May 16

Paralyzed student uses robotic exoskeleton to walk at college graduation (video)

Posted in: money, robotics, Today's Chili, video

Austin Whitney hasn’t been able to walk since a 2007 car crash left him paralyzed, but on Saturday the 22-year-old triumphantly strode across the stage to accept his degree from UC Berkeley. He had a little help, in the form of a specially crafted robotic exoskeleton developed by Berkeley engineering professor Homayoon Kazerooni. Kazerooni and his team designed the exoskeleton with lightness and affordability in mind, resisting the urge to load it up with expensive hardware and tethering the mechanized walker to a backpack that houses a computer and a rechargeable, eight-hour battery. As a result, the Austin walker won’t enable the kind of acrobatic leaps that would make Lt. Rasczak proud, but its reduced mobility comes at a reduced cost of just $15,000. That’s certainly not an impulse buy, though it’s a welcomed alternative to other exoskeletons that retail for $100,000 or more. Walk past the break for a video of Whitney’s momentous steps, along with a clip of Kazerooni describing his creation.

Continue reading Paralyzed student uses robotic exoskeleton to walk at college graduation (video)

Paralyzed student uses robotic exoskeleton to walk at college graduation (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 08:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink San Francisco Chronicle  |  sourceUC Berkeley  | Email this | Comments

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May 14

Robot orchestra marries music and machines (video)

Posted in: Music, performance, robot, robotics, Robots, Today's Chili, video

It may not be the first go-round for the Karmetik Machine Orchestra, but the automated musicians, fashioned by a group of students at the California Institute of the Arts, took the stage last night to prove that robots can rock. Among the mechanized musicians scheduled to perform at the Walt Disney Modular Theater were MahaDevibot, Glockenbot, BreakBot, and NotomotoN, described as a “duel-head drum with twelve beaters and a mallet orchestra.” Each of the robots was built from salvaged parts and programmed by CalArts students, who control the machines from laptops during performances. A description of the show posted to the CalArts website touts music-producing robots suspended from the ceiling that trigger sound activated light shows and animation — now that sounds like a way to spend a Thursday night. Check out a video of the players and their masters after the break.

Continue reading Robot orchestra marries music and machines (video)

Robot orchestra marries music and machines (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 May 2011 08:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Huffington Post  |  sourceCalifornia Institute of the Arts  | Email this | Comments

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May 13

Robotic wheelchair uses 3D imaging to ‘see’ for visually impaired drivers

Posted in: camera, laser, navigation, robotics, Today's Chili
You may not be able to control it with your mind, but this robotic wheelchair from Sweden’s Luleå University of Technology can still offer something that only a few others can — “sight.” The chair uses a laser sensor to generate a 3D map of its surroundings, which is then transferred to an on-board haptic robot, allowing the bot to pick up on and navigate its way around any obstacles. A visually impaired student already took the contraption out for a spin and said he felt “safe” while traveling through crowded corridors, comparing the experience to “using a white cane.” Luleå’s engineers, however, still have some fine tuning to do. The laser, for instance, can only recognize objects at a specific height, while ignoring everything above or below its field of vision. Researchers are also busy developing a new 3D camera for the chair and are hoping to have it ready for commercial use within the next five years. There’s a full PR waiting for you after the break.

Continue reading Robotic wheelchair uses 3D imaging to ‘see’ for visually impaired drivers

Robotic wheelchair uses 3D imaging to ‘see’ for visually impaired drivers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 May 2011 13:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TG Daily  |  sourceLuleå University of Technology  | Email this | Comments

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May 12

Google and iRobot team up to put Android apps on Ava telepresence bot

Posted in: Android, app, apps, Google, robot, robotics, Robots, tablet, tablets, Today's Chili, video
iRobot Ave at Google I/O

Remember that Ava telepresence bot that we were gaga over at CES? Well Google has decided to lend iRobot a hand in getting the tablet-topped automaton rolling with some Android apps. The two companies have teamed up to create Ava specific programs that can be run from an Android slate perched on the extending neck of this silicon-brained companion. Apparently any ‘ol tablet will do, so you’ll still be able to play Angry Birds, but where’s the fun in that? The exciting stuff will be apps that can communicate with the robot and pass it directions, meaning we need to figure out what our new, mechanical best friends should do for us. We’ve already got plenty of options for killing and beer serving — how about one that folds our laundry? Oh, wait. Well, we’ll think of something. While we ponder you check out Ava’s cameo at Google I/O and the PR after the break.

Continue reading Google and iRobot team up to put Android apps on Ava telepresence bot

Google and iRobot team up to put Android apps on Ava telepresence bot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 May 2011 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 11

Cornell’s Ranger robot walks 40.5 miles on a single charge, doesn’t even break a sweat (video)

Posted in: research, robot, robotics, Today's Chili, video

A few years ago, engineers at Cornell were rejoicing when their Ranger robot set an unofficial world record by walking for 5.6 miles without stopping. Since then, the 22-pound bot has only built up its endurance, to the point where it can now chug along for a full 40.5 miles without a single battery recharge, or an ounce of human assistance. The Ranger pulled off the feat last week, when it completed nearly 308 laps around the university’s Barton Hall running track, over the course of more than 30 hours. Engineers say that their bot’s stamina has a lot to do with its energy efficiency. The Ranger runs on about 16 watts and uses them more sparingly than most of its mechanized brethren. It also saves juice by swinging its legs more liberally than most bipedal walkers, essentially allowing its limbs to fall freely before re-stabilizing itself. The robot’s next challenge, apparently, will be to incorporate automatic steering into its gait, since walking in circles can get understandably dull, after a while. Gallop past the break for the full PR and a video of the Ranger’s latest achievement.

