Lizard Like Robot Uses Tail For Stabalization

A UC Berkeley lab has studied and learned how an African lizards use its tail to leap from predators - this allowed them to create a robot model that uses a tail to stabalize itself.

It is thought that robots in the future could use this technique to stabalize themselves. These robots could be use for emergency services to perform search and rescue operations for example.

You can read about it here:Leapin Lizards Tailbots and Iron-man Suits at CNN.com's blog. Also check out the video.

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

Product Features

• Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button
  
• Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens
  
• Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors
  
• Self-charging Home Base, 2 Virtual Wall Lighthouses, an extra filter, and more included
  
• Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Description
Cleans routinely, so you don't have to. 500 Series robots offer the latest innovations from iRobot with unprecedented efficiency, coverage, and cleaning performance.

Life happens in busy homes, and keeping up with accumulating dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and debris can be a daily challenge. Introducing the iRobot Roomba 560- a member of iRobot’s newest generation of Roomba Vacuuming Robots.
iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

Now there’s a better way to maintain cleaner floors every day. With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, particle filtration, and scheduling capabilities, the Roomba 560 picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris from your floors with the touch of a button--so you don’t have to.

The Roomba 560 even cleans on schedule when it’s most convenient for you. Use the on-board scheduling system to easily program up to seven days and times per week for Roomba to vacuum--whether you’re at home or on the go. The Roomba 560 also offers the most efficient room-to-room cleaning available using two innovative, new Virtual Wall Lighthouses.iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver
With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 560 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment.

Robot Ball Thrower for Your Dog.

You have to love it when people come up with cool gadgets. We all should have a robot ball throwing machine like the one shown here. I mean I don't even have a dog but I want one of these.

Jerry needs no help playing with his ball.


Books about Robots

ABE, Robotic Undersea Explorer

NY Times.com is reporting the loss of ABE robot in an article titled ABE, Pioneering Robotic Undersea Explorer, Is Dead at 16

ABE, a nomadic adventurer that plumbed the world’s oceans on its own, forever changing the way scientists explored the seafloor, was lost at sea March 5 off southern Chile. The autonomous underwater vehicle was about 16 years old and in the off-seasons was stored in Woods Hole, Mass.

FANUC Robots Building Robots

Bunnie Huang talks FANUC, a Fuji Corporation spin-out that builds automated robot factories.




Robot Technology and Applications
(Manufacturing Engineering and Materials Processing)

Click image for more info.

Asimo The Robot

Video of Honda's Asimo Robot.

According to Wikipedia;

ASIMO (アシモ, ashimo?) is a humanoid robot created by Honda. Standing at 130 centimeters (4 feet 3 inches) and weighing 54 kilograms (114 pounds), the robot resembles a small astronaut wearing a backpack and can walk or run on two feet at speeds up to 6 km/h (4.3 mph), matching EMIEW. ASIMO was created at Honda's Research & Development Wako Fundamental Technical Research Center in Japan. It is the current model in a line of eleven that began in 1986 with E0.

The name is an acronym for "Advanced Step in Innovative MObility". Honda states that the robot's name is not a reference to science fiction writer and inventor of the Three Laws of Robotics, Isaac Asimov.

Introduction to Autonomous Mobile Robots (Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Agents)

click image for info

Robonauts

In a story titled "MEET 'ROBONAUT 2,' YOUR FUTURE CO-WORKER", Discovery.com is reporting on Robonaut 2, a cutting-edge humanoid machine, which is being built by NASA and GM.

THE GIST:

NASA and GM have unveiled robots that work alongside humans -- on Earth and in space.
Engineers are trying to mimic human form and have the Robonaut work at human speeds.
NASA may employ the robots as spacewalkers' assistants.

Robotic Exoskeleton

Robotic Soldier : robotic exoskeleton turns grunts into super-soldiers.

Army's New Robotic Mule is Contracted Out.

In a blog post titled "Robocalypse Alert:Defense Contract Awarded to Scary BigDog" which is probably over the top, Fast Company.com is reporting that DARPA just awarded a $32 million contract to build robots for the defense department.

According to them;

The contract's been won by maker Boston Dynamics, which has just 30 months to turn the research prototype machines into a genuine load-toting, four-legged, semi-intelligent war robot--"first walk-out" of the newly-designated LS3 is scheduled in 2012.

Footage of the army's newest beast of burden. It's a four-legged robot that looks like a mule without a head and walks like one too.

Thoughts on Robots.

I've been thinking about robots a lot lately. As I was doing my yard work last week it dawned on me that I would love to have a robot to help me out. Seeing that my daughter does not like it.

