Humanoid Robots
March 1, 2010
QTC Skin Allows Robots to Feel
Peratech is developing an artificial electronic skin for MIT's Media Lab. "Quantum Tunneling Composite" (QTC) is a low-cost, touch sensitive material that allows robots to know where and how much they have been touched. This is done via sensors on various body parts. This one practically makes its own punchline, considering the recent glut of bots like Roxxxy.
Via Technology Review
February 23, 2010
Quasi Visits the NY Toy Fair
Interbot brought Quasi (aka Q,) to the 2010 Toy fair in NY. Originally developed at Carnegie Mellon in 2006, the $80,000 bot is controlled by a wireless tablet PC with touchscreen. He can talk and make facial expression originating from the user, and can even change eye color and wiggle his ears. The company has plans to make a smaller version for real folks with real budgets.
Via engadget
February 19, 2010
Second Gen ApriAttenda More Flexible
Toshiba recently released a second version of their ApriAttenda. The newest bot has two arms with 3-fingered hands that can hold simple objects and a head cam for navigation and recognition. While the original was designed to follow its user around, this one is designed to take a more active role. The company is also testing the iArm, a super-waldo designed to assist in grabbing, eating and other "handy" duties.
Via Plastic Pals
February 16, 2010
EveR-3 Finds Success on Stage
The 5 ft., 2 inch EveR-3 (Eve Robot 3) took part in several dramas in South Korea including "Robot Princess and the Seven Dwarfs." The acting bot can speak both Korean and English and has 16 different facial expressions.The government funded Korea Institute of Industrial Technology says that she will once again grace the stage this year, without the worry of forgetting a line or needing an understudy bot.
Via Space Daily
February 11, 2010
Palro Runs on Atom Processor
Palro (pal + robot) is 15" tall, has 20º of freedom, an integrated camera and is Fuji Soft's latest entry into robotics. The autonomous bot can carry on conversations and is expected to hit the streets mid-March. Add to that an Atom processor and software with plenty of options and a hefty price tag of about $3,300.
Via FSI (translated)
February 9, 2010
Proto-2 Walks Better But is No Beauty
It's Advanced Robotic Systems Laboratories' turn to release our choice for creepy-looking robot of the week. Proto-2 has an "expressive" face (looks pained to us,) and a better waling gait thanks to ARSL's dynamic toe-joint. At a height of 81.3cm, the humanoid bot is made of plastic and aluminum and features a 1.3 megapixel camera, directional microphones, joint positioning, and temperature and load feedback. Future applications may include using Proto-2 for research, in medical facilities and as Diego-San's new best friend.
Via ARS
February 3, 2010
ASIMO to Show Off Singing Skills
Is there no end to the talented ASIMO? It seems that a patent is in the works that will allow the Honda humanoid to name that tune and sing it. The patent has been filed by Stamoulis & Weinblatt, admirers of karaoke, no doubt.
Via US Patent Office
January 27, 2010
Evolta Goes Green
Evolta has turned green. He isn't nauseous; he is being used to promote Panasonic's new rechargeable batteries. The cellphone charm will come with selected packages of the eco-friendly batteries in Japan.
Via Panasonic
January 25, 2010
Diego-San's Creator Takes Offense
After several blogs made derogatory comments about UCSD's Diego-San's creepy face, including us, the team leader decided to vocally fight back on Bot Junkie. Here are some of his comments,
"I am Javier Movellan, the guy in the picture with Diego San and the leader of Project One at the University of California San Diego. What you see in the picture was the finished body of Diego San and the first prototype of the face. The body is an amazing piece of engineering that will challenge the limits of control theory and will help us move towards a better understanding of biological motion.
The face on the other hand was an obvious mistake and we are working on a new design. But remember the face is just a silicon mask that can be easily changed. It is unfortunate that the pictures of the old face were made public. I actually thought that the pictures were going to be for an internal leaflet and not to be made public. Then again that's what robotic research is about. You make mistakes, learn from the experience and make your prototype better the next time."
At the very least, Diego-San is getting attention. Dr. Movellan, we apologize and hope that you release your clever bot with a new face ASAP. We will do our best to circulate those as well. Until then, lighten up.
Via Bot Junkie
January 20, 2010
I-Fairy Plays Receptionist
The I-Fairy made an appearance at the recent CES 2010. She can be used for a guide or receptionist as she has voice recognition and goes into her routine when approached by humans. She comes with text-to-speech and motion software and has a limited 9º freedom in her head and arms, although her wrists, fingers, knees, and toes must be moved manually. Perched atop a pedestal, the Tinkerbot costs ¥ 6,500,000 (~$70,000.)
Via Kokoro
January 18, 2010
Roxxxy - Now Everyone Can Have a Woman
One of the attractions at the recent Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas was TrueCompanion's Roxxxy, who is so triple X that you need to be 18 just to enter her site. Creator Douglas Hines says she will recognize you and converse with you in addition to her other "duties." Get your sexbot for $7,500 to $10,000 (depending on features) and for those of you that prefer males, note that Rocky is not far behind (no pun intended.)
Via TrueCompanion
UCSD Creates Ugliest RoboBaby Ever
This is just wrong on so many levels. Dr. Javier Movellan and the Machine Perception Laboratory at UCSD created "Diego-San." And this is not just an ugly baby head, it's a giant ugly baby head. Apparently it has been designed to study brain development in infants and has 20 moving parts, can stand up and communicates with facial expression. Featured in the Japanese mag Kokoro News, we wonder if the next page showed the evil bot chewing off its maker's head.
Via BotJunkie
January 12, 2010
ATOM-7x Runs on Atom
Futurebots ATOM-7x (which stands for Advanced Technology for Optimizing Motion) certainly looks appealing and is powered by 2 Atom processors and runs Windows 7 and XP. After 8 years of development by Dan Mathais and team, the bot is set to make its debut with advanced stereo vision and 49º of movement. Atom seems to be making the rounds on the Interweb, but so far there is no video to prove the claim that he is quite the walker.
Via Futerbots
January 5, 2010
Fiji Soft Intros Sakura-Chan
Fiji Soft's latest entry in the world of humanoids is Sakura-Chan. Debuting at the All Japan Robot Tournament, it has an LED display for facial recognition, a cam for seeing and speech recognition. The bot runs on Atom CPU, Ubuntu OS and WiFi and should be out sometime this year for what the company says will be a competitive price.
Via Plastic Pals
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