U.bo Invades, Eats, Poops

Phison Electronics demonstrated its new pet robot U.bo ("U" for you, "bo" for ball shape) at the recent Tokyo Toy Fair. The company calls it an alien spore but it seems more of an advanced Tamagotchi that needs feeding, cleaning up, and will amuse you by walking, speaking alien and interacting. The 10 x 8.5cm AI features mouse buttons, touch sensors and a couple of motors for movement. It will run for 14 hours on 2 AA batteries.

Via U.bo Magicland

Noelle Gives Birth, But Not Without a Fight

The latest service bot in town comes from Ohio's Wright State University and was designed for health care professionals to practice emergencies in the delivery room. Noelle complains, groans and grunts and seizes her way through childbirth, with a detachable belly cover that every woman wishes she had. The $40,000 simulator keeps track of medical statistics and lets the participants perform several different predicaments, including some with her robotic baby. Good times.

Via Dayton Daily News

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Electric Robofish Filled With Silicone Oil

Robofish keep getting more sophisticated as evidenced by this electric swimmer. Controlled via electrostatic actuators as muscles, the fish has been filled with silicone oil and even moves its eyes around to appear more lifelike. The creation from Germany's University Venture Creation Science and Technology Agency runs left or right by an operational joystick, the result being that its tail propels it forward.

Via Sendensha (translated)

Read More in: Robot Science/Medicine | Robot Videos

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Robot DVDs for Rainy Days

Are your toddlers, significant others, pets obsessed with both TV and robots? We found some obscure DVDs that look like they were precursors to present day ones. "Tiny Robots" shows a striking resemblance to Wall-E and the "Backyardians" seem to have an entire series devoted to robots.

Almost every kid of the past generation has seen the animated "Robots", but doesn't this cover Little Robot resemble one of the originals?

Score! With RC Soccer Shoes

Enjoy soccer but would rather not expend the energy yourself? These RC shoes will compete for you in a heated competition with a bud. Available in red or blue, they are controllable by two levers and buzz around on 4 wheels moving forward, backwards, left or right. The pair comes with 2 goals and balls but you supply the batteries that should give you a running time of about 2 hours. The fancy footwear will set you back £24.95 (~$39.00.)

Via Pro-Idee

Read More in: Robot Toys | Sports Robots

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Monthly Roundup - August 2010

Get ready for the hurricane aftereffects if you live on the East Coast. Grab that bottled water, duct tape and spend some time pondering our Monthly Roundup.

Autonomous Robots

DEPTHX Finds New Bacteria

Humanoid Robots

Interview

Must Have: U.R.I.-NAL 9000

Make Your Own Robot

Robot Supply and Repair Gives Back

Military Robots

Iran Unveils Karrar Drone

Miscellaneous Robots

Movie Robots

Must Have Robot Friday

Prototype Robots

Aimec 3 is Affordable Companion

Robot Art

Must Have: U.R.I.-NAL 9000

Robot Movies

R/C Millenium Falcon Takes Flight

Robot Music

ATHLETE Celebrates Dance Day

Robot Science/Medicine

Robot TV

Own a Mini AWESOM-O

Robot Toys

Robot Vacuums

Neato Ready to Rumble

Robot Vehicles

Robot Videos

Service Robots

WowWee Robots

Must Have: WowWee Roboscooper

ECH Taken Over by Robots, Almost

El Camino Hospital in Silicon Valley, CA have leased 19 robots to replace current workers. They handle chores such as delivering medication and food and take out the trash. The guy who took this video is certainly enchanted. The rentals amount to about $350,000 a year, according to Ken King, VP of facilities, while humans would have cost about a million a year. We are assuming that is more than 19 total employees as that would be a huge salary.

Via El Camino Hospital

Read More in: Robot Science/Medicine | Robot Videos

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Robots With a Sense of Smell

We just cannot fathom how/why researchers come up with some of this stuff. The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science took frog eggs, inserted insect RNA and ended up with robots with a sense of smell. This compact smelling sensor could be used in the future to detect the differences between chemicals, polluting gasses and hopefully a better class of burgers.

Via PNAS

Read More in: Robot Science/Medicine | Robot Videos

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Rogun Protects Home, Amuses Tots

The Korean company KornTech has developed the 1 meter tall Rogun that promises to walk, talk, act as sentry by identifying faces and alert its handlers by cellphone. His cameras and face-tracking software allow the security bot to register unwanted visitors and we guess his 7" LCD display lets his child/owner be reassures that he is a friendly bot. The wireless robot is available for about $5,000.

Via Chinese Engadget (translated)

Must Have: Two Automated Pet Sitters

Let the Talk to Me Treat Ball amuse your dog when you haven't the time. The orb systematically speaks with a message that you record and dispenses treats randomly when your pooch rolls it around. Expect a fairly chunky pooch if you let him/her play too long.

And if your dog/cat likes to chase lights, the Frolicat Laser Bolt generates patterns automatically or manually. Insert 4 AA batteries (not included,) place it on a surface and it will run for 15 minutes at a time.

Via Interactive Pet Toys

Read More in: Must Have Robot Friday | Robot Toys

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Hydro-Quebec LineScout Inspects

While power line inspection robots are not a novel idea, we found this one hanging out in the Hydro-Quebec network in Canada. The LineScout is remote controlled with two joysticks and utilizes 360º cameras to inspect power lines. In usage since 2006, it can maneuver around obstacles and spots exact locations by GPS. After identifying any power problems, the bot is sophisticated enough to make minor repairs.

Via cnet

Read More in: Robot Videos | Service Robots

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Iran Unveils Karrar Drone

Iran has been showing off its new UAV bomber. Named Karrar (farsi for Striker,) the drone can zoom up to 900 km/h with a range of 1000 km. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that it is a symbol of defense technology progress in the country, but it can apparently carry various types of bombs to let others know that it is not just for show.

Via BBC

Read More in: Military Robots | Robot Vehicles

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MIT Developing Oil Sucking Robots

MIT's Senseable City Lab will be debuting a prototype of their SeaSwarm technology this week at the Venice Biennale festival. The 16 ft. long belt made of nanowire mesh can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil. It skims the surface and absorbs the oil in its head, heats it and separates it from the mesh, then goes on to repeat the chore. Thousands of them can be used to swarm in the future. It is too bad that the tech was not available before now.

Via NY Times

Yurina Assists Bedridden

At the recent Next-Generation Robot Manufacturing Exhibition in Japan, Yurina, a home care robot, was put through its paces by first lifting patients of weights of up to 80kg and then converting itself into a wheelchair. The robotic vehicle can then be directed by voice, touch screen or controller.

Via Japan Logic (translated)

Read More in: Robot Videos | Service Robots

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Throw a Robot Cupcake Party

Next time your kids (or significant other) begs you for a party, make it a Robot Cupcake gala. Twenty four liners and cupcake toppers are included in the package. Don't forget the robot and rocket ship Party Centerpiece.

Via Robot Party Supplies