Hasta La Gadget!

“Facetime on wheels” has been used to describe this particular telepresence robot known as Double, and just to get an idea on the kind of potential it has in the market, we are looking at a cool $1 million worth of pre-orders in just three weeks of its announcement. David Cann, the founder and CEO of Double Robotics said, “It’s a Segway for your iPad.” Basically, when you hook up an iPad to your Double, it will function as a roving telepresence device (although not on Mars). Sporting a sturdy aluminum base, urethane and plastic wheels, the Double comes with custom control systems and iOS software so that you can drive it around remotely, carry out video chats with whoever it encounters, and also help you see what the camera on your iPad picks up.

Seems to be the ideal device for one who wants to send in a “body double” for inspection purposes, and if it is capable of all-terrain movement, it would be extremely useful in investigating dangerous areas such as a collapsed mine or being of use to the military in gathering intelligence. Not only that, it helps you attend a meeting when you are unable to be there physically, although I believe that we would be more comfortable with a holographic representation like how the top Umbrella Corporation management meet instead of talking to an iPad.

Each Double unit will have a starting price of at least $1,999, and that excludes the price of the iPad, of course.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Shimi the personal robotic DJ, Fujitsu explores software robot to tackle college entrance exams,

A few months back, robot/toy designer Jaimie Mantzel showed off an early prototype of a six-legged robot toy that looked pretty damned awesome. He announced at the time that he was working on it so a production version could eventually be made, and now we can see the final build in action!

The first of the six-legged robots in the new Combat Creatures line-up is dubbed Attacknid (despite not having eight legs like a spider, but I don’t care.) The final version of the robot measures 10 inches-tall, and can fire foam projectiles up to 30 feet from its 360° rotating head. You can choose from three different weapons, including foam “Dissector Discs” (included), or upgrade with “Snyper Darts” or “Destroyer Spheres.” Despite not seeing pics of them yet, those all sound awesome to me.

Check out Jaimie showing some of the first Attacknids off the assembly line in the video clip below…

Of course, the entire thing can be controlled remotely, and the 2.4GHz wireless communication supports up to FORTY robots in simultaneous battle! Oh, and if you hit your opponents armor directly it “explodes” off of its legs – and three direct hits shuts down the other ‘bot cold. And from the looks of the video clip, you can swap out colored skins on your ‘bot too.

Oh, and its designer is encouraging hacks and mods, as is proven by this freakishly awesome, illuminated Attacknid somebody already put together:

The Attacknid Combat Creature is available for pre-order now for £69.99 (~$112 USD) for delivery in the U.S. and the UK, though only the UK will get their orders in 2012. That price includes the Attacknid robot in black, a red skin set, the remote control, Disector weapon, 20 foam Dissector discs, and various other bits and bobs. No word yet on how much the add-on weapons and skins will sell for.

A typical robot does not know that you must never shake a baby. And a typical robot just doesn’t have a tender touch. But now scientists at Harvard have developed a robotic tentacle so gentle that it can wrap around flower without breaking it. More »

Students will definitely perk up and sit straight upon hearing that Fujitsu will be working on a project that will create artificial intelligence that hopefully, will be able to ace college entrance exams. At least, we are looking at the math segment at one of Japan’s top universities. Eventually, the final goal of Fujitsu’s research division is to create software by the year 2021 which is capable of completing the exact same math test which teenagers sit for when applying to enter Tokyo University, one of the country’s higher institutions of learning that is “famous” for its grueling entrance requirements.

The project will first need to process text and formulas which are meant for our eyes instead of computers, take those math problems and convert them into a way that computers can understand. I think that once that is accomplished, the hard part is over, since computers are amazingly great at math with the amount of computing power at their disposal.

Fujitsu mentioned, “Each of these steps still poses major theoretical and practical problems, and for each one, the solution will involve an appropriate combination of various technologies.” Well, what other kinds of practical applications can you think of for Fujitsu to churn out such a computer?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Fujitsu Teddy Bear Robot needs some exercise, Fujitsu teddybear robot,

Let’s face it, we’re doomed as a species, because one day, Boston Dynamics is gonna unleash its army of DARPA-funded droids and wipe us all out. The company’s sprinting robot, Cheetah, has now broken the land-speed record for humans, clocking speeds of 29.3 miles per hour, meaning not even the 27.79mph Usain Bolt can escape. Fortunately for us, it’s got a fatal flaw; a balance problem that means it can only remain upright with a boom keeping it steady. Unfortunately, that’s not going to be a problem for long, since field-testing on an independently upright version begins early next year. We’d wish you sweet dreams, but, you know, we’re too busy building an underground shelter.

Continue reading Boston Dynamics’ Cheetah robot will hunt you down faster than any person (video)

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Boston Dynamics’ Cheetah robot will hunt you down faster than any person (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 12:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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