Archives for June 2009

Robots Changing Rules of Command

June 16, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Command of military forces has changed and robots are the reason.  Robots are creating the next battlefield.  The use of robots has caused two major events to occur in war-fighting.  First, robots have given the soldier in the field unprecedented power.  Corporals have control of robots with great destructive capability and the ability to make the decision to use that force in an instant.  Second, generals in command centers far from the site of the battle can micromanage the tactics of units because of their ability to use drone robots to observe, and therefore direct, small units directly.  In some cases, according to this article from the Brookings Institute, generals have been known to order a single soldier to change positions.

Robots are incredible force multipliers on the battlefield.  How will the military learn to deal with this?  More importantly, how will the government of the United States redesign the military command structure to adapt to the use of robots?

Military Robot 

Photo Credit:  http://robotstocknews.blogspot.com and iRobot

The Rise of the Tactical General
Brookings Institution, DC
Forty-two other countries have military robotics programs, as well as a host of nonstate actors. But like any major change in war, the robot revolution is not turning out to be the frictionless triumph of technology that some would describe it. …

The Rise of the Tactical General – Brookings Institution
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:55:47 GMT

Filed Under: Military, Robots · Tagged With: ,

Robots to Care for Elderly

June 15, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

In a recent post here on RobotNext, the market for home robots was mentioned.   Although the robot featured in the article had been developed with the idea of showing that a robot can perform tasks in the kitchen, it demonstrates that robots are being developed that have skills useful in a home.

Robots are already used for vacuuming and washing floors around the house, but it will take a robot that can do those things plus cook, monitor security, interact as a companion, and perform as a nurse to be a true personal robot.  Check out the articles below for more details on this robot from Geckosystems.


carebotgroup

Photo Credit:  alignmap.com

Why is Grandma really interested in a CareBot? She wants to stay in her home, or her family's home, as long as she possibly can. What's that worth? Priceless. Or, an average nursing home is $5,000 per month for an environment that is too often the beginning of a spiral downward in the care receiver's health. That's probably $2-3K more per month for them to be placed where they really don't want to be. Financial payback on a CareBot? Less than a year. Emotional payback for the family to have this new automatic care giver? Nearly instantaneous.

Related articles

Robots to Monitor Elder People
Youngester (noreply@blogger.com)
Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Filed Under: Robots · Tagged With: ,

Robotic Ferret to Aid in Searches for Contraband

June 14, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

One more example of a robot design whose idea came form nature.  In this case, a ferret is the basis for the robot.  Ferrets were originally domesticated by humans for hunting.  They could chase the prey into tight spaces.  This is the idea here.  Cargo containers are difficult to search when fully loaded with materials, but there are voids that can be exploited by a device that is small and able to maneuver in close quarters.  Thus, the robot dubbed the ferret.  Check out the story at the photo link or the other links below.

Robot Ferret     Robot Ferret

Image Credit:  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

A new type of robot under development will make it easier to detect drugs, weapons, explosives and illegal immigrants concealed in cargo containers.Dubbed the ‘cargo-screening ferret’ and designed for use at seaports and airports, the device is being worked on at the University of Sheffield with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).The ferret will be the world’s first cargo-screening device able to pinpoint all kinds of illicit substances and the first designed to operate inside standard freight containers.It will be equipped with a suite of sensors that are more comprehensive and more sensitive than any currently employed in conventional cargo scanners.Recent advances in both laser and fiber optic technology now make it possible to detect tiny particles of different substances.

Robotic Ferret Can Detect Hidden Drugs, Weapons
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:21:37 GMT

Filed Under: Nature, Robots · Tagged With: ,

Fish Robot Models Next Method of Ship Propulsion

June 13, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Here is the next robot model from nature—a fish.  Here at RobotNext, there have been reports of many types of robots based on nature.  Now, robot fish may be able to demonstrate that the motions of a swimming fish could be used to move ships through the ocean.  If this could be done, it is possible that a eco-friendly propulsion method could be developed for vessels sailing the oceans.  Researchers hope to demonstrate that the swimming robot can provide a way to prevent damage to shorelines and the seabed.  Read more about this development in the article at Science Daily as reported by WWW.OLOSCIENCE.COM  at the links below.

