Here is a pretty amazing performance by a small humanoid robot. Surprising for two reasons: The first is that the stunts are rather sophisticated: he can do a handstand comparable to a great gymnast. The second is more mysterious: the music that accompanies the video is a song by Jacques Brel's …
In the Netherlands, some robots are already replacing gas pump attendants. The robot's code name: Tank Pit Stop. So, you no longer need to leave your vehicle; it's a little like the drive-in at fast-food restaurants :-) This robot was invented in 2008 and costs 75 000 euros. Its effectiveness…
This sculpture is actually a robotic cube capable of keeping its balance by itself with an automatic stabilization mechanism to shift the center of gravity. The modules sway and can maintain the balanced position. Even more incredibly, the structure can be pushed and still not fall. Of course, …
The German Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics presented, at the IEEE 2010, a safety demonstration with an industrial robotic arm. In this case, they wanted to study the contact between a robot handling a sharp tool (scissors, kitchen knife, saw, scalpel) and human skin in order to prevent acci…
Ji-Dong Yim and Chris Shaw, two researchers at Simon Fraser University have developed a telephone robot capable of walking, expressing emotions and even being used as a telepresence robot. Callo, which is 23 cm tall, is mounted on a Nokia cell phone. It has two arms, legs and can even dance. Y…
Do you remember the acrobat robot? Now here's another more advanced version with BallP which can even withstand heavy loads without falling. BallP, which is 51 cm tall (20 inches) and weighs 7.5 kg (16.5 pounds), balances on a ball with the help of 3 stabilizer wheels, gyroscopes, micro-control…
Here's an example of an application of an interface using the Apple iPad to store then retransmit commands to an industrial robot (arm). The technician first writes a "Robot" text on the iPad, then stores it. Then it sends the information to its iPhone which retransmits the command to the robot. …
We've already told you before about Lego Mindstorms robots which are able to solve a Rubik's Cube with ridiculous ease in record time, such as CubeStormer. This time, here's MultiCuber, the expert in Rubik's Cubes regardless of the number of faces. MultiCuber starts with a 2x2x2 and ends its exer…
The DFKI and its Robotics Innovation Center in Bremen, Germany, are developing a multitude of robots with numerous possible applications. The video below presents many of the robotics projects underway. The projects are supervised by Prof. Dr. Frank Kirchner. DFKI Robotics develops mobile robot…
Quince is a rescuer robot prototype ready to respond to natural catastrophes (earthquakes, landslides, etc.) or work in buildings which have been damaged following explosions (gas, for example), terrorist or biochemical attacks. This robot can go on practically any terrain thanks to its 4 indepe…
Stanford University's Biomimetics Laboratory has developed a drone which is able to cling on walls and stay fixed. The airplane clings on walls thanks to small spines on its front feet. The main difficulty with this technology is being in a position to be able to make the plane land on a vertic…
The best Tetris players now have competition from this Lego robot that plays the Tetris game all on its own. Branislov Kisacanin has created a robotic player prototype with the help of Mindstorms parts, a webcam and a computer. A Texas Instruments DSP board (TI DM6437 DSP board) decrypts what happ…
Designer Kare Halvorsen has updated his Hexapod robot. It looks more like a giant ant, very realistic. Since 2009, Kare has been improving its operation and his prototype can now manipulate objects more easily. The hexapod has 2 degrees of freedom on the abdomen and 3 on the head, and has 6 leg…
A Chinese farmer has created a human-sized rickshaw robot which can transport him while speaking in a loudspeaker and playing music! Wu Yulu, a well-known Chinese farmer and inventor, is getting ready to show the world his robotic creations at the Expo Shangai which starts on May 1, 2010. From …
The company Festo is currently working on a prototype of a robotic elephant's trunk, via its Festo Bionic Learning Network department. The trunk, which also resembles an octopus tentacle, uses an air pressure mechanism for movements as opposed to servo motors. Provided with a grabber, it has a …
Stanford University has invented a lizard robot, an improved version of its previous prototypes (Stickybot), Stickybot III. StickyBot 3 is a lizard robot (gecko) which can climb up windows thanks to its special suction cups installed on each of its feet. These suction cups are not adhesives in …
