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Fujitsu announces 3D image recognition chip for robots
Fujitsu looks to be doing its part to keep robots well aware of their surroundings, today announcing a new 3D image recognition chip that promises an array of benefits, although it sadly doesn't have a robot to go along with it. Still, the company doesn't seem to think it'll have much trouble finding suitable bots for it, with its small size and low power consumption making it ideal for small, household robots in addition to those of the larger, more terrifying variety. Apparently, the entire system works in real time, and is said to be five times more efficient in recognizing images than similar system. While the chip has yet to find its way into an actual robot, that'll apparently happen before too long, with Fujitsu promising to put that final touch on the experiment before year's end.[Via Impress]
iRobot Poster-making-Bot makes up for shaky hands
Making a good poster is hard, but most people wouldn't considering it harder than creating a robot to make the poster for you. Not so for Wyatt Felt, a member of instructables, who created a robot out of not much more than an iRobot Create, an old inkjet, and a sharpie which, put together, can draw perfectly spaced large lettering. Like an inkjet, it's made of individual pixels: but the PosterBot's pixels are the size of a dab of a large sharpie, so the poster is easily readable from a distance. If you want to create a PosterBot yourself, you'll have to have a fair degree of competency with C++, and a whole lot of peripheral kit to build the thing. You make sure to keep at least four PC-Mount DPDT 5v DC relays rated at 1A lying around, don't you?
GeStream Technology's new robot challenges i-SOBOT's title
i-SOBOT, long the holder of the "world's smallest bipedal robot," finally has a proper rival, in the form of GeStream Technology's 15-centimeter-tall gold-colored bot. The latest tiny robotic overlord has 16 degrees of "freedom," which computes to something like 65,536 possible movements, and will be sold in unassembled so that owners can customize the look and functionality of the miniscule bot. With the price rumored at around $185 to $200, the company is laying claim to the "smallest, lightest, and cheapest in the world," though it wouldn't be surprising to see those titles usurped by some like-minded competitor. No word on availability, but as soon as we can get the Engadget offices crawling with a lethal army of these, we'll let you know.[Thanks, Daanish]
Nao robot replaces AIBO in RoboCup Standard Platform League
Aldebaran Robotics' Nao robot didn't exactly have all that many skills to show off at the recent RoboCup in Atlanta, but it apparently had enough to earn itself a place as the new de facto bot for the Standard Platform League (previously known as the Four-Legged League). Until now, that position had been held by Sony's AIBO, who will now apparently be relegated to cheering on its bipedal successor from the sidelines. The Standard Platform League, as the same suggests, requires all competitors to use the same robot, placing all the focus on software development instead of hardware tweaking. Unfortunately, it seems that you'll still have to wait a bit if you're thinking about competing as, last we heard, there was still no word on pricing or availability for the long-in-development Nao.[Via Robot Dreams]
Record-setting RunBot gains climbing ability
Having already bested other bots in feats of robot athletics, the speedy RunBot has now apparently decided to take its game to another level, with it recently seen showing off some of tis newly-developed climbing abilities. While it's apparently not quite ready to joining its rock-climbing counterparts on their next expedition, the RunBot can now automatically adjust its gait to different terrain, giving it the ability to walk uphill or downhill (albeit after enduring a few falls to get its bearings). No word on what it'll attempt next, though its options would still seem to be somewhat limited, what with it not having an upper body and all.[Photo courtesy of Popular Mechanics]
Take G's wooden robot toys
Those looking for a little robot companionship but wary of them potentially turning on you when you least expect it may want to consider the latest creations from Japan's Take G, which boast plenty of style without any of that pesky "technology." From the looks of it, there's plenty of different stationary contraptions to choose from, ranging in size from just a couple of inches to over two feet tall. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing or availability, although we're fairly certain they won't come cheap, if they're even for sale at all.[Via Boing Boing]
Why the botters do it
