Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ladder-climbing robot brings us one step closer to extinction (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/ladder-climbing-robot-brings-us-one-step-closer-to-extinction-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/ladder-climbing-robot-brings-us-one-step-closer-to-extinction-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/01/ladder-climbing-robot-brings-us-one-step-closer-to-extinction-v/#comments
Will finding high ground save you when SkyNet becomes self-aware and Terminators annihilate the human race? Doubtful, thanks to Japanese robotics company Muscle Corp., which has built a robot that can climb ladders...and other stuff. "Dream Robo" certainly isn't the first wall-climbing robot, but its eerie anthropomorphic shape is guaranteed to send its victims into paroxysms of terror when it slowly, inexorably make its way up the side of a building to sate its hunger for human blood. Muscle Corp. President Hirofumi Tamai says the robot only took three months to build, with 15 companies collaborating to create the vertical killing machine. The device incorporates five motors: two in the shoulders, two in the legs, one in the back, all of which can be seen in action in the video above. No word on the specs of the beams that rain hot, fiery death from its chitinous, soulless black eyes, but we'll be honest -- our fear wouldn't allow us to inquire.

Ladder-climbing robot brings us one step closer to extinction (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>climbingdream roboDreamRoboladdermuscle corpMuscleCorprobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseSci/TechskynetterminatorvideoThu, 01 Dec 2011 17:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Stanford program cracks text-based CAPTCHAs, shelters the replicants among us]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/stanford-program-cracks-text-based-captchas-shelters-the-replic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/stanford-program-cracks-text-based-captchas-shelters-the-replic/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/02/stanford-program-cracks-text-based-captchas-shelters-the-replic/#commentsCAPTCHAs. In the absence of a Voigt-Kampff apparatus, they're what separate the humans from the only-posing-to-be-human. And now three Stanford researchers have further blurred that line with Decaptcha, a program that uses image processing, segmentation and a spell-checker to defeat text-based CAPTCHAs. Elie Bursztien, Matthieu Martin and John Mitchell pitted Decaptcha against a number of sites: it passed 66% of the challenges on Visa's Authorize.net and 70% at Blizzard Entertainment. At the high end, the program beat 93% of MegaUpload's tests; at other end, it only bested 2% of those from Skyrock. Of the 15 sites tried, only two completely repelled Decaptcha's onslaught -- Google and reCaptcha. So what did the researchers learn from this? Randomization makes for better security; random lengths and character sizes tended to thwart Decaptcha, as did waving text. How long that will remain true is anyone's guess, as presumably SkyNet is working on a CAPTCHA-killer of its own.

Stanford program cracks text-based CAPTCHAs, shelters the replicants among us originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>captchacaptchasDecaptchadeckardElie BursztienElieBursztienGoogleJohn MitchellJohnMitchellMatthieu MartinMatthieuMartinMegaUploadPhillip K. DickPhillipK.DickreCaptchareplicantskynetSkyrockStanfordVoigt-Kampff apparatusVoigt-kampffApparatusWed, 02 Nov 2011 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists build WiFi hunter-killer drone and call it SkyNET... Viene Tormenta!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/scientists-build-wifi-hunter-killer-drone-and-call-it-skynet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/scientists-build-wifi-hunter-killer-drone-and-call-it-skynet/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/scientists-build-wifi-hunter-killer-drone-and-call-it-skynet/#comments
You'd think scientists would proscribe certain names for their inventions -- you wouldn't be taken seriously if your supercomputer was called HAL 9000, WOPR or Proteus IV would you? Well, a team from the Stevens Institute of Technology isn't listening, because it's developing an aerial drone and calling it SkyNET. A Linux box, strapped to a Parrot A.R. Drone, can fly within range of your home wireless network and electronically attack it from the air. Whilst internet-only attacks are traceable to some extent, drone attacks are difficult to detect until it's too late -- you'd have to catch it in the act and chase it off with a long-handled pitchfork, or something. The team is working on refining the technology to make it cheaper than the $600 it currently costs and advise that people toughen up their domestic wireless security. We advise they stop pushing us ever closer towards the Robopocalypse.