Continue reading Cornell’s Ranger robot walks 40.5 miles on a single charge, doesn’t even break a sweat (video)

Cornell’s Ranger robot walks 40.5 miles on a single charge, doesn’t even break a sweat (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink PhysOrg  |  sourceCornell  | Email this | Comments

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May 11

Industrial robots do Star Wars better than Lucas

Posted in: robot, robotics, Robots, Star Wars, Today's Chili, video
Yasakawa robots perform lightsaber duel

At the International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Shanghai, industrial robot company Yasakawa equipped a couple of its manufacturing machines with lightsabers and choreographed a violent ballet for them to perform. The resulting battle is more exhilarating than the duel at the end of Phantom Menace and the performances are less lifeless than those in Attack of the Clones. Best of all — Lucas can’t add 30 minutes of new CGI scenes and re-release the video below in 3D.

Continue reading Industrial robots do Star Wars better than Lucas

Industrial robots do Star Wars better than Lucas originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 16:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourceIEEE Spectrum  | Email this | Comments

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May 10

Pneuborn Robots Are Creepy, Crawling Robo-Babies

Posted in: R&D and Inventions, robotics, Robots, Today's Chili

The Pneuborn-7II is what a 7-month old infant would look like if it were a robot.

Sometimes I don’t know what’s worse: robots with a face, or robots without one.

Especially when it’s crawling towards you crying “ma-ma!” as it rises up to standing height on its spindly metallic legs.

Researchers at Japan’s Hosoda Laboratory developed Pneuborn-7ll and Pneuborn-13, a pair of musculoskeletal infant robots. Their names come from the fact that they use pneumatic muscles as actuators (and in case you were wondering, they don’t actually say “ma-ma!”, as far as I know).

Pneuborn-7ll is the size of a 7-month old child, weighing in at 11.9 lbs and measuring 31 inches tall. It was developed to “study the relationship between motor development and embodiment.” Pneuborn-7ll is completely autonomous, and has 19 pneumatic muscles, including a spine with three pitch and yaw joints. An algorithm based on central pattern generators (CPGs) was optimized for the robot to crawl without actual artificial intelligence or advanced sensors.

Pneuborn-13 is Pneuborn-7ll’s 13-month old older brother, designed so researchers can study the effect of bipedal walking on the musculoskeletal structure. It’s 29.5 inches tall and weighs a scant 8.5 lbs. Pneuborn-13 is also autonomous, but has only 18 pneumatic muscles, primarily concentrated around the ankle, knee and hip joints. It lacks a spinal column, but can still manage to get into a standing position and perform walking motions.

Unfortunately, videos haven’t been posted of the duo in action yet, but we can expect them to be uploaded sometime soon. In the meantime, you can use your imagination to picture how these Pneuborns move.

Pneuborn-7II & Pneuborn-13 [Plastic Pals via CrunchGear]


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Apr 26

Don-8r the panhandling robot set to make the homeless obsolete (video)

Posted in: concept, money, robot, RobotApocalypse, robotics, Today's Chili, video

Until now, one field has been safe from robotic interference: collecting money on the street. Not for long. A space already overcrowded with guitar playing hippies, dogs in bandanas, and children carrying bright orange UNICEF boxes has a new force to reckon with. It’s Don-8r (pronounced “donator,” for those who don’t speak robot), programmed expressly to collect change and be adorable. University of Dundee student Tim Pryde created the coin-fueled robot to help raise money for charity. It’s taken a few spins around the school’s campus and has already mastered the three Ps of money collection: politeness, persistence, and performance — the latter accomplished via color changing lights in its orb-like head. Video of Don-8r doing its thing after the break.

Continue reading Don-8r the panhandling robot set to make the homeless obsolete (video)

Don-8r the panhandling robot set to make the homeless obsolete (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 07:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceTim Pryde  | Email this | Comments

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Apr 19

Robogames 2011: Flame Throwers, Rocket Launchers and Endless Robot Mayhem

Posted in: Hacks, Mods and DIY, robotics, Robots, Today's Chili

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Walking into the arena, the first thing you notice are the noises: booming, clanging, the sound of metal crashing upon metal a short distance away. Followed by the smell of flames and burning rubber.

Welcome to Robogames.

Robogames is an annual robotics competition that features more than 50 different events, including combat, sumo, hockey and mech warfare. Dubbed “the Olympics of robots,” this year’s event took place April 15 to 17 in San Mateo, California, with a colorful array of robots in attendance.

The three-day event has much to see and learn, with electronics, robotics and educational-toy distributors’ booths lining the path to the back of the auditorium, where the largest fighting stage is located. The completely enclosed structure separates spectators from the carnage within by a scratched-up sheet of Lexan polycarbonate over aluminum support beams. Other competition areas included a maze, a mini soccer field and a smaller, enclosed “ComBot” stage with four 2-foot tall buildings. And of course, plenty of bots were just mingling with the public.

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Apr 18

SRI unveils Taurus, DaVinci’s bomb-defusing little brother

Posted in: military, robot, robotics, Today's Chili, wargadget
This is SRI International’s Taurus. Brought to you by the minds behind the DaVinci robo-surgeon, the diminutive (14 x 5-inch) bad boy is used to detect and defuse IEDs. Piggy-backing on existing devices such as Talon or PackBot, the device delivers hi-def 3D images and haptic feedback (via gloves) to a bomb disposal tech operating from a safe distance. According to IEEE Spectrum, it works so well that users forget they’re working remotely. Right now it’s a prototype, but with any luck the system could be in the field as early as this summer.

SRI unveils Taurus, DaVinci’s bomb-defusing little brother originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceIEEE Spectrum  | Email this | Comments

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