Farming Robots From Europe

August 12, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Today, I saw this entry from machineslikeus.com that has a story of how imaging systems could be used to aid in harvesting crops.  Several days ago, in fact on the RobotNext Weekly Newswrap, I linked to a story of swarm robots that are being tested in the Netherlands for farm use.  Now, this is a good example of two robotic systems that could benefit by working together.  It would be a great idea to combine the imaging system from the UK with the robots from the Netherlands.  Although the Netherlands robots are being promoted as a way to apply precision amounts of pesticides and fertilizers, why could they not also be used for harvesting purposes.  Not only that, but the imaging systems could help in cultivation of crops by the farmbots.  See the video of the farming robots to get an idea of how these machines could work on agricultural lands.

Intelligent harvesting robot to save farms money. Tue, 08/11/2009 – 13:57 – NLN. Researchers at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Teddington have developed imaging technology to be used in an intelligent harvesting machine that …
Machines Like Us – Science at… – http://machineslikeus.com/

Intelligent harvesting robot to save farms money | Machines Like Us
NLN
Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:05:25 GMT

But a swarm of small robots could quite possibly replace these agricultural giants in farming of the future. Wageningen University Agricultural Professor …
See all stories on this topic

Farming Robots Have a Field Day in Netherlands
NTDTV
Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:44:17 GMT

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Weekly Newswrap

August 10, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

At the end of another week, I found several stories deserving of a mention in this Newswrap.  There is no unifying theme to the listing for the last few days, but, of course, it was impossible to go a week without at least one snakebot article.  And, it is creepy and incredible all in one.  This robotic snake is being developed for heart surgery by researchers at the University of Pittsburg.  You can check out the video at You Tube of the snakebot being readied for heart surgery on a pig.  The rest of the articles deal with the usual array of subjects for robotics these days.  There is the one from today on RFID robots that brings up the Terminators analogy (again), and the latest robotic invention from Japan—a robot sunflower.  Make sure and check out the farming robots from the Netherlands for a great non-military application of robots.  Of course, there is the warning about killer bots within 40 years in the post from findingDulcinea.com

Rise of the RFID Robots

Sure, Hollywood's Terminators are more powerful (albeit malicious), but the Georgia robots are real. And what makes them so interesting—even fascinating—is …
See all stories on this topic

Rise of the RFID Robots
RFID Journal
Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:03:12 GMT

Farming Robots Have a Field Day in Netherlands

But a swarm of small robots could quite possibly replace these agricultural giants in farming of the future. Wageningen University Agricultural Professor …
See all stories on this topic

Farming Robots Have a Field Day in Netherlands
NTDTV
Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:44:17 GMT

Cardiorobotics, Developer of Snake Robot Technology, Aims to Alter …

The future of heart surgery is in something called a snake robot, at least according to the people at Newport, RI-based Cardiorobotics. We decided to check it.
Xconomy – http://www.xconomy.com/

Cardiorobotics, Developer of Snake Robot Technology, Aims to Alter …
Eric Hal Schwartz
Thu, 06 Aug 2009 06:04:29 GMT

Sunflower robot doesn’t need sun

In this article by Tim Hornyak, he explores how it is that Japan loves its baroque, impractical machines, with Honda's zillion-dollar humanoid robot ASIMO being the acme example. …
See all stories on this topic

Sunflower robot doesn't need sun
CNET News
Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:03:21 GMT

US Predicts Killer Robots 40 Years Away, Raises Ethics Debate

Science fiction legend Isaac Asimov predicted a world in which many robot-like machines would be an integral part of human life. …
See all stories on this topic

US Predicts Killer Robots 40 Years Away, Raises Ethics Debate
findingDulcinea
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:04:59 GMT

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Robots Cook Ramen, Stage Knife Fight

August 7, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

In light of yesterday’s post, this is a good follow-on to the robot playing the knife game.  Here, the robots have a simulated knife fight after they make ramen.  You have to see the video at the CNET link below.