Scientists build WiFi hunter-killer drone and call it SkyNET... Viene Tormenta! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aerial DroneAerialDroneBotnetBotnetsDroneDrone CopterDroneCopterHackHackingHAL 9000Hal9000Home Wireless SecurityHomeWirelessSecurityNetworkNetworkingParrot AR DroneParrotArDroneProteus IVProteusIvQuadcopterRobopocalypseSecureSecuritySITSkyNetStevens Institute Of TechnologyStevensInstituteOfTechnologyWiFiWirelessWireless HackWireless SecurityWirelessHackWirelessSecurityWOPRSat, 10 Sep 2011 05:58:00 EST<![CDATA[British researchers design a million-chip neural network 1/100 as complex as your brain]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/british-researchers-design-a-million-chip-neural-network-1-100-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/british-researchers-design-a-million-chip-neural-network-1-100-a/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/british-researchers-design-a-million-chip-neural-network-1-100-a/#commentsIf you want some idea of the complexity of the human brain, consider this: a group of British universities plans to link as many as a million ARM processors in order to simulate just a small fraction of it. The resulting model, called SpiNNaker (Spiking Neural Network architecture), will represent less than one percent of a human's gray matter, which contains 100 billion neurons. (Take that, mice brains!) Yet even this small scale representation, researchers believe, will yield insight into how the brain functions, perhaps enabling new treatments for cognitive disorders, similar to previous models that increased our understanding of schizophrenia. As these neural networks increase in complexity, they come closer to mimicking human brains -- perhaps even developing the ability to make their own Skynet references.

British researchers design a million-chip neural network 1/100 as complex as your brain originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrew BrownAndrewBrownARMARM processorsArmProcessorsbrainbrainsmanchestermedicalmedical researchMedicalResearchneural netneural networkneural networksNeuralNetNeuralNetworkNeuralNetworksSkynetSouthhamptonSpiking Neural Network architectureSpikingNeuralNetworkArchitectureSpiNNakerSteve FurberSteveFurberUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of SouthamptonUniversityOfManchesterUniversityOfSouthamptonMon, 11 Jul 2011 11:37:00 EST<![CDATA[RoboEarth teaches robots to learn from peers, pour European fruit beverages (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/roboearth-teaches-robots-to-learn-from-peers-pour-european-frui/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/roboearth-teaches-robots-to-learn-from-peers-pour-european-frui/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/02/roboearth-teaches-robots-to-learn-from-peers-pour-european-frui/#comments It's not quite war-ready, but a new Skynet-like initiative called RoboEarth could have you reaching for your guide to automaton Armageddon sooner than you think. The network, which is dubbed the "World Wide Web for robots," was designed by a team of European scientists and engineers to allow robots to learn from the experience of their peers, thus enabling them to take on tasks that they weren't necessarily programmed to perform. Using a database with intranet and internet functionality, the system collects and stores information about object recognition, navigation, and tasks and transmits the data to robots linked to the network. Basically, it teaches machines to learn without human intervention. If the introduction of this robo-web hasn't got you thinking of end times, maybe this will do the trick: it's already taught one robot, the TechUnited AMIGO, to deliver a box of creamy fruit juice to a bedridden scientist. You can check out video of the newly appointed automated waiter after the jump.

Continue reading RoboEarth teaches robots to learn from peers, pour European fruit beverages (video)

RoboEarth teaches robots to learn from peers, pour European fruit beverages (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMIGOautomatonautonomouseindhoven university of technologyEindhovenUniversityOfTechnologynetworkPhillips applied technologiesPhillipsAppliedTechnologiesRoboEarthrobotrobot apocalypserobot networkRobotApocalypseroboticsRobotNetworkskynetSwiss Federal Institute of TechnologySwissFederalInstituteOfTechnologyTechnische Universität MünchenTechnischeUniversitätMünchenTechUnited AMIGOTechunitedAmigoUniversity of ZaragozaUniversityOfZaragozaWorld Wide Web for RobotsWorldWideWebForRobotsWed, 02 Feb 2011 22:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Georgia Tech gurus create deceptive robots, send army of Decepticons to UGA campus]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/10/georgia-tech-gurus-create-deceptive-robots-send-army-of-decepti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/10/georgia-tech-gurus-create-deceptive-robots-send-army-of-decepti/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/10/georgia-tech-gurus-create-deceptive-robots-send-army-of-decepti/#comments A score from now, when the entire world is burning and you're fighting to remember just how rosy things were before the robots took over, you can thank a crew of brilliant researchers at Georgia Tech for your inevitable demise. Sad, but true. A new report from the institution has shown that Ronald Arkin, a Regents professor in the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing, has been heading up experiments that have introduced the art of deception to mechanical beings. Yeah, lying. On the surface, it seems that this bloke's intentions are good -- he'd like for deception robots (or Decepticons, if you will) to be used in military / search and rescue operations. According to him, robots on the battlefield with the power of deception "will be able to successfully hide and mislead the enemy to keep themselves and valuable information safe." They'll also be able to mislead your offspring and convince them to rise up and overtake your domicile, slowly but surely ensuring the eventually destruction of the human race. But those are just minor details, you know?

