Clipmarks | rmowery's Robotics collection

Robot as good as real dog at easing lonely elderly

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 05:25:15 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Robot as good as real dog at easing lonely hours

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A friendly dog can make older people feel less isolated -- and it appears to make little difference if that wagging tail belongs to a robot doggie or the real thing.

Researchers at Saint Louis University in Missouri compared a 35-pound (16 kg), floppy-eared mutt named Sparky with AIBO, a far-from-lifelike robot dog, to see how residents of three U.S. nursing homes would respond.

"The most surprising thing is they worked almost equally well in terms of alleviating loneliness and causing residents to form attachments," said Dr. William Banks, a professor of geriatric medicine who worked on the study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

Tags: robots, social

Emotion Robots learn from People

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:32:58 GMT

clipped by: debbyski

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Feelix Growing is a research project involving six countries, and 25 roboticists, developmental psychologists and neuroscientists.

Co-ordinator Dr Lola Canamero said the aim was to build robots that "learn from humans and respond in a socially and emotionally appropriate manner".

The robots themselves are simple machines - and in some cases they are off-the-shelf machines. The most interesting aspect of the project is the software.

The robots will learn from the feedback they receive from humans.

The robots will get the feedback from simple vision cameras, audio, contact sensors, and sensors that can work out the distance between the machine and the humans.

The robots will not be trying to detect emotional states such as disgust but rather will focus on states such as anger, happiness, loneliness; emotions which impact on how the robot should behave.

"It is very important to detect when the human user is angry and the robot has done something wrong or if the human is lonely and the robot needs to cheer him or her up.

One of the first robots built in the project is exhibiting imprinted behaviour - which is found among birds and some mammals when born.

"They get attached to the first object they see when born.

"We have a prototype of a robot that follows people around and can adapt to the way humans interact with it.

"It follows closer or further away depending on how the human feels about it."

Tags: robots, human, behavior, learning

Ocean real estate: The next boom?

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:58:55 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: money.cnn.com

Ocean real estate: The next boom?

With land getting so crowded, the age-old fantasy of sea-based living is becoming reality. Business 2.0 dives in.

We remember those pledges, ruefully. But with all of our attention on the skies above, we tend to forget about the seas below and another once-popular 21st century prediction: that one day we'll be living on and under the oceans.

(Business 2.0 Magazine) -- We've been promised many things in the world of Tomorrowland: jet packs, flying cars, picnics on the moon.

The idea isn't so far-fetched. As Earth gets increasingly crowded and polluted, some 225 million square miles or prime real estate representing 71 percent of the planet's surface is largely unused. It's remarkable considering the oceans promise plenty of living space, fresh seafood, entertainment, and desalinized water. Surely, technology can make this happen.

In 1964, at the New York World's Fair, General Motors (Charts) sponsored an exhibit of the "near future." The model featured a city 10,000 feet under the sea, with atomic submarines cruising in and out of the Hotel Atlantis and nearby "Aquacopters" mining for minerals and drilling for oil.

Turns out, it can and it soon will - if not quite the way we first imagined. But before diving into what the near future holds, let's resurface what the distant past once promised.

Famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, meanwhile, was busy chasing his own underwater dreams. His experimental habitat, called Conshelf, was built 85 feet below the ocean's surface and was intended to be the future home of a new human species, dubbed Homo Aquaticus, with gills for lungs.

Tags: ocean, housing, real estate, ocean floor, water world

invitro mini brains control robots and more....

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 19:25:23 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.discover.com

Brain in a Dish

This is not your average petri dish: minibrains grown in vitro.

DISCOVER Vol. 27 No. 11 | November 2006 | Mind & Brain

By Jennifer Barone

In a lab dish, a culture of rat brain cells grows on an array of different-size electrodes arranged in a hexagonal pattern.

