Robotics
Self-transforming robots promise versatile future
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November 29, 2004 Scientists at the Dartmouth Robotics Lab have developed the first reliable methods to produce self-configurable robots capable of controlling their shape according to the task at hand and environment they are in. Based on a 'lattice' of autonomous units linked into a networked organism, the breakthrough promises a new generation of self-transforming robots that can perform a variety of different tasks without human intervention. Read More
U.N. releases World Robotics 2004 survey
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November 21, 2004 Over 600,00 household robots are already in use with several million more expected for domestic consumption in the next few years according to the World Robotics 2004 survey, produced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in cooperation with the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). Read More
Robotic Doctor marks breakthrough in telemedicine
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November 13, 2004 Known as RP-6, this "Remote Presence Robot" represents yet another advance in the use of robot technology for the delivery of healthcare. Already utilised in numerous medical roles including surgery, robots are set to become increasingly valuable in the delivery of a wide range of healthcare services, including remote or "telemedical" applications. RP-6 acts as a surrogate presence, allowing doctors to visit patients from a remote location and expedite health services to a greater number of users. Doctors can guide the robot to the patient's bedside, take pictures of charts and speak to the patient through the robot. Aimed particularly at those recovering from surgery, the RP-6 is is currently undergoing trials in US hospitals. Read More
Rehabilitation glove uses artificial muscles
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November 7, 2004 A rehabilitation glove powered by artificial muscles has won the recent AUD $10,000 British Council Eureka Prize for inspiring science. Designed by the Quadriplegic Hand Research Unit at the Royal North Shore Hospital, the invention will help people with permanent hand-movement loss to perform the daily functions most of us take for granted. Read More
Scientists demonstrate a mind-controlled future
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November 5, 2004 Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have demonstrated that a monkey can feed itself with a robotic arm simply by using signals from its brain, an advance that could enhance prosthetics for people, especially those with spinal cord injuries. The robotic arm, or neural prosthesis, is about the size of a child's arm and moves much like a natural arm, with a fully mobile shoulder and elbow and a simple gripper that allows the monkey to grasp and hold food while its own arms are restrained. Read More
Meet Milo - the world's first Robot Personal Assistant
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November 2, 2004 At a time when most handhelds PDA's are racing to miniaturise their hardware, MILO, the world's first Robotic Personal Assistant platform (RPA) - takes a brave step in the opposite direction, developing a four foot tall mix of robot butler and mobile telecommunications hub with programmable commands. Read More
Intelligent network based robots on the market in 2005
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November 2, 2004 A new type of network-based robot will debut in Korea in late 2005, greeting customers in around 200 post offices and interacting in real time service applications for commercial and home uses.
One male based robot security guard will guard post offices around the clock and is equipped with a net it can shoot to capture intruders. Another female styled robot will tend to customers and make those long queues more bearable by screening fun video clips on embedded monitors.
The network-based robots are part of a project called the Ubiquitous Robot Companion (URC) being promoted by the Korean Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), who are taking advantage of the country's highest per capita use of high-speed Internet connection and wireless broadband services to deliver flexible robot programming through wireless networks and pre-empt the emerging robotics market. Read More
Robosapien proves it's more than an average toy
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October 29, 2004 The popular RoboSapien developed by WowWee for the toy market has come third in the 2004 RoboCup in Lisbon with the addition of a Pocket PC to give it autonomous functionality.
Team NimbRo, from the Institute for Computer Science at the University of Freiburg in Germany, created the robot Frankenstein by hacking off the head, arms and arm motors from the toy, which was renamed the NimbRo RS. The head was replaced with a Toshiba e755 Pocket PC that communicated via infrared to the robot and a LifeView FlyCam. Team NimbRo then wrote software to make the robot totally autonomous and have released the API and details on their website. Read More
RoboGarage produces natural humanoid movement
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October 29, 2004 One of the leading pioneers in automated robot development is Tomotaka Takahash of the 'Robo Garage' at Kyoto University. Takahash has built the Chroino, Magdan and Neon model robots, which combine sleek, manga inspired design with cutting edge functionality and human like mobility.
Following on from his work the Robo Garage has further developed the VisiON, ENRYU, robovie-R and GUNWALKER models.
The Chroino (a combination of "to chronicle" and "black," which is pronounced kuroi in Japanese) is a 35cm tall humanoid robot with sophisticated movements, powered by a lithium polymer battery. A newly developed "monocoque frame" covering is made of carbon and plastic, giving Chorino a friendly appearance, light weight and robust body. Read More
Fujitsu Develops Human Task Support Robot
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Fujitsu Laboratories and Fujitsu Frontech have announced their joint development of a service robot that can provide support for various services in offices and commercial facilities. The newly developed robot features functions that enable it to provide such services as greeting and escorting guests onto elevators, operating the elevators, moving parcels using a cart, and security patrolling of buildings at night. Fujitsu Frontech Limited will commercialise the robot, with sales scheduled to begin in June 2005.