Frybread over at Notaddicted yesterday posted about a chat that he had with the owner of an American gold botting company. Evidently the massive gold farming bans that went through on Monday hit his company especially hard. First of all it's interesting to note that there are such companies in the US as well, so China doesn't have complete monopoly on the illegal gold selling market. So what is it like inside a botting business? Well, the anonymous business owner runs an office with about 150 computers. It sounds like a lot for a guy who runs his business using bots, but he explains that all tells need to be made by actual people since they are monitored constantly. When asked how many accounts he lost in the ban sweep on Monday, he says 100. All of his characters were between levels 40 and 70, which answers a lot of questions I've been having about all those people I have been competing with over primals. The question came up, why do it if you risk losing your business? The reply was clear and without hesitation: I'd rather deal with the risks then [sic] work a normal office job. This is now the third time I have read an interview enlightening the reader to the plight of the poor goldfarmer just trying to make a living at the game he loves. But if you love the game that much, why do you abuse its rules and harm the player base to make a profit? Sure he lost 100 accounts, but he'll have those back in a month, and will be out skewing economies once again. [via Notaddicted]
Homebrew robots reach dime size
While we're a bit skeptical of its claimed status to be "quite possibly the world's smallest robot," this so-called Pico bot is certainly impressive enough in its own right -- especially considering that it's the result of a DIY project. As you can see above, the bot is small enough to sit on a dime, yet it still packs enough brains (and power) to move around autonomously (if a little recklessly), motoring about at a top speed of 0.5 feet per second and lasting about 15 minutes before its battery runs dry. While it currently doesn't seem to be capable of much more than the antics on display in the video after break, its creator does see plenty of room for improvement, including adding ZigBee wireless communication, as well as an on-board camera and built-in GPS. Of course, there's also the possibility that someone could take things one step further and amass a pint-sized robot army, letting them annoy their co-workers on a hereto unheard of scale.[Via MAKE:Blog]
People-lifting android unveiled in Japan
We've already seen androids that can knock you out, but now a team of researchers from the University of Tokyo have pieced together a humanoid robot with more peaceful intentions -- or at least that's what they're hoping. Weighing in at 154 pounds and measuring just over five feet tall, the apparently unnamed droid can easily lift a 145 person out of bed or cart around heavy packages, which its creators say make it ideally suited for jobs in nursing care or the moving industry. While it's not clear how the bot feels about that pre-determined career path, we wouldn't recommend arguing with it if it one day scuffs up your furniture, or it could well put those people-lifting skills to a slightly more destructive use.
Figla robot cleans up indoors and out
It looks like Japanese manufacturer Figla isn't wasting any time putting its latest cleaning robot to work, recently setting it loose on the streets of Osaka for all to see. While we can't tell if it's happy or disgruntled, the bot does talk while it's performing its duties (as seen in the video after the break), and it can apparently be controlled using a remote control or PC via WiFi when you don't want to just let it do its thing. It also appears to have learned a few more tricks than other cleaning bots, with its various parts able to be swapped out to perform different tasks, including waxing hardwood floors. While the company says the bot could be going on duty across Japan as soon as Spring 2008, it apparently won't be available to the general public, with it aimed instead at companies ready to purchase at least 1,000 of the little suckers.[Via Shiny Shiny]
Elbit Systems unveils VIPeR "hunter-killer" robot
Israeli defense firm Elbit System looks to be gunning squarely at iRobot's battle-hardened territory, today unveiling its less-than-originally-named VIPeR bot which, as you can see, boasts some serious firepower. In addition to that imposing Uzi machine-pistol (aimed via video camera, not autonomously), Reuters reports that the bot can also plant grenades, and be equipped with the necessary tools to sniff out bombs and dispose of them appropriately. While the bot will apparently be deployed with Israeli forces initially, the company also appears to be hoping to attract the interest of the United States military, as well as foreign police forces. No word if the the testing process included showdowns with other robots, although it's hard to imagine them being able to resist.
