Cylonis a Life-size figure, manufactured exclusively by Fred Barton Productions, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, and licensed through Universal Studios.
Hasbro Tiger Electronics has announced the A.M.P (Automated Musical Personality) robot. The A.M.P. is a two wheeled robot designed for teens and adults, A.M.P follows owners and plays digital music.
The University of Michigan College of Engineering has been awarded a five-year Army contract to develop a six-inch robotic spy plane modeled after a bat that would gather data from sights, sounds and smells in urban combat zones and transmit information back to a soldier in real time.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth are working on a 1m-high (3ft) humanoid baby robot called iCub.
Over the next four years robotics experts will work with language development specialists who research how parents teach children to speak, BBC reports.
Pal Technology Roboticsplans on creating a humanoid service robot using Humanoid Robot - REEM-B . REEM-B is able to walk dynamically, grasp objects and navigate within buildings. The 1.47 meter tall robot also accepts voice command and recognizes faces.
Spykee, is a new line of the Skype robot. Available are the Spykee Cell, Spykee Vox and Spykee Miss, all of which have a video camera, MP3 player, VoIP phone, microphone, louspeaker, motors, and the ability to dock an iPod .
The Bluetooth controlled robot, Plen is available now in Japan. Plen is powered by a 32 bit ARM7 CPU at 33MHz and has 18 movable joints. It connects to the PC via USB and can also be controlled by a cell phone via Bluetooth.
Plen is available now in limited numbers of 50 in Japan for 262,500 Yen ($ 2200)
Samsung has launched upgrades to their autonomous vacuum cleaner offering with the VC-RS60 and VC-RS60H.
The robots designed by Zairo, recharge themselves once the remaining battery capacity drops below 20% and you can also give the robot a call with instructiosn to vacuum.
At the RoboBusiness Conference and Exposition 2006, Microsoft Corp. showcased the community technology preview (CTP) of a new Windows-based environment for academic, hobbyist and commercial developers to easily create robotic applications for a wide variety of computing platforms.
The community technology preview of the Microsoft Robotics Studio is available for download at http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics.
A team of Japanese scientists have developed a bipedal robot that could one day assist the handicapped and elderly up stairs, inclines and other difficult terrains. The robotic assist, called the "WL-16III Walkbot", is but one of many bipedal bots, exoskeletons and assists designed to aid the less able.
A robotic hand controlled by the power of thought alone has been demonstrated by researchers in Japan.
The robotic hand mimics the movements of a person's real hand, based on real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of their brain activity. It marks another landmark in the advance towards prosthetics and computers that can be operating by thought alone.
Robot hand controlled by thought alone @ NewScientist
Honda Research Institute Japan showed a video in Tokyo demonstrating new mind control technology for robots reports RobotGossip
Their research, along with ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories, uses MRI images of a brain to move the fingers on a robotic hand.
A person in the MRI machine made a fist, spread his fingers and then made a V-sign and the robot hand under his control made precisely the same movements.
VStone Japan has announced the "Robovie i" a two feet tall walking robot.
The robot is powered by a VS-RC003A processor and has onboard gyro sensors to keep it balanced. The Robovie measures 165 × 104 × 145mm and weighs around 600 grams. It will be available for preorder from mid July for 29,400 Yen ($ 270) in Japan. The Robovie will come in a choice of 4 colors White, Red, Blue and Gold.
Visionaire has teamed up with Kidrobot to produce Issue 45 of their already highly collectible magazine. Kidrobot x Visionaire 45 is 10 original toys customized by 10 fashion designers.
Contributing designers for the Blue Set include: Giorgio Armani, John Galliano, Stefano Pilati for Yves Saint Laurent, Helmut Lang, and Jean Paul Gaultier.
An ultralight autonomous aircraft that mimics the navigational abilities of a fly could one day become a real fly on the wall reports discovery channel.
The 10-gram microflyer, being developed by a team of researchers lead by Dario Floreano at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, has a 36-centimeter (14-inch) wingspan.
But it could one day be shrunk to insect size and used for search and rescue.
"A lot of groups are taking inspiration from insects but none of them have been able to reach that with an indoor flying system," said research scientist and project leader, Jean-Christophe Zufferey.
Autonomous indoor flight presents scientists with particular technological challenges that nature has already overcome.
"Indoor environments are really tough," said Erik Steltz, a PhD candidate in electrical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. "There are so many things to bang off of I believe this is the best approach out there to do indoor guidance for aircraft."
