Animatronic -- Engadget

animatronic posts

Titan the Robot dances, sings, scares the bejeezus out of us (video)

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 22nd 2009 at 12:15PM

This plays out like the opening scene of an 80s sci-fi film: Eight foot tall robot appears in a shopping mall, sings "What a Wonderful World" and "My Way," dances around a bit to a chorus of oohs and aahs from the audience, launches into a series of silly demo movements, and then... Well, we won't spoil it for you. Let's just say that at eight feet tall (and with tons of menace) we have to wonder if Titan the Robot could be stopped should some sort of cinematic "glitch" should cause him to "freak out" amongst the onlookers at Dubai's GITEX 2009. Like most man-made disasters, this one starts innocently enough: with a show-stopping rendition of a Paul Anka tune. Curious? Peep it after the break. Just make sure you don't get close.

Continue reading Titan the Robot dances, sings, scares the bejeezus out of us (video)

Video: Jules the robot makes convincing argument to destroy humanity

by Thomas Ricker posted Oct 29th 2008 at 7:43AM

Besides rarely showering, Robotic engineers and researchers also possess a peculiar sense of humor. Trip with us through the uncanny valley as we take a look at the animatronic head developed by David Hanson. Software, developed by the University of Bristol with some help by a professional animator, controls 34 tiny servo motors to mimic facial expressions picked up by Jules' camera. Watch Jules make an ecologically sound case to "destroy humanity" in the video after the break. Indeed, if only Maggie was still in power.

Continue reading Video: Jules the robot makes convincing argument to destroy humanity

Kota the Triceratops ships from the land before time to your home

by Samuel Axon posted Oct 8th 2008 at 8:00PM

Playskool's Kota the Triceratops is a robot dinosaur that uses 11 sensors to respond to touch and sound by wiggling its horns, wagging its tail and turning its head. It also plays a few "adventure themed songs." Best of all, it can't stampede or impale anyone; like the animatronic Triceratops in Jurassic Park, Kota can't get up and move around. That won't stop kids from adoring it though. Like Pleo before it, Kota's cuteness overpowers all. Don't believe us? Shipments have begun, so you can buy the cuddly robot and see for yourself. All you need is 300 bucks. Or you could just check out the video beyond the cut.

Continue reading Kota the Triceratops ships from the land before time to your home

Dinosaur theme park coming to Dubai

by Joshua Topolsky posted Dec 18th 2007 at 4:37PM

In the 90's, you might have been convinced by certain bestsellers and major motion pictures that if someone created a theme park full of man-made dinosaurs, you'd probably get eaten. What no one could have predicted back then was that you wouldn't be getting eaten by a dinosaur... you'd be getting eaten by a robot dinosaur. At least that's likely what you can expect when Dubai's $1 billion "Restless Planet" park opens in late 2008, a 500,000 square foot recreation of our planet at a time when dinosaurs roamed -- replete with giant, animatronic / robotic versions of over 40 extinct species. According to the park's managing director Mustafa Galadari, "The Restless Planet provides a visual, audio and tactile experience allowing visitors to experience some of the exciting things that have gone on in the Earth's history," adding that the effect will be, "Extremely realistic and scary – but at the same time, educational." The dinos will contain embedded potentiometers and motion sensors (amongst others), apparently allowing the reptilian re-creations to follow visitors with their eyes, track specific colors of clothing, regulate their own movements, and even lunge at viewers... then eat them. Don't say we didn't warn you.

Animatronic fashion is here

by Conrad Quilty-Harper posted Oct 8th 2006 at 12:34AM

Whenever fashion and technology meet, the end result is usually a bit absurd, a bit playful: take fashion phones for instance. This time round, the fusion has been approached from the perspective of a fashion designer called Hussein Chalayan with the result being a mesmerizing collection of clothes that elegantly redesign themselves thanks to complex, hidden animatronics. In one design, hundreds of concealed swarovski crystals appear from nowhere to completely change the image of a dress; another shows a dress turn smoothly into a frilly hat. Practicality certainly isn't the appeal here -- the dress / hat combo leaves the wearer completely nekkid -- but surely this is the first step towards clothes that adapt to our environment, and look good doing it too.

[Via BoingBoing]