I Want Robot Taxis

May 14, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

This may be the future of public transit.  You can imagine jumping in one at any point in the city and then traveling to the location of your choice.  Sort of gives you the feel of a private car, even if it is public transportation.  Go to the article link below to see a series of photos of the concept vehicle.

This morning the L line was halted in NYC—my roommate and hundreds of desperate Williamsburg hipsters couldn't get into Manhattan. And while the subway is still great*, I wish we had Robot Taxis.

These are just a concept by Czech firm Kubik Design. Their Robot Taxis are a (pretty) variation of something that has been in science-fiction novels and the trippy brains of those who have suffered and enjoyed the pain and advantages of public transportation forever.

From Gizmoto and [Kubik Design via Ecodrive]

I Want Robot Taxis [Transportation]
Jesus Diaz
Wed, 13 May 2009 19:40:00 GMT

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Robots Can Have Many Applications Besides Military

May 13, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Satellite Center at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel will be established by a $5 million donation.  Arnold Goldstein, a New York businessman and philanthropist, is providing the funding.  Although robotics can have a military application, he sees the medical and humanitarian purposes also.

Robots To Help Humans
The Jewish Week,  USA
Goldstein said the center would be working with robots that could be used for warfare as well as for medical and humanitarian purposes. “They have a snake-like robot that can go into rubble looking for earthquake victims,” he said. …

Robots To Help Humans – The Jewish Week
Wed, 13 May 2009 05:12:04 GMT

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Robot takes over Tokyo classroom

May 12, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Saya, is the name of a life-like female robot that began her career as a robot receptionist.  Then “she” was re-programmed to teach.  Saya gave a lesson to fifth-graders at Tokyo's Kudan Elementary School.  The purpose of the demonstration teaching is more to showcase the technology for students than to attempt to replace human educators.  The students carbon-based teacher had her own opinion about the robotic teacher.

"On the one hand I am impressed that they've got robots to go this far, but on the other hand they still have a long way to research before they create a truly robotic teacher," …

Robot takes over Tokyo classroom
Tue, 12 May 2009 18:34:28 GMT

Human teachers should not fear for their jobs just yet.  This robot had to be carried to the front of the classroom for her presentation of the lesson.

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Robotic Da Vinci Tickles Walls

May 11, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

This is one of the most elegant robot designs I have ever seen, even if it is a spider!  The following post from robots.net details the story about this very interesting robot.

The year is 2058 and you’re bored of your home's drab walls. The emotion is sensed by a strange spider-like robot hiding in the corner. He comes to life and dances across your wall. As you watch, a beautiful rendition of the Mona Lisa begins to appear. He returns as quick as he appeared and you're left with a new view and attitude. This robotic Da Vinci is named xirrou, and brought to you by concept designer Christian Gumpold.

There is a great series of photos at Yanko Design and NachoFoto Gallery.

Robotic Da Vinci Tickles Walls
Mon, 11 May 2009 14:01:20 GMT

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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

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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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HEXmas Tree

December 23, 2008 by · Leave a Comment

This has got to be the perfect Christmas tree for the robotics enthusiast.  Take a look at the link below to see the photograph of this holiday "treebot".  Happy Holidays from all of us at RobotNext. 

"The HEXmas tree, as it's been dubbed, is decked out in our favorite little robotic creature and stocked with some awesome VEX Robotics presents."

A HEXBUG Christmas Tree
Wired News – 1 hour ago
By Anton Olsen December 20, 2008 | 11:00:00 AMCategories: Robots In the spirit of the robot holidays, the HEXBUG folks have put together an awesome …

A HEXBUG Christmas Tree – Wired News
Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:19:52 GMT

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Get A Kitchen Robot To Load The Dishwasher

December 23, 2008 by · Leave a Comment

First there were robots to vacuum your floors, then robots to wash your floors, and now there is a robot to help out with the dishes.  This is interesting since what this robot does is to load the dishwasher, and what is a dishwasher other than a robot.  A robot to operate another robot.  See the article at the links below. 


Oneindia

Get A Kitchen Robot To Load The Dishwasher
Oneindia, India – 16 hours ago
You no longer need to perform the less desirable chores in the kitchen because now a robot is going to give you a helping robotic hand. …
Now Let Robots Wash Your Dishes Techtree.com
all 9 news articles

Get A Kitchen Robot To Load The Dishwasher – Oneindia
Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:39:13 GMT

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