And I would also like to have a robot that does the house work. I think that it would be very easy to have a robot that vacuums floor and they have several models that already do that. But I think that it will be a while before we have robots that can do general cleaning.

Some of the problems that you find in the yard are very interesting and a Robot would be great to have to do these jobs. Take for example edging, I can imagine a robot that has an edging attachment. Or a blower attachment. Or a lawn mower attachment.

I have both a push mower, and a gasoline powered lawn mower. I think that a green version of a robot for the lawn would use a push mower attachment. It would also be cool to have a lawn mower that could make mulch or help recycle lawn clippings. I cut down a tree, and the disposal of the limbs was a pain. That kind of job could be something that a robot would be perfect.

On the lighter side, scientist in Japan have created a new supermodel robot. You can read CNET.com's article here, Japan's latest supermodel--a robot. This is just a start, but not quite there yet.

Fashion Robot To Hit Japan Catwalk

Robots In War

ED 209 Just Won't Stop !


One of the low tech ways that I keep up on the latest in technology is by listening to NPR's news and culture show Fresh Air with Terry Gross on my local public radio station. She sometimes have guest who are policy makers or work in various parts of the tech industry.

She recently interviewed technological warfare expert P.W. Singer, in a segment titled 'Wired For War' Explores Robots On The Battlefield. Singer explains in his new book, Wired For War how some military tasks previously assigned to humans are now being handled by machines.

Singer is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. His previous books include Corporate Warriors and Children at War.

I thought the disccussion was very interesting and would be enjoyed by those who like to research info on the use Robots on todays society.

Reference links;

Aegis Combat System

Iran Air Flight 655

Phalanx CIWS

Wired for War:
The Robotics Revolution
and Conflict in the 21st Century

I love Robots: Hitec 77002 Robonova I Ready-To-Walk Humanoid Robot

Hitec 77002 Robonova I Ready-To-Walk Humanoid Robot

click image for info @Amazon.com

Product Features

Advanced robot for students, hobbyists, and educators
Gold anodized metal servo brackets serve as strong and lightweight exoskeleton
Controlled with 16 powerful HSR-8498HB digital servos; includes IR controller
Micom control board can operate up to 24 servos and 16 accessory modules
Simple programming with supplied RoboScript and RoboBasic software

Technical Details

Model number: 77002
Height: 12.5 inches
Weight: 47 ounces
Micro controller board: MR-3024
Servos: 16
Battery: NiMH
PC connectivity: Serial port
IR controller: Yes

What's in the box: MR-3024 Micro controller board for 24 servos, 16 digital HSR-8498HB servos, re-chargeable NiMH battery and charger, RoboBasic programming software and manual, PC serial port programming interface cable, Remocon IR controller, user's manual

Robots @Tsquared Amazon.com Store

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

Product Features

• Vacuuming robot picks up dirt and debris with the touch of a button
  
• Easy-to-empty bagless dustbin; fine-filtration system traps allergens
  
• Anti-tangle technology; gentle-touch bumper system; built-in cliff sensors
  
• Self-charging Home Base, 2 Virtual Wall Lighthouses, an extra filter, and more included
  
• Measures 16-3/4 by 21 by 5 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Description
Cleans routinely, so you don't have to. 500 Series robots offer the latest innovations from iRobot with unprecedented efficiency, coverage, and cleaning performance.

Life happens in busy homes, and keeping up with accumulating dirt, dust, pet hair, crumbs, and debris can be a daily challenge. Introducing the iRobot Roomba 560- a member of iRobot’s newest generation of Roomba Vacuuming Robots.
iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver

Now there’s a better way to maintain cleaner floors every day. With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, particle filtration, and scheduling capabilities, the Roomba 560 picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris from your floors with the touch of a button--so you don’t have to.

The Roomba 560 even cleans on schedule when it’s most convenient for you. Use the on-board scheduling system to easily program up to seven days and times per week for Roomba to vacuum--whether you’re at home or on the go. The Roomba 560 also offers the most efficient room-to-room cleaning available using two innovative, new Virtual Wall Lighthouses.iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot, Black and Silver
With dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration, the Roomba 560 vacuuming robot picks up amazing amounts of dirt and debris with the simple touch of a button. The powerful unit features innovative spinning side brushes that grab dirt and dust from corners and along wall edges, as well as two high-speed, counter-rotating brushes that pick up pet hair, cat litter, food crumbs, and other debris from floors. The vacuum sucks up the debris and deposits it into a large, easy-to-empty bagless dustbin, and its improved fine-filtration system traps dust, pollen, and other allergens inside the unit, reducing infiltration into the living environment.