Archives for July 22, 2009

Skiing Robot Developed to Study Techniques for the Snow

More often than not, robots can be found doing any activity that humans are involved in. The purpose may be research based for now, but eventually robots may have a more direct involvement with humans. Can you see a robot ski instructor on the slopes?

In a recent issue of Sports Engineering, a team of researchers has published a study of a robot experimantal system.  This group, working out of Kanazawa University in Japan, has taken the first steps toward developing a method to investigate the motions in leg joints that occur during ski turns. It is hoped that this data will ultimately serve as a model to help skiers improve their own movements. Several blogs have posted on this skiing robot.  On botjunkie.com there are links to some You Tube videos to give you an idea of what some skiing robots look like.  Although there are no videos of this particular bot as yet, these movies are informative.

More often than not, robots can be found doing any activity that humans are involved in.  The purpose may be research based for now, but eventually robots may have a more direct involvement with humans.  Can you see a robot ski instructor on the slopes?  The robot could demonstrate perfect and repeatable motions to teach someone how to have great skiing technique.  No problems with patience either.  A robot would, perhaps, be the best teacher in cases like this.  Of course, robots must learn how to relate to humans.  That is another research area altogether.  Check out the stories below for more information on the skiing robot.

skirobot

Photo Credit: T. Yoneyama, et al. via PhysOrg.com

Skiing is a very hectic sport, don't believe me, then go and ask the robot who's just started.

A rookie Robot that can ski and provide experimental results
Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:11:29 GMT

T. Yoneyama, H. Kagawa, M. Unemoto, T. Iizuka, N.W. Scott. “A ski robot system for qualitative modeling of the carved turn.” Sports Engineering (2009) 11:131-141.

Ski Robot Could Decipher the Art of Skiing

Mon, 20 Jul 2009

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