As part of their senior design project at Northeastern University, Glen Chiachhieri and seven other computer and electrical engineering students built this Wi-Fi repeating robot that’s designed to make it easier to deploy a wireless network in dangerous or hazardous places. More »
Playing a game of real life paper toss just got way simpler, all thanks to a new trash that can swiftly move across a room to catch any airborne piece of trash you toss past your shoulder. The Smart Trashbox actually uses Kinect technology that operates on a wheeled base and is configured to an integrated circuit board. And even though this sort of thing was likely designed for lazy people or people with bad aim, we’re pretty sure it could be used purely for entertainment purposes too.
Created by Japanese inventor Modder FRP, the system can measure the flight of air-born garbage so it can make its position to catch it. It’s controlled by a Kinect sensor installed above the room and a code written from scratch that allows it to track anything tossed in the air. Check out the video below to see how the entire thing works.
The high-tech trash bin still needs some improvements to tighten up system accuracy, but for now it’s still pretty fun to watch. If something like this could ever be brought outdoors, polluted parks and streets may never be a problem ever again.
[via Verge]
Kinect-controlled trashcan catches trash tossed in the air is written by Elise Moreau & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
iRobot, the creators of the popular Roomba cleaning robot, have created a medical assistant dubbed RP-VITA (Remote Presence Virtual + Independent Telemedicine Assistant) aimed at being used in hospitals. RP-VITA is the result of a $6 million investment in InTouch, with the robot able to navigate hospitals using a myriad of sensors, such as sonar, a laser range finder, and two cameras. The robot is also able to intelligently create a map of the designated hospital, although it’s primarily navigated using a joystick by a remote doctor.
RP-VITA is designed to be used by a remote caregiver, able to hold video calls for around five hours via an included monitor and webcam. The robot can be controlled remotely using a laptop, desktop, or iPad, and is designed to be used in emergency situations so that doctors can get quick access to a patient. Information about patients can be pulled down over WiFi, and when not used for video calls the RP-VITA can access records via a medical cloud storage system. Just like the Roomba, it will return to a charging base when it needs more power.
The RP-VITA has all the sensors to navigate a hospital without any assistance, but it can’t be used unaided until it’s given the go-ahead by the FDA, which could happen by the end of the year. It isn’t InTouch’s first robot either: the company previously created the RP-7, reportedly at work in around 600 hospitals and serving 70,000 patients each year. RP-VITA, meanwhile, will cost hospitals between $4,000 and $6,000 a month to run.
[via Mashable]
Roomba makers iRobot trialling RP-VITA medical robot is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
A group of students from Boston’s Northeastern University have built a robot that should become every gadget lover’s best bud. Why? Because this unnamed hero is a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. It can even extend its network by dropping wireless repeaters.
We have Glen Chiacchieri and “seven other computer and electrical engineers” to thank for designing and building the robot. Except for its treads, all of the robot’s parts were custom made from aluminum. It’s quite tough; as you’ll see in the video below it can even ferry an adult human. But adult men can’t connect you to Facebook and Twitter, so Chiacchieri and company installed a router on it instead, along with a webcam, a GPS module and two routers converted to repeaters. The robot can be controlled on the very network that it deploys, using a web interface that Chiacchieri coded.
All that’s missing is a USB charger and a six pack of your favorite beverage, and that’s good enough to be called Man’s Best Friend 2.0. I highly recommend that you read Chiacchieri’s blog post to learn more about the project and the robot’s capabilities. He does swear quite a lot in the post, so be warned. Although I would too if I built something this awesome. I wonder if these engineers can build a drone version of the robot.
[Glen Chiachhieri via Geek via Botropolis via Geeky Gadgets]
Thank the heavens for this thing known as acronyms in the English language – iRobot has just announced the Remote Presence Virtual + Independent Telemedicine Assistant, or if you prefer to not get your tongue all notched up in twists, then RP-VITA would do just fine. Basically, the RP-VITA project intends to merge the best of iRobot’s AVA telepresence units with InTouch health’s own bots, resulting in an extremely dummy-proof system that enables physicians to perform care for patients remotely – without having to read through tome after tome of manuals so that they can figure out the complicated technology behind such an idea.