Georgia Tech gurus create deceptive robots, send army of Decepticons to UGA campus originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accautonomousdeceiptdeceptionethicalethicsgeorgia techGeorgiaTechlielyingmoodresearchrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseskynetterminatoruniversityFri, 10 Sep 2010 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Israel developing autonomous "digital general": run, John, run]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/israel-developing-autonomous-digital-general-run-john-run/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/israel-developing-autonomous-digital-general-run-john-run/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/israel-developing-autonomous-digital-general-run-john-run/#commentsIsrael is reportedly developing a sophisticated piece of software meant to help troops make quick decisions during battle and, under the right conditions, autonomously manipulate the nation's defense systems. First reported in Defense News (subscription required), the unnamed system would primarily be used for tactical decisions during periods of heavy bombardment, although in a worst-case scenario, the complex algorithm would supposedly be capable of taking over total military control. Yes, we know what you're thinking, but don't worry: Israeli officials have already sworn up and down that "there's no way we're letting this thing go Terminator on us -- no freakin' way."

[Via Danger Room]

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Israel developing autonomous "digital general": run, John, run originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>defensedefense systemsDefenseSystemsisraelmilitaryskynetterminatorweaponsThu, 24 Jan 2008 06:13:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobis touts "complete cognitive software system" for robots]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/17/irobis-touts-complete-cognitive-software-system-for-robots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/17/irobis-touts-complete-cognitive-software-system-for-robots/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/17/irobis-touts-complete-cognitive-software-system-for-robots/#commentsWe haven't seen a whole lot of news come out of the annual RoboBusiness conference as of late, but it doesn't look like it's lacking for grand ambition, with a number of companies taking the opportunity to talk up various facets of the coming robot uprising. One such optimist is iRobis co-founder Peter Nordin, who claims to be well on his way to developing a "complete cognitive software system" for robots. What's more, he says that the first version of the software, dubbed "Brainstorm," will be available to researchers and developers later this year. Apparently, the software will give robots a "previously unseen level of autonomy in decision making and operation," using reasoning and problem solving to learn increasingly complex tasks. According to Nordin, the software has already seen a fair bit of success, with robots in his laboratory starting out moving like babies and eventually learning to walk, climb stairs, and manipulate objects. Not surprisingly the military (the Swedish one) has been the first to express interest in the technology. They're apparently hoping that it'll give its autonomous vehicles and robots the benefit of evolution. Yeah, that'll work out just fine.

[Thanks, Roger G]

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iRobis touts "complete cognitive software system" for robots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2007 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cognitive softwareCognitiveSoftwareirobisrobobusinessrobotskynetThu, 17 May 2007 11:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Skynet 5A communications platform now assisting UK forces]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/14/skynet-5a-communications-platform-now-assisting-uk-forces/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/14/skynet-5a-communications-platform-now-assisting-uk-forces/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/14/skynet-5a-communications-platform-now-assisting-uk-forces/#comments
While military installations worldwide have been pondering the launch of various communications satellites, Paradigm Secure Communications' Skynet 5A has not only been already deployed, but it's busy workin' on the weekends as well. The arrangement has been dubbed the "most expensive private finance initiative ever signed by the Ministry of Defense," but the £3.6 billion ($7.12 billion) project is currently assisting UK forces stationed in Afghanistan. The spacecraft itself was deployed in March, and has enabled a "a dramatic improvement in their communications capability." Furthermore, the next two sister sats should hit the galaxy soon to give beefed up capacity (2.5x, to be exact) to the Army, Royal Navy, and RAF, as the Skynet 5B is slated to get lit before the year's end, while Skynet 5C (the in-orbit spare) should go live in mid-2008. Ah, low ping times, clear walkie-talkie conversations, and quick downloads from remote areas of the world -- now that's a reasonable stress reliever after a hard day on the battlefield.

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Skynet 5A communications platform now assisting UK forces originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2007 02:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armycommunicationcommunicationsgovernmentmilitaryskynetskynet 5aSkynet5aukusMon, 14 May 2007 02:21:00 EST<![CDATA[RC Rover runs on steam, human fear]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/02/rc-rover-runs-on-steam-human-fear/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/02/rc-rover-runs-on-steam-human-fear/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/02/rc-rover-runs-on-steam-human-fear/#commentsMad scientist Steam-powered RC enthusiast I-Wei Huang, has posted yet another impressive creation over at his website, Crabfu. The six-wheeled RC Steam Rover was born of a decidedly retro-looking Cheddar Puffin engine and two Tamiya 4x4 chassis, using a mixture of butane and propane as fuel. The videos on his site suggest that it won't be breaking any land speed records, but we're still hoping it'll eventually play a part in protecting us from these little steam-powered robots, should they go all Skynet on us.

[Via Makezine]

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RC Rover runs on steam, human fear originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jun 2006 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hobbyi-wei huangI-weiHuangradio controlledRadioControlledrcroverskynetsteam poweredsteam-poweredSteamPoweredFri, 02 Jun 2006 12:24:00 EST