A Japanese quadriplegic plans to ascend the peak of a Swiss mountain by riding piggyback on a mountaineer who will get some extra muscle from a robot suit, called HAL.
HAL, which stands for “hybrid assistive limb,” is a kind of wearable robot or motorised exoskeleton. Tsukuba University engineering professor Yoshiyuki Sankai developed HAL to help its operator perform tasks a normal human would not be strong enough to perform otherwise, according to the web page of Sankai’s venture company Cyberdyne.
Seiji Uchida, 43, will take a cable car to get within striking distance of the Breithorn mountain’s summit before attempting the day-long trek this August, said Shinichiro Saigo, business manager of the With Dreams organisation that Uchida founded to support the expedition.
If all goes as planned, the humanoid robot HRP-2 — currently under development by a Japanese national technology institute — could be a little domestic helper.
The robots — named Promet — are being developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and can run errands. They are designed to respond to verbal instructions and are capable of capturing three-dimensional images of objects and locating them through an infrared sensor.
We are hoping to make them something comparable to service dogs," Isao Hara, senior researcher at the institute in Japan's technology hub of Tsukuba, just northeast of Tokyo, said of the pair of robots painted in silver and blue. "I think it's quite possible for them to interact with humans. We are now studying how robots can join the human society."
As part of its ongoing cost-cutting and reorganization effort, Sony Corp. has cut its line of robotic Aibo dogs, along with another, more-expensive, humanoid robot called the Qrio, which was never sold as a product reports ZDNet
According to a company representative, more than 150,000 Aibos have been sold since they went on the market in 1999. But the overall company is in the midst of an historic belt-tightening, and the robotics unit didn't make the cut.
In other Sony Cost cutting news, the company, said Wednesday that by the end of March it will close a factory that began producing the Walkman music players in 1979 when it first debuted, according to Atsuo Omagari, a Sony spokesman reports S pi
According to sources spilling to ThinkSecret, Apple is planning to unveil a new content distribution system in January at Macworld Expo to accompany its revamped media-savvy Mac mini. The new content system and related media deals, which will include feature-length content, expanded television offerings, and more, will further cement Apple's increasing lead in digital media delivery.
Apple's new technology will deliver content such that it never actually resides on the user's hard drive. Content purchased will be automatically made available on a user's iDisk, which Front Row 2.0 will tap into. When the user wishes to play the content, robust caching technology -- for which Apple previously received a patent -- will serve it to the user's computer as fast as their Internet connection can handle. The system will also likely support downloading the video content to supported iPods but at no time will it ever actually be stored on a computer's hard drive
At IREX 2005, Bandai showed off the steamy BN-17 aka the Swiffer Robot. This companion robot makes sure your place is clean, it handles your emails, it acts as a security systen and it can even recognize you.
Hammacher is offering a motorized replica of the headstrong little droid from the Star Wars films for $119. The Voice-Activated R2-D2 responds to voice commands, navigates rooms and hallways, and makes any home feel like it has been transported to a galaxy far, far away.
R2 obeys more than 40 voice commands (Turn around! Move forward two units!) and he plays games like tag, using an infra-red sensor to search for people in a room. His sensor helps him follow behind you, or it can be set to detect motion, turning R2 into a room sentry that sounds an alarm when a secured area is invaded. R2s lights, swiveling dome top, and distinctive happy and sad sounds faithfully mimic the real thing, right down to his occasional bad mood. (A simple command of, R2, behave yourself! snaps him out of it.) R2 can also replay sounds and dialog from Star Wars movies, answer yes-or-no questions, and dance while playing the famed cantina music. Requires four AA batteries and four D batteries (not included). Minor assembly required. Ages 8 and up. 15" H x 7 1/2" W x 10 1/2" L. (6 lbs.)
Japanese robot maker Tmsuk recently unveiled "RIDC-01," a new guide and floor cleaning robot which can recognize human voice and speaks to guests. The robot, 1.3-meter tall and weighing 100-kg, is also equipped with a projector on its head and can show DVD movies or information. Tmsuk will start order with a price of 10 million yen (USD 85,000).
A robotic Volkswagen called "Stanley", developed by a team from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California won a $2 million prize on Sunday for sending a modified Volkswagen across 132 miles of rugged desert, guided only by sensors and computers in a race the Pentagon hopes will lead to a technological breakthrough in warfare reports Reuters.
