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[Robots finally able to follow 'make me a sandwich' command (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/robots-finally-able-to-follow-make-me-a-sandwich-command-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/robots-finally-able-to-follow-make-me-a-sandwich-command-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/robots-finally-able-to-follow-make-me-a-sandwich-command-vide/#comments Sandwich Bot Pancakes? No problem. Cookies? You got it! Sandwich? ...is there a Subway near by? Why robots have such a hard time slapping meat and cheese on bread is beyond us, but we're glad the crack team at the Technical University of Munich has finally figured out how to teach them. The dynamic duo of James and Rosie don't exactly blaze through their task of making a sandwich and some popcorn, but at least they're nice enough to toast the bread for your salami- and cheese-based chow. As usual, the moves here are not preprogrammed, the two bots make decisions on the fly based on a complex "reasoning" mechanism and data it can cull from a Kinect. Check out the videos below to watch two carefully construct a simple, layered lunch.

Continue reading Robots finally able to follow 'make me a sandwich' command (video)

Robots finally able to follow 'make me a sandwich' command (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>botbotsJameskinectPR2robotrobotsrumorsandwichtechnical university of munichTechnicalUniversityOfMunichTUMvideoMon, 12 Dec 2011 16:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Robot uses semantic search to get a Subway sandwich, do Jared's evil bidding (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/robot-uses-semantic-search-to-get-a-subway-sandwich-do-jareds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/robot-uses-semantic-search-to-get-a-subway-sandwich-do-jareds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/robot-uses-semantic-search-to-get-a-subway-sandwich-do-jareds/#comments Old PR2 can already fold towels, play pool and grab an ice cold beer -- really, the Willow Garage robot is just one task of short of mastering the day-to-day activities of your average college student. What's that? It can get a sandwich, too? Never mind. And this isn't just any "get me a sandwich" command -- the stout white 'bot uses semantic search to infer possible locations for sandwich, using knowledge of similar objects and environmental models. In the below video, you'll see PR2 make its way to a refrigerator, in search of sustenance, only to come up empty-clawed. Undaunted, it hops on an elevator and makes its way to a Subway sandwich shop. The joint project from the University of Tokyo and University of Munich was recently shown off at recent robotics conference. No word on when PR2 will be programmed to hold the onions.

Continue reading Robot uses semantic search to get a Subway sandwich, do Jared's evil bidding (video)

Robot uses semantic search to get a Subway sandwich, do Jared's evil bidding (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pr2robotroboticsrobotssandwichsubwaysubway sandwichSubwaySandwichuniversity of munichuniversity of tokyoUniversityOfMunichUniversityOfTokyovideowillow garageWillowGarageThu, 06 Oct 2011 01:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Willow Garage slashes price, arm with PR2 SE robot]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/willow-garage-slashes-price-arm-with-pr2-se-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/willow-garage-slashes-price-arm-with-pr2-se-robot/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/willow-garage-slashes-price-arm-with-pr2-se-robot/#comments
Looking to build your own Bakebot using Willow Garage's PR2 robot development platform but can't quite scrape together the necessary $400k? Then we've got some good news for you. The company's now offering a modified version dubbed the PR2 SE for a mere $285,000 (or less if you meet the requirements for a 30 percent discount). The bad news? You'll have to make do with just one arm. As seen previously with the aforementioned Bakebot, both the existing PR2 and the new PR2 SE also now come equipped with an updated sensor system that includes a Microsoft Kinect, and you'll be glad to know that the SE model can indeed be upgraded to two arms at any time. Press release is after the break.

Continue reading Willow Garage slashes price, arm with PR2 SE robot

Willow Garage slashes price, arm with PR2 SE robot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pr2pr2 sePr2Serobotrobot development platformrobot platformRobotDevelopmentPlatformRobotPlatformwillow garageWillowGarageThu, 11 Aug 2011 03:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Caption Contest: Bakebot learns to actually bake things, feed the looming robot army]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/07/caption-contest-bakebot-learns-to-actually-bake-things-feed-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/07/caption-contest-bakebot-learns-to-actually-bake-things-feed-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/07/caption-contest-bakebot-learns-to-actually-bake-things-feed-th/#comments Aww, look! Bakebot's soooo cute! He's actually cooking things these days, thanks to MIT grad student Mario Bollini, who recently upped the creature's skill level in an effort to grab more calories with less effort. Little did he know, however, that teaching a self-contained machine how to feed the future uprising wasn't exactly the best long-term move. No, that creeping feeling of fear isn't unwarranted.

