Archives for May 2009

Must-have toys teach a must-have message – Roanoke Times

May 10, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

After posting articles on the dark side of robotics, this one is a much more positive one.  Although the story from yesterday about the roboskin robot certainly shows something that has been created for a human need, it has the potential for a dark side.  The robots here were created for the express purpose of only saving lives.  Plus, these robots are something that one could see marketed as next year’s Christmas gifts.  After you read the excerpt below, follow the link to see the complete article.

Sparky, the Blacksburg Fire Department's "talking" Dalmatian, captures the attention of children during an open house in 2006. Photo courtesy of the Dublin Fire Department Addie Crigger gives the Dublin Fire Department's Patches, a robotic Dalmatian …

Must-have toys teach a must-have message – Roanoke Times
Sun, 10 May 2009 05:34:00 GMT

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New Robot With Artificial Skin To Improve Human Communication

May 9, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

So, in light of robots that can jump and robots that can kill, where does a robot that can feel fit in?  Doesn’t this make you think about the possibility of killer robots with the sense of touch?  Of course, this roboskin robot is being developed for a noble purpose, but technology does not know good from evil.  I have always believed in technology as a way for humanity to improve itself and I don’t think all the articles on the military applications of robots will change my mind about that.  However, it does make you think!

Work is beginning on a robot with artificial skin to be used to investigate how robots can help children with autism learn about social interaction.  Professor Kerstin Dautenhahn and her team at the University’s School of Computer Science are part of a European consortium, which is working on the three-year Roboskin project to develop a robot with skin and embedded tactile sensors.

The researchers will work on Kaspar (http://kaspar.feis.herts.ac.uk/), a child-sized humanoid robot developed by the Adaptive Systems research group at the University.

 

New Robot With Artificial Skin To Improve Human Communication
Sun, 10 May 2009 03:00:00 GMT

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Jumping robot to bounce into military service

May 8, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Do you remember these words?  "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound."  This robot can’t outrun a high-power projectile or stop a freight train, but it may be able to match some of superman’s jumping skills.  As detailed in New Scientist, the US army has commissioned a robot that will jump up stairs or leap through windows during urban operations. 

Engadget reported that the Precision Urban Hopper, as it is known, will have as its goal the capability of jumping over large obstacles in city combat situations. “It will boast one extremely tough leg to assist it, in addition to its four wheels. The Hopper is supposedly going to be able to jump 25 feet in the air once completed.”

Boston Dynamics, the company that built the prototype, is due to present its next model sometime during 2010.

Now, in addition to all the other military robots, there will likely be one type that can jump.  What do you think about that?

Jumping robot to bounce into military service
Fri, 08 May 2009 09:29:00 GMT

Filed Under: Current Affairs, Robots ·

Army orders more iRobot battlefield robots – Boston Globe

May 7, 2009 by · Leave a Comment


 


More robots are on the way for the military.  I read about this from several reports.  Since I had posted two articles a couple of days ago on this topic, I thought this would be a good follow-up.  These iRobot Corporation machines are today’s robot soldiers.  What does the future hold for robots on the war-fighting front?

Bedford’s iRobot Corp. said it has received a $16.8 million order from the US Army for more of the company’s battlefield robots. The order “marks the first purchase of iRobot’s advanced PackBot 510 series under an existing $200 million” contract …

Army orders more iRobot battlefield robots – Boston Globe
Wed, 06 May 2009 16:45:00 GMT

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Killer robots lead revolution in warfare (Independent Online)

May 6, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Yet another entry in discussion of the role of robots in the military is listed here.  The source of the article is the same as the previous post.  This is a recurring theme in the robotics world today and certainly speaks to what is next in robots.

They have no fear, they never tire, they are not upset when the soldier next to them gets blown to pieces.

Killer robots lead revolution in warfare (Independent Online)
Wed, 06 May 2009 04:16:19 GMT

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Wired for war – robot soldiers more fact than fiction – Brisbane Times

May 6, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Robots are becoming an important part of the United States military.  Here is an article that explores some of the issues surrounding the use of robots in the armed forces.

Wired for war – robot soldiers more fact than fiction
Brisbane Times, Australia – Deborah Snow
THE world is on the brink of a "robotics revolution" in military combat that will have profound social, psychological, political and ethical effects, says a leading US defence analyst. Peter Singer, who headed Barack Obama’s defence policy team during …

Wired for war – robot soldiers more fact than fiction – Brisbane Times
Wed, 06 May 2009 14:10:00 GMT

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