Fujitsu Frontech Limited will commercialise the robot, with sales scheduled to begin in June 2005. Details of the robot are to be presented at the 22nd Annual Conference of the Robotics Society of Japan scheduled to be held from September 15 at Gifu University in Japan. Read More
More inductees into the ROBOT HALL OF FAME
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And the winner is - Shakey the Robot! It's not the Oscars but it is the robot world's closest equivalent - the Robot Hall of Fame, an annual award to honor landmark achievements in robotics technology and the increasing contributions of robots to human endeavors. Established by the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University in 2003, the Robot Hall of Fame honours two categories, robots from Science - which have served a useful function and demonstrated real skills in accomplishing the purpose for which they were created - and robots from Science Fiction. Shakey enters into the Hall of Fame this year in the Robots from Science category. Read More
HAL and Artoo win a place in the Robot Hall of Fame
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Carnegie Mellon has announced the 2004 inductees to the Robot Hall of Fame at the Carnegie Science Center. The robots honored in this first annual Hall of Fame event included NASA's Mars Pathfinder Microrover Flight Experiment (MFEX), better known as "Sojourner"; Unimate, the first industrial robot; R2-D2, the unforgettable droid from the Star Wars movie trilogy; and the evil HAL-9000 computer, featured in the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey," created by science fiction writer and futurist Sir Arthur C. Clarke and director Stanley Kubrick. Read More
DARPA Schedules 2nd Autonomous Robotic Ground Vehicles Event
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The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense has announced that it will hold a second Grand Challenge for Autonomous Robotic Ground Vehicles on October 8, 2005. Read More
The Robots are Coming!
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January 19, 2004 Helper, security and companion robots will be commonplace a decade from now. There are already more than 100 robotic commercialisation projects in the global public arena, and a dozen commercially available robots in the Japanese domestic market. In the next two to three years, that number will grow considerably, with research companies forecasting the home robotics market may one day be equal in size to the automotive market.
After the Volkswagen comes the Volksbot
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When Commodore launched the first home computer on the German market - the VC-20 - it was a real sensation. Its legendary predecessor, the C-64, was the first truly affordable 'personal' computer, and the start of the PC revolution. What computer freaks struggled with in those days, is what robot developers are now experiencing. Read More
Toyota announces a coming range of partner robots
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Toyota, the world's second largest automotive manufacturer, has made a clear statement of its intention to participate in the personal robotics market by announcing an internal project to develop partner robots designed to function as personal assistants for humans This year has seen a flurry of activity in the personal robotics area and the heightened activity has encouraged a number of companies such as Toyota, which has been known to be developing robots for some time, to play its hand. Toyota does not see itself solely as an automotive manufacturer, and sees itself as a manufacturer of products which contribute to society. Read More
Korean start-up rocks fledgling robotics industry
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Korean robotics start-up Mostitech has rocked the fledgling personal robotics marketplace by announcing the mid-year availability of a home security robot that will sell for around AUD$1100. Prior to the announcement, the home security robot ics marketplace had seemed likely to become the domain of the Japanese consumer electronics manufacturers which already have several such robots available on the Japanese domestic market for prices in the AUD$15,000+ area. Read More
Berkeley exoskeleton to enhance strength and endurance
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The mere thought of hauling a 70-pound pack across miles of rugged terrain or up 50 flights of stairs is enough to evoke a grimace in even the burliest individuals. But breakthrough robotics research at the University of California, Berkeley, could soon bring welcome relief - a self-powered exoskeleton to effectively take the load off people's backs. Read More
Autonomous Motorcycle to contest DARPA Grand Challenge
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The DARPA Grand Challenge was the first race for autonomous robots from LA to Las Vegas on March 13, 2004 with a US$1 million prize. The race was be contested by 24 cars and one autonomous two-wheeler. This interview was conducted with the Team leader of the Ghostrider Robot Team, Anthony Levandowski just prior to the event. Read More
Artemis - the robot guard
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Japanese robotics company Tmsuk has announced its latest creation, the T63 Artemis Guard Robot. Artemis will autonomously patrol a multi-story building and report back wirelessly to security HQ if it finds anything amiss. Though not yet capable of apprehending any intruders, it is armed with several non-lethal offensive weapons such as a fluorescent paintball gun and the capability to spray a cloud of mist to temporarily blind the intruder. Read More
Meet Valerie, she's a domestic android
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Meet Valerie. Valerie is a domestic android. Valerie will clean your house, change light bulbs, wash the dishes, do the laundry, check the sports scores for you, book plane tickets and call the police if there's an emergency. She speaks English but more importantly, understands English and hence be programmed by non-programmers. Valerie will be on sale by Christmas 2004 for US$59,000 with a two year warranty. Gizmo spoke with her creator, Chris Willis about the future of the personal robotics marketplace and his hopes for Valerie. Read More
Super 350cm exoskeleton