Stanley, a converted VW Touareg SUV, finished the race in 6 hours and 54 minutes - well under the 10-hour limit - driving at an average speed of 30.7 kilometres per hour reports New Scientist
Coming in just after Stanley were a pair of modified Humvees built by a Carnegie Mellon University team. A modified sports utility vehicle called GrayBot also finished just after sunset on Saturday.
"These vehicles haven't just achieved world records, they have made history," says US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) director Tony Tether.
In June 2006, Japanese company KYOSHO will launch the MANOI, a new robot based on the robot kit KHR-1 from Kondo. The 40cm tall Manoi will be priced with the $1,500 USD range
A team from Carnegie-Mellon will show off Pearl, a sexy Nursebot at Denmark's INDEX. The goal of the NurseBot project is to develop mobile, personal service robots that assist elderly people suffering from chronic disorders in their everyday life. "Pearl," the NurseBot is an autonomous mobile robot that "lives" in a private home of a chronically ill elderly person. The robot provides a research platform to test out a range of ideas for assisting elderly people, such as: What would you like to have a robot help out with around the house?
In November, the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) will show off its network-based robot, named "MARU," at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Pusan.
KIST will demonstrate MARU many functions, such as delivering beverages.
The network-enabled robot refers to a humanoid to which software is provided via the wireless Internet instead of embedded programs, such as in conventional models.
The robot itself is only capable of mobility and its other functions, like sensing and processing, come from the Web, thus enabling production of the sophisticated robots at an affordable price.
AIST has announced the HRP-3P, a brother of sorts to the HRP-3. The all-weather robot HRP-3P has put on some weight compared to its predecessor and even grew a little: +6cm to reach 160cm in height and +7kg to weigh in at 60kg. This robot is scheduled to be on sale in 2006. via
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology plan to use Sony's Aibo to help people fighting to loose weight.
The dog would be connected by radio to the bathroom scales, a pedometer and a personal organiser in which the owner would note his daily food intake.
Asked "How am I?" the robot would tell you, just how fat you are - I Kid. The robot would either jump excitedly, play funky music and flash coloured lights, or flop down and play a dirge, according to whether its owner has followed his or her diet reports Reuters
Mitsubishi Heavy is taking pre-orders for their wakamaru humanoid robot writes i4u
The 1m tall Wakamaru Robot weighs 30kg, recognizes 10 faces, understands 10,000 words and moves around on wheels. He can manage your calendar, and watch the house. The wakamaru robot is expected to sell for about $14,300.
PC Mag reviews the Robopet from WowWee. The $99 Robopet was created using fluid biomechanical motion technology, giving his actions and movement an incredibly lifelike quality.
RoboCup is an international research and education initiative. Its goal is to foster artificial intelligence and robotics research by providing a standard problem where a wide range of technologies can be examined and integrated. Thats all great but the really cool thing about Robocup is watching Robots play Soccer.
The Speecys-FC robot is the first fuel cell powered walking robot. Speecys-FC is 50cm tall and weighs 4.2kg. The robot sports a 16l hydrogen absorption cylinder - uses 1l of hydrogen every 2 minutes. Price $24,000.
NEC System Technologies, Japan in cooperation with Mie University have developed a personal robot capable of "tasting" foods. The composition of foods is analyzed with an infrared sensor, and the robot will give advice about health and eating habits.
The robot takes advantage of a property called "spectrum reflection ratio" (the reflection ratio of light per wavelength) of water, protein, and molecule type. The food is exposed to infrared light of varying wavelengths, which will bounce back; the robot then analyzes the spectrum of the infrared light that returns...and can thus understand what molecules are inside of the food. Read More
Taiwanese based, Micro Star International showed off the 'E2R-H3' robot during the opening day of the Computex show, Tuesday, May 31, 2005, in Taipei, Taiwan. The 2.1 kilogram (4.6 pounds) robot is touted as the smallest humanoid robot in the world with intelligence of digital image and speech processing and is controlled with Bluetooth through a personal computer.
Toyota Motor Corp. aims to start selling robots that can help look after elderly people or serve tea to guests by 2010, the Asahi daily reported on Tuesday. Read More
iRobot's Scooba is a household, robotic floor cleaner designed for hard floors made of materials such as tile and linoleum reports Cnet. It vacuums up loose particles and applies cleaner to soak up dirt, then dries the floor, which also makes it safe for wood.
