Recently, Jim, over at The NXT Step blog let me know he'd added GoRobotics.net to his blogroll. Since we don't currently have a blogroll, the "nxt" best thing is to give him a shout-out in a post! The NXT Step is now on my feed list. It's a great site for information about about LEGO's up-and-comin…
Populations in developing nations are aging, putting increased demands on healthcare systems. This has been said so much as to almost become cliché. The fact is that healthcare is in need of automation technology, and robotics companies are answering the call.One such company is InTouch Tech…
For some time now, the robotics community has been anticipating the release of White Box's robot. They are not yet shipping, though there is some news. VIA Arena has posted an article, "A visit with Tom Burick of White Box Robotics". We learn from the article and the links that the 914: …
Nik Fielding is one busy fellow. He’s worked up several robots such as an ED-209 and three humanoids. These are X-BOT, VOR, and Cyberstein. With these last two, Nik Fielding does shows and events (click here to see videos).The robot Cyberstein was last seen at the home of the future sho…
Have you ever wondered who created the Predator drone? If so, then you'll want to check out this piece by Red Herring about General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GAAS), the creator of the Predator, and it's plans for the future (including Predator B and C!). The company is privately owned by a 55 y…
Look out Devantech, there's a new kid on the proverbial block, the robotics-block, that is. While the ultrasonic sensor line from Devantech has turned into a staple for many hobby robots, it looks like there might be another viable contender. Check out the Ultrasonic Range Finder from Maxbotix, whi…
Remember the sub-launched robotic plane we talked about before? Well, here's some more information on it, courtesy of Popular Science. The plane will be released from a Trident missile tube on an Ohio-class U.S. submarine, surface, then take off. "The [missile] tubes are as long as a semi tr…
Asahi Breweries Getting a robot to fetch your beer has about as long a history as getting your robot to vacuum your floor. At any given time, Universities across the globe are hard at work on this task. There is the University of Florida’s Koolio, for example, or Duke’s Kegbot. Comercia…
From houseflies to honeybees, insects inspire us with flight skills just beyond the grasp of our technology. Z. Jane Wang, a professor at Cornell University, is working to close this gap between inspiration and implementation. Wang’s recent work is on dragonflies, and here she has found some…
If you come across any driverless Volvos towing trailers and caravans through the mountain passes of Death Valley in California, don't panic. It is simply Volvo testing and refining their towing capacity.Volvo developed a robot to automate the driving and minimize subjectivity. The device resembles…
Sony was the first to get a bipedal robot running, but then proceeded to drop out of the race. Other companies are now following in Sony’s footsteps. Robotis, for instance, just announced its running robot. Robotis RX is a little taller and little slower that the Sony Qrio. RX measures in at …
It looks like 2006 is gearing up to be the year of robot toys. The Associated Press say, "If children didn't get their fill of high-tech toys during the 2005 holiday season, they should brace themselves for more wizardry later this year." Apparently, the allure of iPods and Xboxes is caus…
Have you heard the one about the Volkswagen that drove itself, won the Darpa Grand Challenge, shone at the Detroit International Auto Show, and was awarded editor’s choice in Engadget’s Robot-of-the-Year contest? Of course we mean Stanley, built by Sebastian Thrun’s team at Stanf…
(Press Release, see also our First Look at Robot Magazine.)Robot Magazine is offering readers the opportunity to win a unique robot featured in the publication’s Winter 2005 premier issue.Editorial Board contributors Jamie Hyneman and Grant Imahara from the Discovery Channel’s popular …
In our original post on Pleo, Dave Thompson shared this link to the DEMO 2006 video. Thanks!In a word, it’s all about anthropomorphism. Let us start with the company’s name, which turns out to be pronounced "You Go Be". No remote required. Then there are the three laws,…
"The street finds its own use for things. It's all in the mix.” -- William Gibson Feral Robotic Dog project is proof of this. It started with Natalie Jeremijenko, who advocated hacking robotic dogs and using them as a tool for exploring the environment. These wild dogs in effect became low cost