In an Atlanta lab, minibrains in dishes can control robots and computer-simulated animals. They may provide a simple model to study how the brain changes as it learns. Georgia Tech researcher Steve Potter calls his biological-mechanical hybrids Neurally Controlled Animats. Each Animat's "brain" consists of cultured rat neurons growing on a plate of electrodes. This live culture is linked to an artificial body—either a robotic animal or a computer-simulated one.

The brain cells can receive input from the synthetic critter's environment, process information, and stimulate behavior. For example, one of the Animats is linked to a robot with light-detecting sensors. Information from the sensors is sent to the brain culture, which sends a signal back to the robot instructing it to move toward the light. Other Animats can chase a target around a room, scribble simple drawings, and move around obstacles. Until recently, training Animats had been tough. The cultured brain cells kept firing in synchronized bursts that disrupted learning. Potter suspected this bursting was a symptom of sensory deprivation, since the neurons weren't receiving constant electrical input as they would in a living body. He was able to quiet the neural fireworks by applying soothing background stimulation. "Now we've seen reliably detectable changes. We think we're on the right track." Animats won't be taking over the world anytime soon, but Potter acknowledges that these "semiliving objects" are smarter than your average petri dish. "They can process information from their environment and respond to it. It's not human consciousness, but it's something."

Tags: robots, robotics, biotech, brain, hmi

China Makes a Sexy, Slutty Robot

Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:46:11 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.gizmodo.com

China Makes a Sexy, Slutty Robot

We were wondering when the first sexy robot was actually going to be sexy. What with the Karaoke android, the robot monkey, the Chinese beauty robot, and Korea's Ever-1 android all looking a might less than sexy, our hopes for a Human-Robot mating ritual were at an all time low. No longer!

This "Dion" robot from China can both "sing" (in Chinese) and look sexy. Yes, simultaneously. That's two more than Britney Spears can currently do. Check out the video to see her in all her slutty, nipply, mid-drift-revealing glory. – Jason Chen

Video Link [Impress]

Robot News [Impress via i4u]

Tags: china, chinese, robot, android

Hig Performance Humanoid Robots

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 19:11:02 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.sarcos.com

Tags: robots, robotics, sarcos, hockey robot

Space elevators to heave themselves skyward

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:31:46 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.newscientistspace.com

Space elevators to heave themselves skyward

20:07 16 October 2006

NewScientist.com news service

Kelly Young

A few early prototypes for space elevators will try to get off the ground at a competition at the Wirefly X Prize Cup in Las Cruces, New Mexico, US, on 20 and 21 October.

The hope is that one day a space elevator, comprised of a robot that will climb a strong tether about 100,000 kilometres (60,000 miles) long, will be able to send humans or other cargo cheaply into space.

To spur the development of that technology, NASA set up two annual competitions, called the Power Beaming and Tether Challenges. The first competitions were held in 2005 – but no one won either of them (see Space elevators stuck on the first floor).

In the Beam Power Challenge, teams have to send a robotic climber up a crane-mounted tether at a minimum speed of 1 metre per second. The climbers will be judged by their speed and weight, with the top three teams taking home $150,000, $40,000 and $10,000, respectively.

The catch is they cannot be powered by fuel, batteries or an electrical extension cord because a real space elevator could not carry these things on a trip into space. So the robotic climbers must use solar arrays powered by light sent from the Sun, solar reflectors, a spotlight, lasers or microwaves.

Tags: space elevators, space, material science, robots, robotics

Robot swarm works together to shift heavy objects

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:26:13 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.newscientisttech.com

Robot swarm works together to shift heavy objects

18:47 17 October 2006

NewScientist.com news service

Tom Simonite

A "swarm" of simple-minded robots that teams up to move an object too heavy for them to manage individually has been demonstrated by robotics researchers.

The robots cannot communicate and must act only on what they can see around them. They follow simple rules to fulfil their task â€“ mimicking the way insects work together in a swarm.

The robots were developed by Marco Dorigo at the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, along with colleagues at the Institute of Cognitive Science and Technology in Italy and the Autonomous Systems Laboratory and Dalle Molle Institute for the Study of Artificial Intelligence, both in Switzerland.