"It is like an industrial floor cleaner, but for your home," said iRobot CEO Colin Angle. "Even if it wasn't a robot, this (makes mopping obsolete). With mopping, most of the time you are spreading dirty water around. But because it's a robot you push a button and it cleans your floor."
Toshiba, Japan has unveiled new robots to help out the elderly and children from the home to the shopping mall by following them and responding to their voices.
The "ApriAttanda" identifies an individual with its visual sensor and high-speed image processing system and follows the person.
When the person moves forward, the robot moves forward. When the person stops, the robot stops -- while maintaining a certain distance.
If the robot loses contact with its companion, it calls to the person and responds to their reply, Toshiba said.
The other type of robot, nicknamed "sharp ear," detects the directions of voices from multiple speakers with six built-in microphones and recognizes what they have said.
It can "respond to a person offering greetings and then go on to respond to a question from another person," Toshiba said in a statement.
The company plans to develop the robots further so that they "can accompany people to shopping complexes and carry things, look after young children and elderly people."
It also aims to make the robots capable of sending images to family members outside showing what is going on at home. More
During the presentation of Episode III in Livorno, a prototype of R2D2 was shown off. The 1.5 mt tall R2D2 prototype built by researchers at the university of Pisa walks, beeps like the original, and flees from people holding light sabres reports codewitch! Other features include bluetooth and usb.
Scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are working to develop robots with human characteristics. Researchers at the Ames Research Center, a NASA laboratory in Silicon Valley, California, are envisioning "futuristic robots that 'act' like people, enabling these mechanical helpers to work more efficiently with astronauts," said a press release from the center.
Scientists have created a robot that can replicate itself in minutes. The team behind the machine says the experiment shows that self- reproduction is not unique to living organisms. Developed by researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, the machine was constructed from cube-shaped robotic unitsthat functioned independently. A four-module robot could assemble an exact replica of itself in just two and a half minutes. The researchers add that the ability could be harnessed to drive major advances in nanotechnology, and may even lead to space colonization by robots. More
Domo is a new upper-torso humanoid robot at the MIT CSAIL Humanoid Robotics Lab. It is the doctoral work of Aaron Edsinger-Gonzales. The goal of Domo is to contribute a novel approach to robot manipulation in unstructured environments. The approach is centered on integrating compliant and force sensitive manipulators into a behavior based architecture that learns anticipatory sensorimotor models.
Luxpro, has announced POLUBO, a new robot aiming to go up against Sony's QRIO in its dreams
Features of POLUBO
*Interactive language learning player, ideal for parent and child shared use.
*Adorable character design with realistic body movements.
*Packed full of educational enrichment, including 400 words and sentences in 8 categories.
*Lively picture cards, high quality professional voice recording, and energetic and thematic.
*User friendly interface, designed for use by young children, with
worry-free" and "childproof" materials, damage resistant durable design, completely safe for unsupervised play.
GizmoNews - The H1ghlander robot is a driverless vehicle that will race through 175 miles of hostile desert terrain for a $2 million prize. On Thursday morning, the H1ghlander was being evaluated by a team from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). If the vehicle passes the evaluation, it could advance to the semi-finals at California Speedway in September. The H1ghlander is one of 118 teams hosting similar evaluations. The Pittsburgh Channel reports.
Waseda University and tmsuk, Japan, are showing off the "WL-16RII" , a new 2 foot robot to assist people in climbing up and down stairways. The robot presented in Fukuoka will go on sale in 2010. In the demonstration "WL-16RII" succeeded in the stairway ascent and descent of height 20 centimeters. Sensors (not on board) inspect the height and width , etc., of the stairway and programs movement beforehand allowing for safe ascent and descent. In the future using RFID chips on stairways, information can be passed to the WL-16RII allowing it to walk freely in town. Read More (Japan)
Qrio, a humanoid robot developed by a Sony Intelligence Dynamics Laboratories Inc has been attending a nursery school in California since March to play with children up to 2 years of age in an experiment to help develop a robot that can "live in harmony with humans in the future."
A team of French scientists working with folks at the University of Michigan (U-M) and Ohio State University have created a robot that walks and balances just as a human does. They say it is the first of its kind, and can catch its balance without having to rely on big, clunky feet to do so reports CNN
U-M, Ohio State and French scientists say their robot, called "Rabbit," is the first robot that can walk and balance like a human.