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Updated May 2005 Whenever robots are discussed, it seems the name tmsuk comes up. The small Japanese robotics company has collaborated with some of the biggest names in electronics to produce commercial robots in the last few years, and their concepts always seem to be innovative and imaginative, not to mention very useful. tmsuk is best known for its security robots Banryu and Artemis, a semi-humanoid security guard for hospitals and office buildings) so when Japan’s National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster, strategised its next generation response to earthquakes and the fires they cause and decided it needed a robot for high risk situations, tmsuk got the call. Built for business, the strapping 3.5 metre Enryu will be called upon to rush into burning buildings, lift heavy objects and rescue people. Neat heh! Read More
Personal Robotics Industry set for massive growth
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Tuesday December 9, 2003 The term 'robot' has been in existence for a short time - it was first used in 1920 by Czechoslovakian playwright Karel Capek and comes from the Czech robota, which means 'tedious labor.'One hundred years hence, in 2020, analysts project that most households will own a robot, or at least be considering one. Robotics is already a US$8 billion industry globally, but mostof the robots in use today are industrial robots employed in manufacturing for welding, painting and assembly line tasks. The consumer robotics marketplace is just emerging, with a gross of US$600 million in 2002, comprised mainly of programmable robots which mow lawns, clean floors and amuse children. Read More
Epson develops World's Smallest Flying Micro-robot
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The world's smallest flying micro-robot has been unveiled at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo. Seiko Epson Corporation's FR ("Micro Flying Robot") stands just 70 mm high and uses 130 mm wide contra-rotating propellers powered by a tiny ultrasonic motor to achieve balanced mid-air flight. Read More
Autonomous Robot mowing and mulching system
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Monday November 3, 2003: The Robomow is a fully automatic lawn mower designed to autonomously mow your lawn at the press of a button while you concentrate on more important weekend chores. Read More
GuardRobo C4 deters intruders, welcomes visitors
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Monday October 13, 2003: The latest model guard robot shown at CEATEC Japan 2003 by Sohgo Security Services is currently in use for patrolling and surveillance purposes as well as for receiving visitors and giving directions. Using numerous sensors, the C4 can detect a human body and then transmit images of what it "sees" back to a monitoring centre. Read More
Adult-sized, His and Hers home robots
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Wednesday October 8, 2003: Looking for some entertaining, hassle-free housemates whose personality you can program yourself? These interactive, remote controlled, multifunctional robots were designed and built by International Robotics and feature on-board computers that can be fully programmed for communication or automated "performance" sequences. Read More
Updated AIBO features built-in wireless connectivity
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Saturday September 13, 2003: Sony have updated the AIBO Companion Robot with a new design that incorporates a richer LED "face" display, eyesight three times sharper than previous models, built-in Wireless LAN connectivity and for the first time, you can give the robot dog a bone - the "AIBOne" to be exact, a pink toy that the new ERS-7 AIBO can pick up in its mouth. Read More
New robotic devices promise mobility for the handicapped
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The recent news that Swiss and Spanish scientists have developed a successful prototype of a mind-controlled wheelchair is yet another indication of broad range of work being done around the planet to develop mobility solutions for the disabled and aged market. Most importantly, the new system adds a critical dimension to the work being done - machine control via the mind. In a system which might best be described as augmented or assisted telepathy, the new system is reported to use electrodes embedded in a skullcap to monitor the brain patterns of the user, interpret them via sophisticated software algorithms, and control the wheelchair via a wireless link. Read More
Robonauts to join humans on space missions
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Friday July 11, 2003: Human astronauts could soon be teamed with robot assistants during space-walks or on the surface of other planets according to researchers at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Early evaluation tests the 'Spacewalk Squad' Concept could lead to human-robotic teams being in service on the International Space Station by 2007. Read More
Robot surrogate lets you be two places at once
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Out of the office and unable to make that important meeting? Why not send a robot to stand-in. That's the goal of eTravel - a project undertaken by HP labs to create a "Mutually-Immersive Mobile Telepresence" or "surrogate robot" that can do your travelling for you and act as your eyes, ears and voice, regardless of where you are... Read More
A glimpse of a robot-driven future?
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Wednesday July 2, 2003: The Volkswagen electronics research group has been working on the "Autonomous Driving" project for several years and although "Klaus" won't be taking to the highway in the near future, Volkswagen has succeeded in teaching it how to drive. Read More
Evolution Robotics unveils New ER2 Personal Robot
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Evolution Robotics has introduced the ER2 multi-purpose personal robot to showcase its new Evolution Robotics Software Platform (ERSP) which features a new control architecture, breakthrough vision and navigation software components. Evolution Robotics has introduced the ER2 multi-purpose personal robot to showcase its new Evolution Robotics Software Platform (ERSP) which features a new control architecture, breakthrough vision and navigation software components.
Bluetooth enabled Micro-robot
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The World's smallest and thinnest Bluetooth-equipped micro-robot prototype will be unveiled at ROBODEX 2003 next month in Yokohama, Japan. Epson's Monsieur II has a volume of just 7.8cm3 and weighs 12.5g Read More
Twenty years in the making - ASIMO the humanoid robot
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Honda has come a long way towards realising its vision of creating a humanoid robot since its bi-pedal (two-legged) robot named "EO" successfully took its first steps in 1986. Culminating in ASIMO, the highly-advanced, stair climbing, hand shaking humanoid robot Read More