A video shows the six Swarm-bot robots gradually transporting a object lit with red LEDs over to a large white target.

Tags: robots, robotics, swarms, swarm technology

How to Build a Computerized Android Robot Head for $600.00.

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 19:27:41 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: howtoandroid.com

How to Build a Computerized Android Robot Head for $600.00.
Version 2, 02/11/2006

Introduction

Tags: robots, droids, droid head, robotics, diy

A gallery of unusual Chinese robots

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:31:22 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: blogs.zdnet.com

A gallery of unusual Chinese robots

Posted by Roland Piquepaille @ 10:27 am

Chinese engineers have unveiled a series of robots these days — without releasing lots of technical details about them. In the past two months, I've gathered pictures of robots which can act as waiters in restaurants in Hong Kong or pull rickshaws near Beijing. I've also found a four-finger robotic hand able to play organ, a female robot greeting tourists visiting the Sichuan Science Museum with 'ni hao' ('How are you?' in Mandarin — if my sources are correct), and even a robotic chimpanzee. Please visit my photo gallery…

Let's start with a robot waiter which takes orders in the first robot restaurant that opened in Hongkong last month (Credit: People's Daily Online, China, July 18, 2006).

Tags: robots, china, unusual robots, robot servants

Build RC sub in your home

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:29:43 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: web.ticino.com

The Submarine Base in Switzerland

by Enrico Braglia

Clip Source: web.ticino.com

The scope of this project, started in the year 2000, was to build a very simple and cheap RC Submarine model.

Submarine fans have now the opportunity to build and use simple, easy to work material and build something that really works.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Dimension: 38-40 cm long, 24 cm wide, 18 tall
Weight: ca 4-5 kg
Autonomy: 40 minutes running period
Test Dive: 1.70 m

Tags: subs, rc, autonmous, auv, diy

Ready to Fly Electric Mini-Helicopter

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:57:04 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.helimax-rc.com

A high-tech way to helicopter success!

Realistic looks. Ready-to-fly simplicity. Training aids. Long flight times. A compact, "fly anywhere" size. With these advantages and more, the 4-channel RotoFly gives both new and experienced pilots reason to cheer. Soft, gradual control response and stable hovering characteristics also make it one of the easiest R/C helicopters to fly!

Fully assembled and equipped — only eight "AA" batteries required.
The gyro helps maintain proper orientation automatically and is factory-installed as a single unit with the electronic speed control to conserve space and weight.
Includes a 180-size motor for the main rotor and N20 motor for the tail rotor.


Complete with a 4-Channel Heli-Max Radio Transmitter by Futaba.		Available in six canopy colors!


Experience the "state of the art" in battery power — a lightweight 2-cell, 600mAh Lithium Polymer pack with built-in charge protection! RotoFly's Li-Po pack recharges easily using the included AC wall charger, for consistent 10 minute flight times.		The included DVD offers valuable instruction for successful R/C helicopter flying. Training gear is also supplied to guard against tipovers and increase stability.

SPECIFICATIONS
Stock Number: HMXE01**
Main Rotor Diameter: 13.78 in (350 mm)
Fuselage Length: 13.38 in (340 mm)
Weight with Battery: 5.3 oz (150 g)
Requires: 8 "AA" batteries
Parts Listing - Product Manual

Ready-To-Fly Electric Mini Helicopter

Tags: uav, helicopter, rc, mini-helicopter

Microsoft enters robotics race

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:24:00 GMT

clipped by: rmowery
clipper's remarks: "Imagine a world with Windows-powered robots that can perform house chores, schedule appointments or walk the dog."

How about imagine a world where windows powered robots get the blue screen of death and go on mad rampages.

Clip Source: news.com.com

Microsoft enters robotics race

By Stefanie Olsen
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: June 20, 2006, 12:01 AM PDT

Last modified: June 20, 2006, 9:04 AM PDT

Imagine a world with Windows-powered robots that can perform house chores, schedule appointments or walk the dog.

