Archives for August 16, 2009

Weekly Newswrap

This week’s wrap brings five stories.  Three of the stories are about robots and the military.  One of these robots can literally hover outside a window and peer inside.  Another can actually navigate inside your home.  What does this mean for privacy?  For the military, these robots can help in many situations of urban warfare, but for the private citizen it could be a big loss of rights.  Then, there is the story of the robot that can rescue a person by basically swallowing them into the bowels of the machine.  Finally, there is a story of a robotics store in Chicago that is aiming to have workshops to allow anyone in the area to learn about and build robots.  Check out these stories from this week. 

Robo-copter can navigate inside your home – CNET News 

This quadrocopter can find its way around interiors. (Credit: Ascending Technologies) Just when you were getting used to the idea of unmanned aerial vehicles patrolling the skies over your city, they're beginning to enter buildings. This flying robot …

Robo-copter can navigate inside your home – CNET News
Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:15:00 GMT

Nano Air Vehicle takes flight

The Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) is a small bird-sized aircraft that uses flapping wings to fly and hover. It was developed by UAV-pioneers Aeronvironment with funding from (you guessed it) the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA). Aeronvionment is now working to improve the robot so it can fly in outside winds. From New Scientist:

Aeronvironment's flapper appears to achieve propulsion, stabilisation and control all at once using its paired wings. Details of the technology are confidential, however, under the US ITAR arms control export restrictions…
DARPA has said it wants a 10-gram aircraft with a 7.5-centimetre wingspanMovie Camera that can explore caves and other hiding places, relaying GPS data and images to base. It will need to fly at 10 metres per second and withstand 2.5-metre-per-second gusts of wind.
That goal is a long way off, but DARPA programme manager Todd Hylton says Aeronvironment is on the right track. "Progress to date puts us on the path to such a vehicle," he says.

"Hover no bother for flapping 'nano' aircraft"

Previously:

Nano Air Vehicle takes flight
David Pescovitz
Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:59:34 GMT

Japanese rescue robots save people by swallowing them

On one hand, you can be saved from certain death in a disaster situation, on the other, a robot must swallow you in order to get you to safety.
See all stories on this topic

Japanese rescue robots save people by swallowing them
Slippery Brick
Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:29:53 GMT

US military embraces robot 'revolution' – Space Daily

Robots in the sky and on the ground are transforming warfare, and the US military is rushing to recruit the new warriors that never sleep and never bleed. The latest robotics were on display at an industry show this week at a naval airfield in …

US military embraces robot 'revolution' – Space Daily
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:54:00 GMT

RobotCity Workshop Allows Everyone To Build Robot In Chicago Area – PR Inside

With RobotCity Workshop at www.robotcityworkshop.com they are a unique shop located in the Lakeview neighborhood just north of Belmont on Sheffield. They sell all kinds of robot kits, toys, parts, books, magazines, and novelties. They also offer …

RobotCity Workshop Allows Everyone To Build Robot In Chicago Area – PR Inside
Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:11:00 GMT

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