The RP-VITA will come with a modern day mapping and obstacle detection and avoidance technology, where one relies on an iPad user interface to achieve control and to interact with various diagnostic devices, not to mention access electronic medical records along the way. This remote rig will also be able to navigate to specified target destinations autonomously, although it still requires FDA clearance at press time.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Honda Asimo upgraded to new model, Robot helps disarm suspect’s booby-trapped apartment,
Remember how in sci-fi tomorrowland we were promised that doctors would be followed around by robots who knew your medical history by rote and could make sure that nothing gets missed? Well, we’ve woken up in the future because shit just got real. More »
In case you missed the memo, there’s quite a bit more to iRobot than adorable autonomous vacuums — these days the firm works on military projects, consumer electronics and tablet-controlled telepresence robots. Earlier this year, iRobot even retooled itself to build an emerging technologies group, announcing a partnership with InTouch Health to put its AVA telepresence technology to better use. Today the two companies are announcing the fruits of their labor — the Remote Presence Virtual + Independent Telemedicine Assistant, or RP-VITA. The project aims to combine the best of iRobot’s AVA telepresence units with InTouch health’s own bots, creating an easy to use system that allows physicians to care for patients remotely without stumbling over complicated technology.
The RP-VITA features state-of-the-art mapping and obstacle detection and avoidance technology, a simple iPad user interface for control and interaction and the ability to interface with diagnostic devices and access electronic medical records. The remote rig will eventually be able to navigate to specified target destinations autonomously, though this feature is still being reviewed by the FDA for clearance. iRobot and InTouch are optimistic about the unit, but claim that the RP-VITA is only the beginning. “While this represents our first foray into the healthcare market, the RP-VITA represents a robust platform,” said Colin Angle, Chairman and CEO of iRobot, “we see many future opportunities in adjacent markets.” The new telemedicine assistant is slated to make its first appearance at InTouch Health’s 7th Annual Clinic Innovations Forum later this week. Check out the press release after the break for the full details.
Filed under: Robots
iRobot, InTouch Health unveil RP-VITA telepresence robot, let doctors phone in bedside manner originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Japan has its own way of honoring its heroes. Take the case of Beicho Katsura III, a rakugo master and is considered as Japan’s Living National Treasure. Rakugo is actually an early Japanese form of entertainment. Essentially, the storyteller – also known as Rakugoka – sits on a stage while using a paper fan and small piece of cloth as his props. The Rakugoka then narrates a long comical story, often depicting one or more characters by varying voices.
To honor the 86-year-old Beicho Katsura III, Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro together with makeup artist Shinya Endo created the Beicho Android. The robot is powered by air servos and it took roughly two months to complete it. The Beicho Android reportedly costs approximately $1 billion to build. As you can see in the video above, the robot has the capability to mimic the great storyteller, including head movements and a few of his facial expressions. The Beicho Android is scheduled to perform hourly impersonations of Beicho Katsura III at the Sankei Hall Breeze next month.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: iRobot announces Remote Presence Virtual + Independent Telemedicine Assistant (RP-VITA), Honda Asimo upgraded to new model,
When it comes to robo-locomotion, you’ve got your wheels, your treads, your jointed legs. Now, you can add whip-like mechanical tentacles to the list, and they’re way more effective—and freaky—than you might think. More »
Honda is definitely famous for their cars and motorbikes around the world, but there is another aspect of the company that we have come to know and love as well – that is, its ability to delve into the world of robots. Case in point, the Honda Asimo was recently demonstrated in the form of an all new model, where it is said to be able to perform in a semi-autonomous mode. This particular version has also gone to the fat house so to speak, as it will tip the scales at approximately 6kg lighter compared to its predecessor, boasting individually-actuated fingers to boot.
Capable of running around at a top speed of 9 km/h (a mark that surely will not win any gold medals at the Olympics, let alone make it through the first heat), Honda demonstrated some old school stuff that never seemed to get tired – the Asimo hopped around on a single leg, managed to kick a ball around and so forth. The question is, when will the Honda Asimo actually end up as particularly useful to the masses?
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Honda unveils all-new ASIMO humanoid robot, ASIMO visits Johannesburg, South Africa,
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