Darren: "01001111 01001101 01000111 00100000 01000011 01001111 01001111 01001011 01001001 01000101 01010011!"
Terrence: "Bakebot's lessons with the master chef were going so well, until his Bork to binary translator failed"
Brian: "Bakebot love kitten. Bakebot eat kitten."
Brad: "Stephanie! Johnny no add vanilla!"
Sean: "It's so unfair! I have eight other senses, but I'd trade them all -- even smision -- to be able to taste."
Christopher: "Rachel Ray hit a wall with 15 minute meals, so we found a faster, more charismatic replacement. Meet Rachel Number 5."
Michael: "Here I thought the robot apocalypse would be powered by nuclear fusion and laser beams, turns out it'll be running on profiteroles and delicious cakes."
Jon: "I'm toasting bread in my head right now...seriously"
Zach: "You want me to wear a what? Why don't you trying sticking a fan in your scalp. Then you can tell me to wear a hairnet."
Joseph: "How do ya like my ganache now, Martha???"
Daniel: "A robot may not injure a cupcake or, through inaction, allow a cupcake to come to harm."
Richard Lai: "How do you like them cookies, Firefox?"
Jose: "How am I supposed to add a teaspoon of sugar with this underperforming Kinect camera?"
Kevin: "Enough with the cakes, what was Leia saying about our only hope?"
Dana: "I. Love. A. Little. Bourbon. In. My. Cookies. Don't. You."
Richard Lawler: "Death to all humans. Sweet, delicious, chocolatey... death."
Don: "Just don't call him Iron Chef. He hates that."
Billy: "Ace of Cakes was canceled because I annihilated the host.. now I must weaponize that Millennium Falcon cake."
Zachary: "Jobless MIT grad narrowly avoids soup kitchen, emerges from basement with replacement mother."

Caption Contest: Bakebot learns to actually bake things, feed the looming robot army originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bakebakebotbakerCaption ContestCaptionContestcomedycookcookiecookingfunnyMario BolliniMarioBollinimitpr2robotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseSun, 07 Aug 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Robots for Humanity help around the house, scratch your itch (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/robots-for-humanity-help-around-the-house-scratch-your-itch-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/robots-for-humanity-help-around-the-house-scratch-your-itch-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/robots-for-humanity-help-around-the-house-scratch-your-itch-vi/#comments Robots for Humanity? That certainly doesn't jibe with our notion of the upcoming cyborg apocalypse. And it shouldn't, considering this joint effort's noble aim is to assist the disabled with the everyday household chores most of us take for granted. The project, a collaboration between Willow Garage and Georgia Tech's Healthcare Robotics Lab, has been working with stroke victim Henry Evans to develop custom UIs that give him mastery of the human-assistive PR2 robot. These tailor-made, head-tracking interfaces have allowed the mute quadriplegic to partially shave his face and even scratch a previously unreachable ten-year itch -- all with the helping claw of the friendly bot. It's a compassionate use of cybernetic tech we're used to seeing come out of Japan, and a welcome assist for disabled communities everywhere. Click past the break for a video demo of Henry and his robotic pal.

Continue reading Robots for Humanity help around the house, scratch your itch (video)

Robots for Humanity help around the house, scratch your itch (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disabledGeorgia TechGeorgiaTechHealthcare Robotics LabHealthcareRoboticsLabHenry EvansHenryEvanshuman assistive robotHumanAssistiveRobotparalyzedPR2robotvideoWillow GarageWillow Garage PR2WillowGarageWillowGaragePr2Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Robots make breakfast for scientists, bide time (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/robots-make-breakfast-for-scientists-bide-time-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/robots-make-breakfast-for-scientists-bide-time-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/12/robots-make-breakfast-for-scientists-bide-time-video/#comments Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for a growing robot -- it's also an easy and relatively quick way to lull a group of scientists into a false sense of security. Now, we're not saying that James and Rosie here had an ulterior motive when they put together a breakfast of Bavarian sausage and baguettes for a group of researchers at Munich's CoTeSys lab -- as far as robotic couples go, they seem very nice. James, a US-designed PR2 robot, sliced the bread, while German-designed Rosie boiled up some sausages, as some hungry roboticists looked on patiently. Oddly, this isn't the first time we've seen a robot prepare a morning meal -- it's nice to know, however, that after the robot apocalypse, at least we'll all still be well fed. Super sped up video of cooking robots after the break.