Tokyo-based ZMP is set to release a small walking man-shaped robot for home security and entertainment is going on sale in Japan for 588,000 yen ($5,450) reports Forbes
The 15-inch tall, 5.5 pound robot called nuvo from ZMP Inc. is also available in a high end $8,200 version with the same functions and a design inspired by lacquer-ware painted on its body.
The Multipurpose Security and Surveillance Mission Platform (MSSMP), started in FY'92 as the Air-Mobile Ground Security and Surveillance System (AMGSSS), is designed to provide a rapidly deployable, extended-range surveillance capability for a variety of operations and missions, including: fire control, force protection, tactical security, support to counterdrug and border patrol operations, signal/communications relays, detection and assessment of barriers (i.e., mine fields, tank traps), remote assessment of suspected contaminated areas (i.e., chemical, biological, and nuclear), and even resupply of small quantities of critical items. via Defense Tech More
Japanese Energy Technology company NEDO presented the Actroid at the World Exposition 2005 in Aichi, Japan. i4u reports the Actroid understands naturally spoken words and can carry on a conversation with a guest, answering in a natural voice. The Actroid speaks Chinese, Korean, English and Japanese. When communicating with a guest the ACTROID responds with natural gestures such eye movement and smiling. More
Hitachi unveiled the "Emiew," its first humanoid robot, on Tuesday, saying it was the world's quickest-moving robot yet. The Emiew is designed to help people in their movements and will basically serve as a help for people who have difficulties walking.
We aimed to create a robot that could live and coexist with people," Toshihiko Horiuchi, project leader at Hitachi's Mechanical Engineering Research Laboratory Robotics Technology Project, told a news conference.
Hitachi built the two Emiews -- Pal and Chum -- for the World Expo, which will take place beginning later this month in Aichi prefecture, about 205 miles west of Tokyo.
Emiew, which stands for "excellent mobility and interactive existence as workmate,"can run as fast as 3.7 mph, compared with Honda Motor Co.'s celebrated Asimo, whose top speed is a pokey 1.86 mph.
Hitachi said the Emiews, which currently have a vocabulary of about 100 words, still need to be trained before they are fit for practical office and factory use in five to six years.
Height 130cm
Weight About 70kg
Quickness Maximum acceleration 4m/s2
High speed 6 km/h in maximum running speed
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center's Robart III prototype is a mechanical rent-a-cop replacement -- designed to detect intruders, and cap 'em with a "pneumatically powered six-barrel Gatling-style weapon that fires simulated tranquilizer darts or rubber bullets," reports Defense Tech.
ROBART III uses "head-mounted sensors, including two Polaroid sonar transducers, a Banner near-infrared proximity sensor, an AM Sensors microwave motion detector, and a video surveillance camera" to spot infiltrators. .
NEC is showing off the Papero Personal Robot designed to interact with people and be programmed for human-like interactions and tasks. Papero can check email, tune the TV to your favorite channel, and even dance with your children. This egg-shaped robot knows your favorite football team and searches the Internet for the day's lineups and scores when you get home. It will also develop a personality depending on how you treat it.
PaPeRo "hears" with four microphones, understands 650 phrases, and speaks more than 3,000. Its improved speech-recognition software works well in realistic environments, including noisy and hectic homes. PaPeRo's technology derives from proven NEC applications in telephone directory systems that use speech recognition, and in foreign language translation software for PCs and PDAs.
PaPeRo also identifies people it knows, using face-recognition technology and two cameras for eyes.
The new robot will perform a demonstration at the World Exposition, which runs in Japan's central Aichi region for six months from March 25 and is expected to draw around 15 million visitors. GeekZone/a>
JapanToday.com - A group of Kyoto-based researchers, today unveiled an artificial muscle, that is capable of holding objects like real fingers do. The human-like material was developed by Nobutaka Tsujiuchi, a professor of mechanical dynamics at Doshisha University, and the Kyoto-based software development company Squse.
The part of the artificial muscle enclosing a controlling device is made of a natural rubber measuring 0.5 centimeter in diameter and 3 cm in length. The artificial muscle, which is about the same size as the real muscle found in human fingers, is wrapped in a polyester net and comes with a compressor about the size of a syringe.