SOURCE

ScienceDaily (June 11, 2009) — The team of Darmstadt researchers analyzed videos of fish’s motions and then developed a prototype fish robot that duplicated them, and are now testing it using the locomotional patterns of various species of fish in order to refine it and improve its efficiency.

Adapted from materials provided by Technische Universität Darmstadt, via AlphaGalileo.

Fish Robot As An Alternative Marine Propulsion System Of The Future
WWW.OLOSCIENCE.COM (f.intilla@bluewin.ch)
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Filed Under: Nature, Robots · Tagged With: , , ,

Robot Snail Cleans Windows

June 12, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

In keeping with my search for robots based on nature, here is the window-washing robot based on a snail.  This Japanese group has designed the robot to clean windows and other hard to reach vertical surfaces.  It works by suction forces holding it to the glass or wall.  Of course, it does have a safety cable and the compressor for the robotic snail is on the roof.  You can read more about this at the links below.  Click on the photo for a better view and check out the other photos at JDF.

snailbot

Photo Credit:  JDF

This bot does windows and walls, and any other flat surface a human cannot reach easily. The Snail by Yasunori Goto, Ibe Tommokichi and Hirata Ichiro, climbs and sticks to surfaces with the help of air compression suction. 

Snail Window Cleaning Bot | Robot Snob

Refer to the following for more information:

JDF International Design Contest

Snail Window Cleaning Bot | Robot Snob
Sheila Franklin
Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:32:16 GMT

Filed Under: Nature, Robots · Tagged With: ,

Robot Scouts May Assist Humans in the Exploration of the Moon

June 11, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Robots have been the trailblazers in space exploration.  In particular, Ranger, Surveyor, and the Lunar Orbiters paved the way to the lunar landings in the Apollo Program.  Now, tests are planned to see if robot scouts can aid human explorers on future missions to the Moon.  What these current and future robots will do that sets them apart from the earlier machines is that they will work closely with the humans on the moon’s surface. 

During Apollo surface operations, the astronauts did recon and geological exploration at the same time.  In the return to the Moon around 2020, robots will be tasked to reconnaissance.  This should make the astronauts work more productive.  During the upcoming testing of the K10, researchers hope to show that robots can increase the science return of the human missions.  Check out the article at the link below for more information.

K10 Rover

Credit: NASA Image

K10 Rover during testing on Devon Island at the Haughton Mars Project Research Station in July 2007.  Robotic Recon experiment will investigate how robots can improve the productivity and science return of human missions. Why …

Robotic Reconnaissance May Improve Human Exploration of the Moon – SpaceRef
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:37:00 GMT

Filed Under: Robots, Space · Tagged With: , , , ,

Robots Are Really Cooking Now

June 11, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Robot chef 2

Photo Credit:  The Sun

Industry and the military have been two of the biggest users of robots.  Now
it is time for robots to move into the home in a big way.  Sure, robot vacuums
have been used in many homes for years, but there is a real need to see robots
in more common roles.  Robots need to be able to perform such tasks as cooking
and security.  Now the Japanese have created robots that can cook pancakes,
prepare sushi, and chop vegetables.  Check out the article link below for the
story from Reuters. 
It includes video of the robot cooking Japanese pancakes.

Robots will be moving into American homes to perform many tasks.  Mostly, I
believe, these robots will be used by an aging population.  These machines will
allow older people to remain in their homes and not have to go to nursing
homes.  See the second article for the complete story.

These two stories are related by the common theme of robots moving into the
home.  In the very near future robots will not only do routine jobs around the
house–they will be a valuable companion.

Japan
prepares robots to take over the kitchen

"We all know that robots can be very useful. We want to take that utility out
of the factory so that they can be used elsewhere," said Narito Hosomi,
president of Toyo Riki, manufacturers of the pancake-cooking
robot.