Robots cook ramen, fight with knives, threaten mankind (video)
CNET News
Nagoya, Japan's ramen robot army isn't satisfied just making delicious noodles. Some have recently acquired knife fighting skills (I am …
Robot Chefs Run Restaurant in JapanFOXNews
Ramen-making robots cut cooks out of the food equationDVICE
Japanese Ramen Robots Create Bowls of Slurpy NoodlesWired Blogs
CrunchGear –Geek.com
all 8 news articles »

Robots cook ramen, fight with knives, threaten mankind (video) – CNET News
Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:33:41 GMT

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National Instruments Demonstrates Robots at NI Week

August 6, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Yesterday, I visited the expo for NI Week.  National Instruments showed several applications of its products in various robots.  The one I found most interesting was the Delta Robot powered by NI Softmotion.  This robot plays the knife game or five finger fillet as it is sometimes called.  Only it plays without a knife on a glove inside a clear lexan box.  (Don’t try this at home!)  And you can watch a You Tube video of someone doing this for real.  But again, if you value your fingers, do not try this at home or anywhere else for that matter!  The robot version I saw is much safer since the “hand” is a glove only.  In the video link below, you can see the Delta Robot in action.  I did have the chance to watch this in person, but I did not have a video camera with me.  Luckily, someone has posted the video on You Tube.  You can watch it here.  Now, what is creepy, in a real-life follows fiction kind of way, is how this reminded me of the scene from James Cameron's Aliens.  In the movie, the android plays the knife game with only a tiny little cut as a result.  So, here we are with the real version of this-sans android. The purpose of the robot, of course, is deeper than playing a game.  It is a demonstration of the state of motion control in robotic systems and has many real-world applications in industry.

There many other great robots at this expo.  I hope to write about some of the other robots in a future posting.  Meanwhile, make sure and look at the video on You Tube.  And check out the link to the article below, it is a general overview of NI's purpose for this year's conference.

Credit:  AEGMexico

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 6, 2009, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — NIWeek — Executives from National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) discussed how NI products are helping address global challenges during the 15th annual NIWeek graphical system design …

National Instruments Focuses on Addressing Global Challenges With … – TMCnet
Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:02:00 GMT

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Humanoid Jaemi HUBO Robot Works Out on the Treadmill

August 4, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

This story of yet another walking robot appears in several posts on the web.  One is at slipperybrick.com, another is posted on botropolis.com, and a third version is found on plasticpals.com.  Drexel University now has a walking robot that does his thing on a treadmill.   Daniel M. Lofaro of the Drexel Autonomous Systems Lab has just posted a video on You Tube which shows the robot walking on a treadmill.   Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) built the original version of this robot the HUBO.  HUBO is short form for "humanoid robot."  Jaemi HUBO is the American incarnation of KAIST’s HUBO 2, which has been built by Drexel University thanks to a $5 million dollar, 5 year research initiative funded by the National Science Foundation.  In light of the stories of Toyota’s running robot, this bot may have some catching up to do.  However, there is no doubt about which robot would win in the gym.

Jaemi-Drex-small 

Humanoid Jaemi HUBO robot hits the gym
Slippery Brick
In between planning our demise and testing cycles and such, robots like to hit the gym just like you. And while this guy may not be fast, he's working on it …

Humanoid Jaemi HUBO robot hits the gym – Slippery Brick
Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:51:23 GMT

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High-Tech Robot To Aid Nature Conservancy

August 3, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

KPBS has this story about an advanced remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) that will be used by the Nature Conservancy to explore the ocean near the California coast.  The purpose of using this undersea robot is to reach areas of the marine environment that is not accessible to human divers because of the depth.  Mainly, this is an area of canyons and reefs in the Channel Islands Marine Protected Areas.  The 500 pound machine essentially flies over the ocean floor taking high resolution video and photographs of deep marine life.  One other thing, the Nature Conservancy is having an online naming contest for the robot.  The contest ends on August 31,2009.  If you submit a name, post it here in a comment.  Let us know what you submitted as a choice for this robot’s name.  RobotNext has no part in the contest except as an interested party in seeing if any readers participate in naming this bot.

High-Tech ROV

Photo by Nancy Crowley / The Nature Conservancy

High-Tech Robot Explores Waters Off California
KPBS
An environmental group is using an underwater robot for ocean research off the California coast. The high-tech tool will explore areas beyond …

High-Tech Robot Explores Waters Off California – KPBS
Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:12:30 GMT

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Robotic Insect “Flies” Off Vibrations

July 30, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Flying robot insects are the subject of some intense research into exactly how they are able to accomplish their aerial feats.  A researcher at Arizona State University, Michele Milano, is investigating how a robofly flies.  Check out this video of his “flying brick”.  (You need Microsoft Media Player to see this.)  Also, look at this robot fly from the Harvard Microrobotics Lab to see what started this line of research.

The goal of developing a flying robo-insect is to build the ultimate surveillance tool.  A tiny robot that looks and flies like a real insect could enter a building and take a look around without raising an alarm.  How does the robofly take to the air?  Now, this new research seems to cast doubt on whether its the robots wings or the vibrations in the strings that guide it.  Or maybe its both.  So, the point of this story is that, even now, after over 100 years of powered flight, it is not always clear what the mechanics of flying involve or even why something can fly.