MIT brain bot mimics humans to recognize street scene
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, robots have been laying it on thick with human-inspired forms since day one. Unfortunately, AI hasn't quite kept up with mechanical achievements, mainly due to the fact that the human brain isn't merely mysterious in many regards, but dang complicated to boot. However, some brain experts at the Tomaso Poggio lab for brain research at MIT have made some impressive gains in bridging the gap. Using a computational model of how the brain processes info, the researchers created a bot capable of recognizing different objects in a street scene. The research is primarily targeted at brain geeks looking for ways to repair damaged brain functions and to better understand the brain's operation, but computer science should benefit from the biological inspiration of this research, and the methods used could lead to computer vision systems capable of better surveillance, car driving assistance, visual search engines and vision for robots. Because of its biological nature, the Poggio lab vision system is trained over time by being shown various street scenes, and the data in each picture is processed in much the same process as the brain goes through when presented with an image. Right now the system just mimics the brain's instant recognition faculties, but soon it'll be capable of putting more thought into what it sees -- for instance, cars do not belong in the sky -- so be warned people of earth: the first step in destroying an enemy is visually recognizing them. Our days are numbered.[Via Medgadget]
DepthX robot submarine passes first test
As Popular Science reports, inventor/spelunker Bill Stone's DepthX robot submarine recently underwent its first successful test in Mexico's La Pilita underwater cave, which Stone hopes is only the first step on the bot's way to exploring Jupiter's ice-covered moon, Europa. After a slight delay with some suspicious border guards, the robot quickly got to work on its initial field test, diving some 300 feet down into the cave system, collecting samples, capturing images, and building a 3D map of the area. As the video after the break shows, the robot is definitely built to impress, with some decidedly sci-fi sounding sound effects adding the perfect final touch. According to Popular Science, DepthX will undergo another field test next month, to be followed by a considerably bigger challenge in May, when it'll dive more than 1,000 feet into the Zacaton, the world's deepest sinkhole.[Via Slash Gear]
iRobot intros next-gen bomb-defusing PackBot
iRobot may be best known for its innocuous Roomba and Scooba robots, but there is another, less-talked about side to the company -- one where robots face far more perilous tasks than wall-to-wall shag carpeting. We're talking, of course, about the company's line of PackBot robots, who thanklessly perform reconnaissance in hostile areas and disarm explosives so humans don't have to -- sadly, not always making it out in one piece. It looks like at least some of the PackBot currently serving could soon be relieved of duty, however, with the company introducing a new-and-improved model, the PackBot 510. Set to begin shipping in April of this year, the new bot is said to be 30 percent faster than the current generation model, boasting twice the gripping strength and able to drag larger objects and lift twice the weight of its predecessor. What's more, the bot has been outfitted with a new hand controller that the company says has been modeled after video game controllers, supposedly reducing the amount of training needed to operate the robot. While most of you would indeed likely get the knack of it pretty quickly, you'll no doubt have a significantly harder time actually getting your hands one of 'em.
Researchers create robot with "human soul"
Researchers at Munich University are looking to put a little more of a human touch into robotics with their latest project, a remotely-controlled bot intended for use in dangerous situations. The wheeled robot packs twin cameras on its noggin' to provide a clear view to the person controlling it, who can manipulate the robot's arm and fingers using a data glove and force-feedback interface, and view all the action from the relative comfort of a head-mounted display. While it's stuck on wheels at the moment, the researchers eventually hope to make a fully mobile bipedal robot that can be controlled by someone wearing a complete exoskeleton. Alright, so being remote-controlled doesn't technically make it a "robot" -- at least not until our brave bucket 'o bolts here finally gets a clue after having its arm reattached for the umpteenth time after yet another unsuccessful bomb diffusion.
