Botropolis

Popeye Audio Visual Robot

Conner Flynn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:30:49 +0000

A team from Perception On Purpose (POP) has come up with a technology that could speed up robotic understanding and responses to human behavior, and even conversations. One of the challenges that they encountered was attempting to integrate the different sensory models of sound and vision, but once they overcame that, the 2 senses helped overcome the limitations of both.

Vision allows the observer to infer certain properties, like size, shape, density and texture. Sound is used to locate the direction of the source, and identify what type of sound it is. On its own, a sound source is difficult to pinpoint because it needs to be located in a 3D space, and there is also the problem of background noise. By combining visual and auditory data the researchers found it easier for a robot to decide what is foreground and what is background.

[Gizmag]

Toyota’s Delivery Robot

Conner Flynn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:23:40 +0000

Toyota has developed a Delivery Robot to help people with limited mobility. It’s designed to retrieve items for people, hence the name. It will also open doors, take out the trash, get food etc. The prototype uses a laser range finder to determine its position and navigate through your house in real time.

The bot also recognizes speech for commands and has stereo cameras in its head to locate objects, which it then picks up and where the object is needed. Video below.

[Plasticpals]

DIY Giger Robot

Conner Flynn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:07:27 +0000

This “Giger” do-it-yourself robot may not be very be Giger-like, but it’s expensive, costing upwards of $10,000 and took more than 100 hours to build. The biggest expense apparently came from the builder’s decision to use professional-grade servos instead of the usual DIY jobs, which are pricey.

After some fine-tuning, the bot showed off for the camera, and walks across the desk without toppling over, which is always nice. Notice the Cylon eye. Nice touch.

[Engadget]

Samsung’s Tango Robot Vacuum

Conner Flynn — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:43 +0000

The Tango is the latest Vac bot from Samsung. Tango is said to use a 30fps camera to figure out where he’s going, a gyro for direction, and crash sensors that can detect furniture from up to 2cm away.

Prices will range from ₩500,000 to ₩700,000. That’s between $425 and $600.

[Engadget]

Toshiba Robot Plays Volleyball

Conner Flynn — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:49:38 +0000

This one is from way back in 1997. With the help of some onboard, fast-moving cameras, “Mr. Tomorrow” will beat the snot out of you in a game of volleyball. This bot was created by the minds at Toshiba.

[Neatorama]

Papercraft Robots Made From Product Packaging

Conner Flynn — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:44:54 +0000

Takahashi Masakazu has taken papercraft to a new level and created these amazing art piece robots out of regular commercial products available in stores. Check out what can only be called Marlboro-D2 above. Then hit the link for more of his amazing work.

[Takahashi Masakazu] VIA [CG]

Wall-E Inspired Butler Robot

Conner Flynn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:50:48 +0000

A Pixar-inspired Butler Robot looks about how you would expect it to look. It has Wall-E’s eyes and the snootiness of Jeeves, your elder manservant.

This robotic butler made an appearance at Shanghai’s New International Expo Center where they are hosting the 2009 China International Industry Fair. Sadly there are no details about the bot. It just looks like Wall-E as an aged old man.

[Plasticpals]

More Robotic Fish To Invade The Seas

Conner Flynn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:40:01 +0000

More robotic fish. Will there even be room for real fish in the oceans of tomorrow? Perhaps all of these robot fish will join together and create a huge fish-beast to eat sailors and wage war on man from the oceans. Just what we need.

Michigan State University assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering Xiaobo Tan wants to create an army of robo-fish. He has developed a prototype of a droid fish intended to be used to collect data. The fish will be effective in monitoring conditions over long periods of time and be able to swim like the real thing, giving scientists a clearer view of ecosystem changes.

[Engadget]

Robovie Navigates An Obstacle Course To Rescue A Doll

Conner Flynn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:34 +0000

We know, we know. Videos like this make you take money out of your already thin bank account and buy robots. Well, prepare to spend some more. Because what could be better than Robovie who navigates an obstacle course in order to rescue a wooden doll?

Not much. It’s Mario and the Princess all over again.

[Plasticpals]

Terminator Salvation Skull Box

Conner Flynn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:20:47 +0000

For hardcore Terminator fans, the Terminator 2 Collectors Set probably wasn’t awesome enough for you so now we have the Terminator Salvation Skull Box, which features an amazing looking Terminator endoskeleton case which houses the Blu-ray discs.

Sadly, this item is a UK exclusive. It will cost you £54.99 ($89.74).

[Chip Chick]