Continue reading Robots make breakfast for scientists, bide time (video)

Robots make breakfast for scientists, bide time (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakfastcotesys labCotesysLabjamesmunichpr2robotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseroboticistsroboticsrobotsrosievideoSun, 12 Jun 2011 22:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia X7 first hands-on! (updated with video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-x7-first-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-x7-first-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-x7-first-hands-on/#comments The Nokia X7, everybody! Like the E7, this is a 4-inch AMOLED handset with an 8 megapixel EDoF camera, though unlike its more buttoned-down business-oriented sibling, this is an entertainment handset through and through. Check it out in pictures below and we'll bring you more impressions of it and the new Symbian "Anna" UI very shortly. Video forthcoming too!

Update: Video now embedded after the break. We can't yet speak of the improvements Nokia has made on the browser front, but its long overdue inclusion of a virtual portrait QWERTY keyboard is much appreciated, as is the real-time home screen scrolling. It's still not as smooth as you'd see on other devices that have been doing it for a while, but it's preferable to what we had in the older Symbian iteration.

Physically, the X7 is a pleasure to hold and to handle, a hallmark of Nokia construction, but we must once again protest at the so-called nHD resolution of 640 x 360 on this device. It's justified by the need to keep consistency with the company's existing ecosystem, but it's a step behind the cutting edge. At least it's composed of the delectable AMOLED stuff that Nokia's been using lately, and colors and images look positively delicious, if a little pixel-light. Stereo speakers at the bottom and a generally svelte profile make it an appealing little pocket rocket for multimedia, but bear in mind it comes with a 680MHz processor, so it can record and play back 720p video, but may be challenged by more intensive tasks.

Gallery: Nokia X7 hands-on

Continue reading Nokia X7 first hands-on! (updated with video)

Nokia X7 first hands-on! (updated with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4-inchamoledannabreaking newshands-onlaunchnokianokia x7NokiaX7officialoledpr2symbianvideox7Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia announces Symbian 'Anna' update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-announces-symbian-anna-update-for-n8-e7-c7-and-c6-01/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-announces-symbian-anna-update-for-n8-e7-c7-and-c6-01/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-announces-symbian-anna-update-for-n8-e7-c7-and-c6-01/#comments And now it's completely official: the new and freshened up version of Symbian we saw leak out over the weekend is indeed coming to Nokia's latest batch of handsets. The N8, E7, C7 and C6-01, the phones that ran what was formerly known as Symbian^3, will all be getting it "over the coming months," while the newly announced X7 and E6 devices will ship with it preloaded. The change list includes real homescreen scrolling, an overhauled browser, and yes, even a QWERTY onscreen keyboard in portrait orientation. There's also new iconography and heavily refreshed Ovi Maps, which now include predictive search. Nokia is resolute in its belief that Ovi Maps is the best mapping solution on the market, and Microsoft's decision to integrate it into Bing would suggest that's true.

The "Anna" Symbian update will be the first of a series and has been driven almost entirely by consumer feedback. Nokia also shared some Ovi Store stats with us. There are now five million downloads per day going on from the company's app repository, which now includes more than 40,000 apps in total. 158 developers have passed a million downloads each. Full PR and video overview of the enhanced OS after the break.

Continue reading Nokia announces Symbian 'Anna' update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video)

Nokia announces Symbian 'Anna' update for N8, E7, C7 and C6-01; first of a series of updates (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annaannouncedbreaking newsbrowserc6-01c7confirmede7eventkinetic scrollingKineticScrollingmobile osMobileOsn8nokiaofficialosoviovi mapsovi storeOviMapsOviStoreportrait qwertyPortraitQwertypr2symbianupdateupgradevideox7Tue, 12 Apr 2011 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia X7 with Symbian 'Anna' now official on Three UK (Updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-x7-with-symbian-anna-now-official-on-three-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-x7-with-symbian-anna-now-official-on-three-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/12/nokia-x7-with-symbian-anna-now-official-on-three-uk/#comments So, it's official. The Nokia X7, unfit for a US launch, has finally found a home with Three in the UK. The heavily leaked stainless steel handset runs an updated Symbian^3 "Anna" (aka, PR2) OS that finally introduces a vastly improved browser and portrait QWERTY with split-view data entry among its 50 new enhancements. Rounding out the specs are an 8 megapixel cam with dual-LED flash, 4-inch OLED ClearBlack display, HD video recording, and 256MB RAM / 1GB ROM with an 8GB memory card tossed in the box. You'll find the press release, video, and more pic after the break.