WoW Glider suing Blizzard
In case you're out of the loop, WoW Glider is a 3rd party application that automates all major aspects of gameplay. You set the parameters and it starts farming loot, experience, reputation -- whatever you'd like. This is, unsurprisingly, against Blizzard's terms of service -- those things you have to click agreement to before you play the game after every patch. But this lawsuit isn't just about whether or not WoW Glider breaks the terms of service: it's about whether or not Blizzard has the right to kill the distribution of WoW Glider. WoW Glider's complaint suggests Blizzard has been attempting to strong-arm them into stopping distribution based on alleged copyright and DMCA violation -- and WoW Glider's makers are jumping in with the first lawsuit, which (and, no, I am not a lawyer) seems to be asserting their rights to distribute WoW Glider and telling Blizzard to back off. Lawyers and non-lawyers can read the full text of the complaint and chime in with your own opinions below.[Thanks, Baratrill]
DS Fanboy Review: Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (GBA)
Just about everyone has heard of Tony Hawk. Whether you're a fan of skateboarding or gaming, the man has made an impact, often considered equal, in both cultures. With his first game being released way back when on the original Playstation, folks have had plenty of time to learn how to bust kickflips and grind massive rails in his games.His games on the GBA have been no joke, either. Featuring an isolated bird's eye view, previous games featured excellent 3D graphics and gameplay on the portable system. But where the old games were all about busting big lines and tearing up the course to your heart's content, this game is more of a racing game and, as such, you're limited in the tricks department.
D2E's IGURO robot receptionist
South Korea's D2E looks to be moving up in the world of robotics, going from pint-sized programmable bots to life-size robots of the human-replacing variety. If it has its way, D2E's IGURO bot could soon be sitting at a reception desk near you, guiding you on your way to your destination and totally freaking out small children (and adults who know better) in the process. While it apparently lacks the ability to walk, it can move its arms and boasts voice and visual recognition, so it can get to know the regulars. Additional tasks can also be initiated using a nearby controller or managed from a remote location. Alas, it seems not everything has advanced as far as IGURO's interpersonal abilities, as it's still stuck wearing a goofy-looking headset like the rest of us.
Japanese researchers create dancing cuttlefish robot
Researchers at Future University in Hakodate, Japan have either been spending way too much of their own time and money or have the best gig ever, recently unveiling a dancing robot squid they've created to to help celebrate an upcoming harbor festival. More specifically, the bot's supposed to be a cuttlefish, a fellow cephalopod native to the area that may or may not be able to bust a move, although its robot counterpart certainly can. Measuring about 2.2 meters (or 86 inches) tall, the cuttlefish bot uses air pressure to get its limbs into a groove and is apparently controllable via cellphone -- no doubt in order to keep a safe distance away from it. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until next August to see it in action, although that should give it plenty of time to perfect its routine.[Via Plastic Bamboo]
Watch out, Rosie: Stanford researchers developing robot butler
Sure we all love robots that can play soccer, crawl through our intestines, or blow things up, but the real holy grail of robotics -- at least to the lazy folks among us -- is a multi-purpose bot that can perform a number of different tasks that humans find distasteful: we need a robot butler. Well thanks to a team of 30+ researchers at Stanford University (the same school that brought us Stanley the Grand Challenge-winning, um, autobot), our dream of one day bossing a domestic bot around the house while we blog from the hot tub may soon come to fruition, as the school's so-called STAIR program has just achieved the first of its four major objectives. Using a webcam and a proprietary algorithm, the STAIR bot is now able to analyze an unknown object and decide how to pick it up based on past experiences; so although it may never have encountered a roll of duct tape, for instance, it can query its on-board database to locate similar objects from which it can form a grasping strategy. The next steps for the robobutler will be significantly more difficult, however, as the project will only be deemed a success when the bot is able to clean up after a party (including loading the dishwasher), assemble one of those frustrating pieces of IKEA furniture using multiple tools, and guide guests around a dynamic space such as a research lab. Just don't expect to see the STAIR bot at your local Circuit City or temp agency anytime soon, as it won't be able to adequately fetch open-air objects until sometime in 2008 and hidden objects until 2011 or later, according to team leader Andrew Ng. Still, we love where this research is headed, because when it comes time for the inevitable mechatronic uprising, our future overlords will be able to calmingly lead us to our dungeons by the hand instead of painfully dragging us by the ear, nose, or other sensitive body part. Click on to check out the robobutler perched on its Segway-based mobility platform...[Via Robot Gossip]
