The Office of Naval Research today announced that it’s created the future of combat support – a robotic helicopter, linked up to a simple touchscreen tablet that a soldier can use to send the chopper into missions too perilous for human pilots.
No, that’s not a typo. While many automotive manufacturers are embracing robots in the workplace, Toyota is apparently taking the opposite approach: they’re actually reducing the number of robots used in the production line. Even stranger, they’re actually becoming more efficient as a result.
The Flex System – based on a robotic snake previously used to explore an abandoned nuclear power plant – is a robot designed to perform surgery…by slithering down the throat of a patient. Don’t worry, that’s actually significantly less unpleasant than it sounds.
Not all robots need to be creepy, ominous, or terrifying. An industrial automation company in Germany has designed a cheerful, bouncing robotic kangaroo for its Bionic Learning Network project. Look at it, and tell me it’s not at least a little loveable.
Risky surgical operations in space could soon become a routine activity – although they won’t be carried out by human hands. NASA is currently exploring the possibility of sending medical droids up with astronauts. Working with robotics firm Virtual Incision, they’ve already developed a prototype.
A mechanical monstrosity will soon be stalkined the darkest depths of the ocean. Developed by the Korean Institute of Ocean Science And Technology, The Crabster is a massive, six-legged machine designed for exploration of the deepest, most dangerous undersea regions.
NASA’s Curiosity Rover currently has a long trip ahead of it – the drone is on its way to Mount Sharp, where it will investigate the geological history of Mars. It won’t arrive there for a few months, however…so in the meantime, it’s just enjoying the ride, taking samples and snapshots along the way.
A few years from now, traditional athletes won’t be the only ones competing for gold and glory. The Cybathlon – an Olympic competition designed for bionic athletes – is planned for 2016, and will include exoskeletons, prothestic limbs, and even a virtual-reality competition.
Hey there, ladies and gents! Today, I’m going to present you with one of the creepiest inventions I’ve seen in a while. It’s called Socibot Mini. This little robot – which wears the face of one of your friends – is capable of reading your mood through a camera. Lovely, right?
The search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 continues – fruitlessly. That might change in the near future. Crews searching for debris from the flight can now count on help from a fleet of 3600 floating robots released into the world’s oceans.
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