CREATING a free-flying robotic insect is the dearest wish of many an engineer because such a machine would have great potential in surveillance and in seeking out trapped people in search-and-rescue situations. But a curious effect might upset their plans.

Due to vibrations similar to those generated in a plucked guitar string, a robotic insect can defy gravity and "fly" up wire tethers.

Robotic insect 'flight' may be just good vibrations
Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:00:00 GMT

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

Flying surveillance robots from Aeryon

July 29, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Security forces and local police may soon have a new tool to use in their work.  This two pound robot is packaged as a kit that fits in a suitcase-sized container.  It can be assembled and operating in a short time.  Using a simple interface that works with a Google maps application, the operator merely points at the target on the map and the flying robot is directed to that location.  It has the ability to stay aloft for 20 minutes and can fly at an altitude of 500 feet.  The robot is equipped with a camera to take stills or stream video back to the controller.  With a $50,000 price tag, it won’t be sold to individuals.  Right now, the only place the robot can fly is Canada.  It may take another six months or so for the FAA to approve its use in the USA.


Credit: CNET News

Flying surveillance robots from Aeryon coming in 6 months, give or …
CNET News
At the Always On Stanford Summit, Aeryon Labs president Dave Kroetsch gave a compelling pitch on his company, which makes a two-pound robot helicopter that …

flyer_and_gcs_small_270x236

The Aeryon Scout and its tablet-based control computer.

(Credit: Aeryon)

Flying surveillance robots from Aeryon coming in 6 months, give or … – CNET News
Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:04:20 GMT

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Firefighting Robot Team

July 29, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Here is the mechanical fantastic four of fire fighting showcased in a story by BBC.  They even have names that would be fitting of any superhero.  You have Talon, Bison, Black Max, and Brokk.  Each robot is a specialist, but they work as a team to handle special fire situations involving gas cylinders.  Talon is a small, maneuverable tracked robot like the bomb disposal machines in Iraq. It can climb stairs, and is outfitted with video and thermal imaging cameras.  Next is Bison, a slightly bigger and more dexterous robot that uses grippers and cutting tools to access vehicles or storage areas.  Then, there is Black Max to take care of the traditional fire-fighting task. It is four-wheeled, remote-controlled vehicle that sits low to the ground and carries a fire hose.  Brokk is the final team member.  It is a modified piece of industrial digging equipment that is remotely controlled and fitted with a giant claw to remove dangerous objects.  Read the story of these mechanical fire fighters at the links below.


Credit:  Channel 4 News

Robotic firefighting team debuts
BBC News
The robots range from a nimble, stair-climbing reconnaissance unit to a diesel-powered robot with a large claw. The two-year project is funded by Network …
Firefighting robot team unveiledUberGizmo
Robots join the London Fire BrigadeNewsLite
Rise of the Machines?Channel 4 News
all 10 news articles »

Robotic firefighting team debuts – BBC News
Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:02:00 GMT

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Iowa State Robot is Master of Ceremonies

July 27, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

This ribbon-cutting robot from Iowa State was the master of ceremonies at the opening of its own new home.  Showing off a large pair of scissors, the robot cut the ribbon without hesitation or problem to officially christen the new Electrical and Computer Engineering building.  Built to research procedural learning in the Developmental Robotics Lab of Alexander Stoytchev, the bot “has two Barrett Whole Arm Manipulators for appendages, and a custom-designed head with stereo vision capable of simple emotional expression.  Its three-fingered hands are flexible enough to perform a variety of grasping motions, using fingers 1 and 3 as opposable thumbs when necessary” as is demonstrated in the ribbon cutting.

Plastic Pals’ website sums it up this way:  “The philosophy behind the research is to teach the robot the properties of its surroundings similar to the way a child or animal learns during early development, through direct experience.  The robot has already learned to identify objects from the sounds they make when being touched, pushed, held, and shaken.”

So, this robot is so much more than a mere MC for ribbon cuttings—it has been developed to do serious research into robot intelligence.  In many ways, this robot has more potential for interaction with humans.  Just take a look at the animation of the expressions it will be able to make.

Expressive Robot

Image Credit:  Developmental Robotics Laboratory at Iowa State University

Jul 27, 2009 … Robots can travel in time, ride (stationary) motorcycles, and teach your children to disrespect you — but rarely do they have any sense of …

Iowa State robot available for ribbon cuttings, birthday parties …
(author unknown)
Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:49:54 GMT

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