Vstone Co, Japan, today released a two-legged robot modeled after the popular comic book robot hero, Gigantor, introduced in 1956. The remote-control robot, which is 38 centimeters high and weighs 2.5 kilograms, moves its arms and legs smoothly and walks like a human being, Vstone said. price tag of 351,750 yen. Japantoday.com
Stockist - AudioCubes is offering the Kondo KHR-1 Robot, touted as one of the best and coolest fighting human robots in Japan for $1500. You do the program, you do the control. KHR-1 Robot acts like a human and with 17 adjustable joints, it is capable of doing back flips and cartwheels. Comes with a very simple application program also allows you to design your own moves such as special kicks and poses. Ultra stylish design like no others. Tools are not included. Check out KHR-1 Robot's video
Specifications
Size: 340(H) x 180(W) mm
Weight: Approximately 1.2kg (with batteries)
Joint: 17 (Neck 1, one arm 3x2 book and one leg 5x2 book)
Connection type: RS-23C2C
OS: Windows2000 and XP
Recommendation CPU: Pentium cIii above
Recommendation memory: 128MB above
The three mechanical bipeds , built by researchers from Cornell University, the University of Michigan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US and Delft University in the Netherlands, respectively, that walk like humans were shown off at the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) annual meeting held this year in Washington, DC. The work could transform the way humanoid robots are built and brings the prospect of robotic replacement limbs a step closer. Read More
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) research center has announced the developement of a tactile sensor capable of functioning like human skin. The tactile sensor is made of polydimethylsiloxane, a synthetic rubber, and has a 1-millimeter spatial resolution capability."Many tactile sensors have been developed so far, but ours has the highest spatial resolution capability, flexibility, softness and extensibility," said Lee Hyung-kyu, who led the development project. The new sensor is widely expected to lay the foundation for coating humanoids such as South Korea's humanoid robot , HUBO or Japan's ASIMO with artificial skin.
HUBO is capable of moving its fingers independently, dancing and shaking hands with people by using its 41 joints.
Japan's ASIMO, an acronym for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, was unveiled in 2000 as the world's most advanced bi-pedal robot.
Currently on display at the Tokyo international forum is the TERA (Takara Entertainment Robot Architecture) robot series developed through a partnership with Konami & takara toys. The new line is planned for sale in spring 2006 at 150,000 Yen. The series includes the TERA SECURITY, TERA LIFE and TERA AV robots.
The "TERA AV" robot supports DVD video and music CD playback using the it mouth to load disc, the eyes feature built-in lens and projector. The Tera AV can playback a DVD and project the image at the same time, built-in small-sized speaker, modem and HDD
Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles have developed Tiny Robots powered by living muscle. In one experiment a tiny device that moved on its own as the cells contracted was created by growing Rat heart cells onto microscopic silicon chips. Jianzhong Xi, Jacob Schmidt and Carlo Montemagno of the University of California Los Angeles writing in the journal Nature Materials, said it is possible to make such devices, starting with a single cell "seeded" on a specially treated silicon chip. "A microdevice with two 'legs ' extending from the body at 45-degree angles; each leg had a 'foot' extending at a 45-degree angle," was also developed.
Katsushi Ikeuchi, a professor of engineering at Tokyo University has given the 1.5-meter-tall (five-foot) robot HRP-2 Promet , which is usually used at construction sites to help workers, a new lease on life, teaching it traditional Japanese dance to preserve the art for the future. The slow-paced dance, which is performed in groups and accompanied by lutes and other Japanese instruments, is rapidly losing ground in 21st-century Japan, with many young people only encountering it at local festivals. The robot to replicate human movements.
According to UVonline an unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) suspected to be a military spy plane crashed into the children's playground Kid's World near the Imphal Tulihal airport on India's eastern border. The vehicle had fallen about 33 m short of the runway of the Tulihal airport due to mechanical defect according to sources. No one was injured as none was at the crash site. The unmanned airborne vehicle can fly at a good height while it is controlled at the ground. According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft, about 15 feet long, crashed into the children's theme park at around 3:15 PM. Immediately after the crash, Army personnel based at the airport closed off the area, and took away the pieces of the aircraft in a truck. During the operation. The army is investigating the matter.
Yoshiyuki Sankai, a professor at the University of Tsukuba in Japan has developed the "hybrid assistive limb," or HAL designed to help people suffering from muscle loss or partial paralysis walk. HAL is made up of frames for leg support, motors placed at knees and hip joints, detection sensors and a computer controls the system. When the wearer tries to move a leg, the sensors detect through the skin faint electrical signals transmitted from the brain to muscles. The computer analyzes what the user is going to do, and the motors start moving to support the user's motion.