Update: Nokia tells us that the X7 features 720p video recording, and a 680MHz CPU -- presumably the same old (and we mean old) ARM 11 proc and found in the N8 and E7. Oh, and it's the same Broadcom BCM2727 GPU and 8 megapixel EDoF camera we reviewed in the E7. The X7 will be available in Q2 with a price set at €380 before taxes and subsidies.

Gallery: Nokia X7 press pics



[Thanks, Will B.]

Continue reading Nokia X7 with Symbian 'Anna' now official on Three UK (Updated)

Nokia X7 with Symbian 'Anna' now official on Three UK (Updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>33 uk3Ukannaannounceannouncementbreaking newsclearblackflashflash 10Flash10nokianokia x7NokiaX7oledportrait qwertyPortraitQwertypr2qwertysymbiansymbian annaSymbianAnnathreethree ukThreeUkukvideox7Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Willow Garage now selling the PR2 for $400k a pop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/willow-garage-now-selling-the-pr2-for-400k-a-pop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/willow-garage-now-selling-the-pr2-for-400k-a-pop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/08/willow-garage-now-selling-the-pr2-for-400k-a-pop/#comments While it was fun while it lasted, it was obvious that Willow Garage couldn't keep giving away its ultra-high-end development platform PR2 bots forever. After shipping 11 of the bots to research institutes, Willow Garage is now selling the PR2 to all comers -- as long as they've got 400 grand in their back pocket. We've covered the specs before (oodles of CPU power, two highly articulated pincer arms, and high-end vision systems), along with some of PR2's recent hijinks, and hopefully we see more of that sort of stuff now that the rugged, ready-for-adventure PR2 is on the market. If you can't scrap together all the cash, Willow Garage will also be offering a discount $280k version to people and institutions that can demonstrate "past performance and leadership" in open source robotics software -- a topic obviously near and dear to Willow Garage's heart with ROS, the OS that powers PR2 and is slowly spreading throughout much of the world of higher-end personal robotics.

As for the high price and its generally opaque business model, Willow Garage compares the current state of its industry to high end workstations in the 70s, back when researchers were spending more money and time figuring out what their computers could do than actually accomplishing anything with them. Willow Garage isn't planning on making any sort of killing in the business yet -- they'd just be happy to have the PR2 project at a self sustaining level -- but they're working toward what they see as the "next radical shift" in productivity, a personal robotics follow-up to the personal computer revolution. This is a future similar to the one Bill Gates was talking up back in 2006, but of course Willow Garage wants its open source ROS platform to be the "Microsoft" this time around. They certainly don't plan to corner the hardware market in the process, however: the company hopes the quasi-followup to the PR2 will actually be built by multiple companies.

Gallery: Willow Garage PR2 press shots

Willow Garage now selling the PR2 for $400k a pop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>open sourceOpenSourcepr2robot osRobotOsroswillow garagewillow garage pr2WillowGarageWillowGaragePr2Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Willow Garage PR2 robot learns to sort socks for $10k prize (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/willow-garage-pr2-robot-learns-to-sort-socks-for-10k-prize-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/willow-garage-pr2-robot-learns-to-sort-socks-for-10k-prize-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/willow-garage-pr2-robot-learns-to-sort-socks-for-10k-prize-vid/#commentsWillow Garage PR2 robot learns to sort socks for $10k prize (video) We've been following the evolution of the Willow Garage PR2 robot for a little over a year now, watching as it learned to mooch electricity and hustle pool sharks. That, as it turns out, was only the beginning. The robots are now up for general pre-order should anyone want one (priced well into the "if you have to ask" range, surely), and to celebrate that Willow Garage founder Scott Hassan put up $10k to sponsor a video contest of the PR2 robot doing some impressive things. The winner is a video called "Sockification" from a crew at UC Berkeley in which the PR2 shows some... enthusiastic sock sorting skills. You can see that one embedded below, along with our personal favorite: an ode to StrongBad and his lightswitch rave.