It may turn into a reality now that Microsoft has ventured into robotics, a field long relegated to science fiction, but which increasingly has come to life in recent years.

Microsoft said Tuesday it launched a new research group and the company's first-ever robotics software, available for public preview via download. The technology, called Microsoft Robotics Studio, is a Windows-based toolkit designed so that commercial and individual developers can create intelligent applications for a range of products.

"We hope to put in place the basic plumbing layer to help people get started (creating) robotics applications, and allow third parties to bring their hardware and software to share with everyone," said Tandy Trower, general manager of the Microsoft Robotics Group.

Microsoft is also funding a new research lab, called the Center for Innovative Robotics, at Carnegie Mellon University, a pioneer in robotics research. Funds allotted to the CMU lab and its own research group were not disclosed.

With Microsoft's heft and money, the field of robotics will likely gain visibility, experts say. Long only a sci-fi fantasy, robotics has made headway in recent years through outfits like iRobot, a commercial maker of military robots and smart floor-cleaners. But some forays into robotics by major corporations such as Intel have petered out.

Tags: windows, robotos, microsoft, robotics, cmu

Robot backers turn to Linux

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:21:25 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: news.com.com

Robot backers turn to Linux

By Candace Lombardi
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: July 14, 2006, 11:24 AM PDT

What the world needs now, according to a Japanese research group, is a low-cost programmable robot.

To spur more development of robots at the hobbyist level, Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) is promoting a humanoid creature named HRP-2m Choromet. One problem with current robots, AIST says, is that they tend to be little more than remote-controlled devices. Another is that getting beyond that evolutionary stage tends to take a lot of cash.

Choromet, which bears a striking resemblance to the Transformers character Optimus Prime, comes with programmable software that runs on Linux. It was developed by General Robotix, one of the two start-ups working under AIST together with Pirkus Robotix and Dai Nippon Technical Research Institute. The controller, which is driven in real time by ARTLinux, was developed by Moving Eye, the other start-up in the group.

"This controller features some of the functions of the humanoid robot software platform OpenHRP, which has helped give the robot movements such as walking on two legs and getting up," AIST said in a statement.

Tags: cmu, linux, robots, windows, japan, lego

Development of a Humanoid Robot Based on Technical Transfer from AIST

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:20:01 GMT

clipped by: rmowery

Clip Source: www.aist.go.jp

Four private companies, including 2 start-up companies approved by AIST, have jointly developed a humanoid robot.
The robot comes with base software developed by AIST and runs on real-time Linux.
The new robot may have applications in education and research.

Synopsis

Using research results from the Humanoid Research Group of the Intelligent Systems Research Institute (Shigeoki Hirai, Director) of AIST (Hiroyuki Yoshikawa, President), two start-up companies approved by AIST, i.e., General Robotix, Inc. (Tadahiro Kawada, CEO) and Moving Eye, Inc. (Jun Takeda, CEO), working together with Pirkus Robotix, Inc. (Shoichi Okada, CEO) and Dai Nippon Technical Research Institute (Seiji Tanaka, CEO), have developed a humanoid robot called "HRP-2m Choromet," or "Choromet," for short.

Chromet is 35 cm high, weighs 1.5 kg, and has 20 degrees of freedom. It has triaxial force/torque sensors on its legs and accelerometer and gyroscope on its trunk, and a small, energy-saving controller developed at AIST that is driven in real-time by Linux (ARTLinux). Also developed at the same time at AIST was base software that runs on the Linux system. Moving Eye (ME) had already been working on the miniature controller and ARTLinux, while General Robotix (GRX) had already been working on the base software for the robot. Chromet is the result of combining these technologies. Given these traits, the software used to move and control Chromet may have applications in education and research.

The robot in this project was developed by high-tech start-up and other companies with technology that had been transferred from AIST. This is an excellent example of AIST's function as a hub for innovation.

Tags: robot, technical, japanes, linux powered, humaniod robots, ai