hrp-2
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Japanese robot moves heavy objects by putting its back into it
When you need to move something but it's too heavy to lift off the ground, most of us default to one of two strategies: find someone stronger, or shove it along the floor instead. Researchers from the University of Tokyo's JSK Laboratory are now teaching robots to do the latter. The latest version of its HRP-2 is able to analyse an object, say a heavy crate on tiny rollers, and try different methods of exerting force. Much like a human, lower force strategies mean pushing or pulling with its hands, while higher strength methods include leaning in with a single shoulder or its back. The robot will monitor each attempt and automatically switch to increasingly higher force strategies if it finds the object still isn't moving. Depending on its progress, the HRP-2 will also alter its footwork to ensure it doesn't fall over; a slow-moving object might require shorter steps, for instance, to make sure it's not caught off guard by a sudden change in resistance. It can't replace your local moving company (yet), but it's nice to see a robot finally putting its back into something.
HRP-2 humanoid robot learns to use obstacles to its advantage
There may be plenty of robots out there able to avoid or overcome obstacles, but we can't say we've seen too many that are actually able to use obstacles to their advantage. That's the claim to fame of this so-called HRP-2 robot built by researchers at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, however, which is able to detect objects around it and discern how they can be used to help it with a specific task -- like leaning on a table to help balance while kicking a ball, for instance. As New Scientist points out, whether intentional or not, the end result is a robot that behaves remarkably like an elderly person -- see for yourself in the video after the break.
Researchers teach ASIMO and HRP-2 a bit of real life Frogger
Some George Costanza-types at Carnegie Mellon have repurposed their own hard earned knowledge of Frogger maneuvers at the university arcade into useful object avoidance techniques for robots. They've outfitted both ASIMO and HRP-2 with versions of the technology, which allows the robots to detect their surroundings, create 3D maps of obstacles and plan routes accordingly (and actually has nothing to do with Frogger). If you check out the two videos after the break, you can see that these guys really put the bots through the ringer, including some death defying spinning obstacles that ASIMO avoided with ease, and the "real life" environment the HRP-2 is faced with... but seriously, couldn't they just let ASIMO have the blue dot already? [Thanks, Poly Bug]
Humanoid robots could still do the twist in 2193
If no one's complaining when the Rock-afire Explosion busts out a Bubba Sparxxx jam, we doubt the future alien population of this here planet will have any beef with an android cousin doing the Tango. In a bizarre feat of preservation, a team from the University of Tokyo, Japan has used "video motion-capture systems to record the movement of a dancer performing a Japanese folk routine called the Aizu-Bandaisan." Rather than just filing it on a DVD, however, they are teaching Kawada Industries' HRP-2 to mimic the moves, which could open the door (wider) for robotic dance teachers of the future. If you think it sounds weird, just wait 'til you catch the thing on video.[Thanks, Eileen]
Since you're up, could you bring HRP-2 something from the fridge?
We've liked what we've seen so far from the Kawada's HRP bots, what with the dancing and the martial arts and the industrial capabilities, but their latest update for the HRP-2 has just vaulted the line from a life of menial tasks straight to middle management. The bot is now capable of accepting verbal commands to grab a drink from the fridge, but it would much rather delegate the task, which it can do equally as well. Sounds like this unit is gearing up for a life of 40 hour work weeks and a cushy pension, instead of the dancing ninja industrial bot we mistook it for.[Via Robot Gossip]