Continue reading Willow Garage PR2 robot learns to sort socks for $10k prize (video)

Willow Garage PR2 robot learns to sort socks for $10k prize (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitioncontestfoldfoldinglaundrypr2raverobotsocksock foldingSockFoldingsocksstrongbadvideowillow garageWillowGarageSat, 21 Aug 2010 17:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Beer-fetching robot promises to make your significant other obsolete]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/beer-fetching-robot-promises-to-make-your-significant-other-obso/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/beer-fetching-robot-promises-to-make-your-significant-other-obso/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/beer-fetching-robot-promises-to-make-your-significant-other-obso/#comments The thing about the future is this: we'll still have to do menial things like answer the door, or take out the trash, or get up off our couches to get our own brews after a long, hard day at the office... unless we're smart enough to invent robots to do such menial things, that is. Well, Willow Garage has spent some time building a "Beer Me" application for its PR2 robot which gets at least one of these tasks under its belt. They added a four-holed foam block placed behind the robot's navigation laser so that it can safely carry four bottles across the terrain, and equipped their refrigerator with a tilted "self-stocking" shelf. Check out its operation in the video below.

Continue reading Beer-fetching robot promises to make your significant other obsolete

Beer-fetching robot promises to make your significant other obsolete originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beerpr2robotrobotsthe futureTheFuturewillow garageWillowGarageThu, 08 Jul 2010 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Willow Garage PR2 robot plays pool, gives Fast Eddie a run for his money (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/willow-garage-pr2-robot-plays-pool-gives-fast-eddie-a-run-for-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/willow-garage-pr2-robot-plays-pool-gives-fast-eddie-a-run-for-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/willow-garage-pr2-robot-plays-pool-gives-fast-eddie-a-run-for-h/#comments
We're pretty big fans of Willow Garage, and its generous support of the open source Robot Operating System (ROS). For its latest trick, the company has developed a system to teach its PR3 robot billiards. Unlike projects we've seen in the past, Poolshark doesn't rely on overhead cameras to calculate moves. Rather, it's forced to conform to standard rules: it can only shoot from where the cue ball lay, and it sights shots from the same vantage point as human player would. And, you know what? While not perfect, the robot does pretty well. Not bad for a week's work, eh? Video after the break.

Continue reading Willow Garage PR2 robot plays pool, gives Fast Eddie a run for his money (video)

Willow Garage PR2 robot plays pool, gives Fast Eddie a run for his money (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>billiardshackathonpoolpoolsharkpr2robotrosvideowillow garageWillowGarageThu, 17 Jun 2010 02:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Willow Garage starts shipping its PR2 Beta Program bots: get ready for ROS-powered hijinks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/willow-garage-starts-shipping-its-pr2-beta-program-bots-get-rea/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/willow-garage-starts-shipping-its-pr2-beta-program-bots-get-rea/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/willow-garage-starts-shipping-its-pr2-beta-program-bots-get-rea/#comments It isn't hard to get behind a company like Willow Garage, who not only has enough funding to invest heavily in building on ROS, an open source Robotics Operating System that's gaining traction in the robotics community, but also managed to dig up enough spare change to give away $4.4 million in robots to a few lucky research institutions. There were 11 schools selected to receive the Willow Garage-developed PR2 Beta, which stuffs some very high end sensors, two articulated arms, and sixteen CPU cores on top of a rolling base -- providing a lot of leg room for advanced functionality. Of course, in the world of robots, "advanced" means stuff like opening doors and not running over your cat, but with a common code base to work from and all this fancy hardware, hopefully these schools will manage to push the industry along a bit during the next two years that the PR2 Beta Program lasts.

Willow Garage starts shipping its PR2 Beta Program bots: get ready for ROS-powered hijinks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pr2pr2 betapr2 beta programPr2BetaPr2BetaProgramrobotroswillow garageWillowGarageFri, 28 May 2010 20:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Willow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/willow-garages-pr2-robot-breaks-enters-steals-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/willow-garages-pr2-robot-breaks-enters-steals-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/willow-garages-pr2-robot-breaks-enters-steals-electricity/#commentsWillow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity Robots may be impressive and occasionally frightening things that will some day rule our lives and societies, but right now they're rather co-dependent, unable to even recharge themselves without a helping hand. The latest from robo-startup Willow Garage is different, a bot called PR2 that's capable of maneuvering through a crowded office, opening (non-locked) doors, and pilfering a little taste of that good, good, alternating current juice. What's more, he's sensitive to your time constraints, so the demonstration video below has been thoughtfully edited to minimize footage of aimless wandering, spinning, and general confusion. Next step: learning to knock.

[Via Robots.net]

Continue reading Willow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity

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Willow Garage's PR2 robot breaks, enters, steals electricity originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargeplugplug inPlugInpr2rechargewillow garagewillow garage pr2WillowGarageWillowGaragePr2Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:41:00 EST