The HUBO, a Korean "humanoid robot," will be officially unveiled Jan 6 2005, after loads of sweat by a team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) who completed the project in one year. Joining the ranks of the Honda ASIMO, the HUBO not only features increased mobility, is has voice recognition and synthesis faculties and perfect vision in which its two eyes move independently of one another. As the race heats up for the uber humanoid robot, it should be mentioned that the HUBO has individually moving fingers which the ASIMO lacks. The HUBO can slow-dance and shake hands with people by using its 41 joints. Does the HUBO appreciate cheers ?
Vis-a-Vis JP is offering a limited edition Gold Robosapien Robot for 15,750 Yen. The Robosapien Robot has 67 basic functions including, bi-pedal walking motion, turning, kicking and dancing all which you can set on an easy-to-use remote. Height 34 cm, & weighs 2.1 kilometers. No release date set.
Sony held a pre-show of sorts at the Sony Building, JP, for upcoming 2004 QRIO Japan technology park event (DEC 18). Sony's 2ft QRIO was on display in all its mobile glory. With Honda's recent announcement of the Next-Generation ASIMO with increased mobility, It is pretty cool to look at what Sony has done since 1997 when the line was launched. Pretty cool stuff Ogle at the Qrio playing golf, running, posing etc. Should put a smile on your face. Pictures & video worth a 1000s words.
Kim Jong-Hwan from the Robot Intelligence Technology Lab in Korea claims to have created genes (wide term could be bad translation) that a robot can pass on to other robots giving personality traits, etc., basically you get one of these robots - it reproduces like crazy and you get the seed of chucky - I kid. Kim says "if we design the chromosomes quite safely, then we can avoid such a bad situation." How on earth do you use the word if - I am not convinced that the robot would umm kill me in my sleep - ah maybe it's the translation. Kim developed 14 artificial chromosomes (software system) that he says will determine robots' "personality." The information -from one robot - can be easily be sent to other robots. - MORE
OK Sanyo has announced the 'Roborior' a big glowing lump robot that houses a Foma cellular phone to send out pictures and information to you say a burglar tries to run off with your Pucci outfit. I think is cool to add security but shouldn't a security camera not be visible, maybe they are using the concept that no one would believe a glowing lump could do any damage, I think anyshots you get from the 'Roborior' will probably be of your intruders under arm.
Toyota has announced plans to have their i-foot and i-unit prototypes do really cool stuff at EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN Pavilion. Toyota is hard at work on creating products to enhance mobility, sure the Camry is great but what's the next progression -- right. The i-foot is designed to help the disabled get around and climb up stairs -- you climb onto the i-foot and navigate with a joystick. Great - hopefully it comes in smaller sizes or you need to move to a mansion with high ceilings and wide doorways, could you imagine Granny walking around Manhattan via the i-foot? The i-unit is intended to expand human abilities and possibilities. I am not sure what that means. Cool - MY i-unit you can customize the i-unit -- a personalized recognition system can provide information and music, and body color can be customized, according to your preferences and emotions.
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Kim Jong-Hwan from the Robot Intelligence Technology Lab in Korea claims to have created genes (wide term could be bad translation) that a robot can pass on to other robots giving personality traits, etc., basically you get one of these robots - it reproduces like crazy and you get the seed of chucky - I kid. Kim says "if we design the chromosomes quite safely, then we can avoid such a bad situation." How on earth do you use the word if - I am not convinced that the robot would umm kill me in my sleep - ah maybe it's the translation. Kim developed 14 artificial chromosomes (software system) that he says will determine robots' "personality." The information -from one robot - can be easily be sent to other robots. - 
Toyota has announced plans to have their i-foot and i-unit prototypes do really cool stuff at EXPO 2005 AICHI, JAPAN Pavilion. Toyota is hard at work on creating products to enhance mobility, sure the Camry is great but what's the next progression -- right. The i-foot is designed to help the disabled get around and climb up stairs -- you climb onto the i-foot and navigate with a joystick. Great - hopefully it comes in smaller sizes or you need to move to a mansion with high ceilings and wide doorways, could you imagine Granny walking around Manhattan via the i-foot? The i-unit is intended to expand human abilities and possibilities. I am not sure what that means. Cool - MY i-unit you can customize the i-unit -- a personalized recognition system can provide information and music, and body color can be customized, according to your preferences and emotions.