Whenever you attend CES, there tends to be booths with all kinds of cool stuff that try to entice you to learn more. In the case of the Ozobot, it was the cool thing. I knew that I just had to report on the Ozobot when I saw this tiny little robot be trained to follow a dark line. I also knew that I wasn't going to be able to describe it very well, but just imagine a … [Read more...] about Ozobot dazzles at CES 2014
Robot Gadgets
Drones take the floor at CES Unveiled 2014
I can honestly tell you that last night at CES Unveiled was a little bit of a shoulder-to-shoulder, standing room only event. One of the things that got a lot of press was anything that was above the floor. Parrot, for example, had their new MiniDrone on hand. The MiniDrone is the blue one that you can see in the image here, and it has detachable side wheels for land … [Read more...] about Drones take the floor at CES Unveiled 2014
Cubli robot cube can “jump, balance, and walk”
Okay, the Cubli is definitely the Christmas gift that you didn't get yesterday, but you probably can't buy it now. I put a video of the Cubli here because it is just very cool. Developed by researchers at ETH Zurich's Institute Systems and Control, it has three spinning motors that will spin in order to gain some kind of angular momentum for balance. I believe that there … [Read more...] about Cubli robot cube can “jump, balance, and walk”
Google acquires Boston Dynamics
I know that Google is a huge company, and they probably buy up a lot of small companies daily. Man, I don't know if I will ever understand this kind of living. I have recently heard that the big G has purchased Boston Dynamics. If you haven't heard of Boston Dynamics, they make robots. I often report on them because their robots look very cool, like the Wildcat. … [Read more...] about Google acquires Boston Dynamics
Prepare for the Valkyrie robot!
It really is hard to believe that we have a robot in space, the Robonaut. I have no idea how well this robot is doing its job, but this particular robot, a product of DARPA Robotics Challenge, has created the Valkyrie. Now I have to say that the Valkyrie is the super robot, as the video above introduces. It does feel like a robot pulled from a science fiction book or … [Read more...] about Prepare for the Valkyrie robot!
Knightscope robots are the first generation of robot crime-busters
There is a company known as Knightscope which is doing something that no one has ever done before, at least in science-fiction. Yes, they are working on autonomous data machines that will be robot watchmen, apparently. These K5 and K10 robots have sensor suites that can see in the dark, recognize weapons and faces, and they can record audio. That sounds pretty simple, … [Read more...] about Knightscope robots are the first generation of robot crime-busters
Incredible Bionic Man arrives just in time for Halloween
You might remember when I reviewed Bicentennial Man how the film predicted that every house would have an automaton robot by 2005. I'm actually not certain if we are even working for that goal of household robotics, but I suppose an automated human really is inevitable. This particular one that you see here is not destined to be mass-produced and put in people's homes, but … [Read more...] about Incredible Bionic Man arrives just in time for Halloween
Boston Dynamics unveils the Wildcat robot
For a while, I have been seeing a Boston Dynamics robot that has four legs and can run. Now here is the Wildcat. The Wildcat is capable of speeds of 16 mph, which is not as fast as the Boston Dynamics Cheetah which clocks in at 29.3 mph. I will have to admit that I am impressed that they got this thing literally up and running, as I have created Lego walking creations. … [Read more...] about Boston Dynamics unveils the Wildcat robot
Tradinno is the world’s largest robot, and it is a fire-breathing dragon!
This is Tradinno, and it is the World's Largest Walking Robot. It was created by Zollner Elektronik AG, and it is 30-feet high with 40 feet wings. All that, and it breathes fire. I believe that he is used in a stage production of a Bavarian play called Drachenstich. He has his own 18-wheeler to carry him places, and it is pretty humorous. It all weighs about 11 … [Read more...] about Tradinno is the world’s largest robot, and it is a fire-breathing dragon!
Comic Con went down in San Diego, and here’s what went down
Every year, geeks descend unto Comic Con in Sand Diego, and this is a pretty big event for comic-book lovers and other lovers of comic-book related media. In fact, Hollywood has realized how much movie-goers love comic-book related movies, and they are always there to promote all the stuff that will be released next summer. I have never been, but I am told they have a lot … [Read more...] about Comic Con went down in San Diego, and here’s what went down
DARPA’s Atlas is “the World’s Most Advanced Humanoid Robot”
It really is amazing how we are growing closer and closer to a science fiction age of robots. Thanks to DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), we are seeing a hug swell of militant robots. Just watch the video if you want to see what I mean. Man, they got these robots that can walk like people, and they can even do stairs as well. What really makes it … [Read more...] about DARPA’s Atlas is “the World’s Most Advanced Humanoid Robot”
ERO Concrete-Recycling Robot
When I first saw this ERO Concrete Recycling robot, I thought this was the wrecking robot from the movie I, Robot, the one who almost kills Will Smith in the not-so-perfect adaptation of the Isaac Asimov short story collection. This is not the case, as what Omer Haciomeroglu was trying to do is create a robot that could recycle concrete. Yes, this thing is designed to … [Read more...] about ERO Concrete-Recycling Robot
Hiroshi Ishiguro’s robots could begin a “trans human” age
I suppose a proper caption for this image would be "who is the robot here". The human is Japanese roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, and he is the director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory at Osaka University. He has created a robot lookalike of himself, and made a public appearance of it at the Global Futures 2045 International Congress. My Source reveals that … [Read more...] about Hiroshi Ishiguro’s robots could begin a “trans human” age
RBOT is probably the future of robotics, for now
Even though CTIA is technically a mobile technology conference, you still see a few technologies that are unrelated, but a lot of fun. In this case, the RBOT International Company. What you see in the image is what I saw on the CTIA showfloor, which is tablet with a robot body that is very similar to the tim-E robot that we reported on a few days ago. This particular one … [Read more...] about RBOT is probably the future of robotics, for now
Flying insects live with the RoboBee from Harvard University
I don't know if we are ever going to live in some sort of robot age, where robots do all the things that we just don't want them to do. For some reason, I am fascinated by the robots that may never do any work at all. Stuff like the RoboBee is very similar to the Festo BionicOpter robotic dragonfly that we covered a while ago, but a lot smaller. The RoboBee is built up … [Read more...] about Flying insects live with the RoboBee from Harvard University