Japan
prepares robots to take over the kitchen

Wed
Jun 10, 2009 6:28am EDT

Robots
are a man's best friend
KIVI-TV, ID
Yet the idea of robots conjures
images of aliens descending from the mothership rather than utilitarian
efficiency. But get ready, because robotics are coming to the American household
full force. Oh, they're already here, of course, in industrial and
…

Robots
are a man's best friend – KIVI-TV

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:49:07 GMT

Filed Under: Robots · Tagged With: , ,

Robot Serpent for the Battlefield

June 9, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Snakebots are back in the news again, but this time as a weapon.  RobotNext has posted articles about robot snakes that have been developed with the purpose of traversing difficult terrain or tight places in order to perform mostly humanitarian or rescue purposes.  This robot will save lives in a different way.  According to the Jerusalem Post, this snakebot is controlled by a soldier with a laptop computer.  In a demonstration of its abilities, it was shown slithering along in caves, tunnels, and buildings as it transmitted video and sound back to the controller.  Check out the article links below for the complete story.


The new IDF robot snake
Photo: Channel 2

Israeli Defense Force Creates Robot Snake To Use On Battlefield
AHN
Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) – The Israeli Defense Force has created a "robot snake" capable of recording video and sound on the battlefield. The technologically advanced snake, which is about two meters long and covered in army camouflage, …
'Robot Snake' Offers A New Wave In Military Spy Technology ChattahBox
IDF developing battlefield robot snake Jerusalem Post
Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 09, @03:32PM Slashdot
New Zealand Herald
all 15 news articles

Israeli Defense Force Creates Robot Snake To Use On Battlefield – AHN
Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:34:43 GMT

Filed Under: Military, Robots · Tagged With: ,

PR2: Plugging Along for Robots That Can Relate

June 8, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

PR2_ConceptC400x252



Photo Credit:  Willow Garage

Imagine a robot that can navigate through closed doors, around objects, and find electrical outlets to recharge its batteries.  An experimental robot developed at Willow Garage has done just that.  This machine negotiated its way through the course in under an hour according to researchers.

John Markoff, in the online version of the New York Times, reported the following:

Willow Garage, a Silicon Valley robotics research group, said that its experimental PR2 robot, which has wheels and can travel at speeds up to a mile and a quarter per hour, was able to open and pass through 10 doors and plug itself into 10 standard wall sockets in less than an hour.

In the article titled Opening Doors on the Way to a Personal Robot, Mr. Markoff details the progress of the research robot.  For more information and video of the robot, check out the website link below.

The PR2 development platform is a two-armed mobile robot designed for mobile manipulation research and applications. Its size and proportions are similar to that of a human, optimizing its ability to perform tasks in everyday …
haha.nu – http://haha.nu/

Personal Robot 2 | haha.nu – the lifestyle blogzine
hahanu
Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:12:09 GMT

Filed Under: Robots · Tagged With: ,

Robot Rats Could Be Next

June 7, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Rats are the next model for robots.  Imagine a very large mechanical rodent scurrying around the room and you get the idea.  Not for the faint of heart if you hate rats.  Probably won't be the design for the next generation of robotic vacuum cleaners, but the behavior may be just what is needed to bring some intelligence to robots.  The intelligence of a rat. 

Researchers have gone to nature yet again to find inspiration for robot development.  On robotNext there have been posts on snake bots, insect bots, beaver-tailed bots, and dinosaur bots.   Robots have been modeled on spiders, water striders, and even humans.  Why not rats?

Actually, why rats?  Rats have brain structures similar to humans, so rats make sense as a model.  Roboticists in this article from physorg.com believe that robots modeled on rats may be able to accomplish some basic, but useful behaviors, such as navigating around objects or searching for food.  If robots could learn to do this, they would become more than a programmed machine to do repetitive tasks.

Check out the article at the links below.

 ratshapedrob

The future of robots is rat-shaped

Agnes Guillot dreams of one day seeing a giant 50-centimetre (20-inch) -long white rat called Psikharpax scuttling fearlessly around her lab.

… the smarts to figure out dangers and opportunities, a robot is helpless without human intervention. "The autonomy of robots today is similar to that of an insect," snorts Guillot, a researcher at France's Institute for Intelligent Systems and …

The future of robots is rat-shaped
Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:10:50 GMT

Filed Under: Nature, Robots · Tagged With: ,
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