiday shopping season rewards last minute shoppers. Earlier we reported about a $89.99 deal on the TomTom ONE 125 GPS. Now we have also found a great deal on the WoWee Rovio robot on Amazon.com. The roaming wi-fi and webcam sporting robot sells for only $199.99 (List:$349.99). The best deal so far I have seen was $249.
Read more

Posted on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:18:21 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Rovio versus Spykee Webcam Robot

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This Christmas you can choose between two roaming sentinel robots featuring camera and wi-fi connectivity. The WowWee Rovio ($239.99) challenges the Erector Spykee ($247.65), which was supposed to be available a year ago, but was delayed.
A robot fan with a hand for video named Sven literally made a Rovia versus Spykee video letting the two robots go at it each other in a "box ring". See the video below.
Read more

Posted on Fri, 5 Dec 2008 00:26:18 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Mean looking MechRC Humanoid Robot ships

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The mean looking MechRC Humanoid Robot is shipping in the US now from Trossen Robotics for $599.99.
Besides its evil Transformers’ look the new ready-to-walk robot (no assembly) features torque metal gear servos, LiPo batteries for longer run times, a fluid 3D visual software programming interface for easy custom motions, and a remote control unit are included.
MechRC comes with over a hundred pre-installed motions and sounds you can get this robot throwing some dance floor moves or some killer fighting moves straight from the box. Read more

Posted on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:04:52 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr