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Domino’s starts making autonomous pizza deliveries
Houston residents might receive their pizza from Nuro’s R2.
California clears Nuro's driverless cars to start making commercial deliveries
California’s DMV has granted the state’s first Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Permit to Nuro.
Nuro's driverless delivery cars are cleared for testing in California
Nuro has received approval to publicly test its self-driving courier vehicles on California roads.
US DOT approves Nuro's next-gen driverless delivery vehicle design
Today, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved a regulatory exemption for Nuro's next-generation self-driving delivery vehicle, R2. The exemption allows Nuro to begin public road testing and to prepare for deliveries to customers' homes.
Domino's will use self-driving vehicles to deliver pizza in Houston
Domino's is determined to make autonomous pizza delivery a practical reality. The chain has unveiled plans to deliver pies to "select" Houston customers later in 2019 using Nuro's self-driving R2 vehicle. If you order online from a participating store and have a little bit of luck, you'll get the choice of a robotic courier -- pick that and you'll get a PIN code to unlock a compartment on the R2 and grab your meal. While this doesn't bode well for human delivery drivers, Domino's is betting that this could help stores deal with the crush of orders and bring your pizza on time.
Getting around on Inmotion's not-a-Segway
Tired of walking, but can't quite cough up the scratch for a Segway? Say hi to the Inmotion R2 in the gallery below. It's a two-wheeled, personal electric vehicle that glides along at a leisurely 9MPH for around 18 miles. It's self-balancing -- you lean slightly forward or backward to move in each direction. Harder leans mean faster speed; tilt the removable handle left or right and you'll start doing donuts -- something Honda's similar contraption does hands-free. Even for this writer, who's never gotten on one of the contraptions before (nor anything even remotely similar), it took about four or five minutes to get the hang of it. After that? No real problems. If you get tired of riding, or perhaps there are too many people around to weave around, you can pull it behind you with the motor assisting -- you won't be dragging dead weight. Perhaps the most interesting aspect, though, is what it can do when connected to your smartphone via a companion app.
Broken Realm enters open beta
Congratulations to Broken Realm for going into beta! The first official beta server, Frost Highland, opened for business yesterday. Forget keys, this beta is open to all comers -- you can just sign up and start playing. There are oodles of beta activities going on, including welcome packs, XP happy hours, the ability to try out the VIP service for free, and a competition to become one of the top-ranking players on each server in order to unlock special rewards and titles.
Microsoft acquires home automation startup R2 Studios to bolster Xbox division
Details are expectedly light on this one, but The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft has acquired R2 Studios, a startup focused on home entertainment and home automation founded by Blake Krikorian (best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Sling). According to the WSJ, Krikorian and a "small team" will be joining Microsoft, with the company's Xbox division apparently the main focus of the deal. The news also follows reported acquisition talks R2 has had with both Apple and Google, although Microsoft's winning bid hasn't been revealed -- it does unsurprisingly include some patents, though. For its part, Microsoft is staying mum on the deal, although R2's current focus (including a home control app for Android) would seem to be a natural fit for Microsoft's SmartGlass efforts.
NASA, GM working on a 'Robo-Glove' to assist astronauts and autoworkers alike
We've seen power assist technology designed to help people walk, bike or just tote luggage around, and now we've for the Human Grasp Assist aka Robo-Glove. Under development from GM and NASA, the project takes inspiration from technology designed to give Robonaut 2 a hand capable of using tools designed for humans to embed actuators in the top of the glove that provide additional grip for the hands of meatbags. Once its pressure sensors detect the wearer is picking up a tool the synthetic tendons retract, holding them there until the sensor gives the signal to release. Current prototypes still weigh about two pounds and run off of a belt-mounted lithium-ion battery, although we still find the idea preferable to humanoid replacement like the impervious-to-baseball-bats DLR Hand System. By reducing the amount of force factory workers need to hold a tool from 15 to 20 pounds to just 5 to 10 pounds its expected to cut down the risk of repetitive motion injuries -- we'll wait for the fourth generation model to see what they can do for bloggers or Lee Evans. Until then, check after the break for a press release and quick demonstration video.
Robonaut 2 gets unboxed in space, plans for galactic domination
Remember that nondescript space shuttle that launched about a month ago -- you know, the one responsible for carrying this here nondescript humanoid robot into the outer reaches of our galaxy? Well, things went according to plan and the robot has been successfully deployed in the International Space Station, making way for the first ever robot-human space crew. R2, weighing in at 300 pounds with just a torso, head and two arms, cost NASA and GM a cool $2.5 million to build, and there's no telling what kind of handling fees were applied when shoving him into his SLEEPR crate. Because of his dexterity, the bot is up above the clouds to help out with chores and assist crew members with science experiments and handling human tools -- easy for us to say, but even easier for you to grok if you slam the play button just after the break.
Robonaut 2: the trailer
In a world where the space shuttle program was in its last days... one robot answered the call to serve... persevered... and found that... just maybe... he had the right stuff too. Now... the mission is set... the countdown is on... and the ticket is one-way. Thursday, February, 24th. 2011. Robonaut 2: The Beginning. [Thanks, Joe B.]
Sling founder concocts Crestron home automation app for Android, demos it on Galaxy Tab
Two years ago in Denver, we watched as a Crestron iPhone app wowed crowds at CEDIA. At this year's show in Atlanta, a similar app has been unveiled for a rival platform: Android. Blake Krikorian, better known as the founder of Sling Media, was recently able to demonstrate a new Crestron home automation app for Android, and he did it on Samsung's much-hyped Galaxy Tab. The program (codenamed 'R2') is the result of 1.5 years of work, and in large part, it was built to overcome the many limitations of iOS. Specifically, he wanted to bypass iOS' Slide to Unlock screen, and he greatly preferred Android's multitasking implementation and background notification system. Eventually, we're expecting the app to sell for around $99, but plans beyond that have yet to be made. Hop on past the break for a video demonstration, and stay tuned for any information we dig up regarding a solid release date.
Droid 2 R2-D2 edition launch kit makes emergency landing
It's getting awful close now, eh? Merely hours after hearing that Droid 2 R2-D2 edition launch kits were splashing down in select Verizon Wireless locations, in flies a foursome of images proving as much. Of course, we still can't promise you that these fellows will be available for the taking a moment before the 30th of September, but if you know someone at Big Red, at least there's a chance he / she may be able to get you a sneak peek starting now. Or, you know, you could just peek the gallery below. [Thanks, Anonymous] %Gallery-103247%
Droid 2 R2-D2 edition dummy units force-arriving at Verizon retail?
The little astromech smartphone that could (pilfer your wallet) is now touching down in at least one Verizon Wireless store, according to spy shots via Boy Genius Report. The Motorola Droid 2 R2-D2 edition launch kit contains just a dummy unit, not an extremely well-put together little Droid, so you won't find any lightspeed animation contained within. Still, if it's the faceplate you want see up close and personal, looks like you might get a chance at just that a tinge earlier than September 30th.
Robonaut 2 will Tweet from Space, oust HAL as mayor
Robonaut 2, the humanoid offspring of NASA and GM, is set to blast off to the International Space Station next month. The highly dexterous anthropomorphic robot is designed to ultimately assist crews with dangerous and repetitive tasks like space walks and uh, managing the Twitter feed. R2, as it's affectionately known, is still a prototype, and will be hitching a ride aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery to test performance in microgravity. While there, R2 (or at least the team operating it) will be Tweeting live updates from the man cave via the @AstroRobonaut (hashtag #4R2) Twitter account. But please, for the love of humanity, somebody get that bot a Bumper... the last thing we need is a frustrated robot within arms' reach of 12.5 million newtons of liquid lightning.
NASA and GM's Robonaut2 allows human astronauts to feel the fear of obsolescence (video)
About a decade ago, two of our favorite government entities, NASA and DARPA, paired off to create the robotic astronaut of the future: Robonaut. He had a cool copper helmet and some faux-muscly arms, but ultimately never made it to space. Now, 10 years on, NASA's back with Robonaut2, created along with General Motors, who hopes to enslave poor R2 in its assembly plants. The details of exactly what has changed in this iteration are slim, but R2 is said to be more dexterous than its predecessor and stronger too, able to lift a 20lb dumbbell without getting all red in the face. It also seems to have lasers in its knuckles for some reason we can't quite figure out, but we're digging the look nevertheless. R2 is said to be helping NASA into a "bold new era of space exploration," and while we don't know exactly when that bold new era begins (now?), we do have a particularly menacing video of the original Robonaut included below, as well as one two of the fit and trim new model. %Gallery-84663% [Thanks, Adam]
R2D2 turned into retro gaming shrine, includes head-mounted projector
We don't know exactly how to say this without overloading your nerd subsystem, but this R2D2 unit packs eight consoles, an integrated sound system and a projector for throwing your Jet Grind Radio sessions onto a wall. The only extras you'll need are the masses of controllers you see above and the steady constitution to not erupt into geek euphoria. Popular Science reader Brian De Vitis is the man you have to thank for this splicing of console goodness, and he's been kind enough to also provide a picture of the R2's mobo-laden innards. It awaits just past the break. [Via Hack N Mod]
LiMo Foundation finalizes Release 2 specs
It's a bit late, but the LiMo Foundation has wrapped up work on specifications for its second major release, aptly named R2. Major improvements over R1 include enhanced support for location-based services, media, integrated PIM functionality, and "advanced security applications," which we take to mean VPN and the like; more importantly, though, R2 integrates the OMTP's BONDI 1.0 specification, which gives manufacturers, carriers, and developers a common target platform for widgets and mobile web apps. If you're itching to run out and buy a LiMo R2 device of your own, hold up -- they won't be in the market until the fourth quarter of the year, assuming the schedule doesn't slip.[Via Phone Scoop]
Resistance 2 patch 1.40 coming Monday, un-resets your experience
Have you been noticeably irked by some of Resistance 2's precious little "features" (i.e. bugs)? Fear not, true believer, patch 1.40 is on its way and coming Monday, January 26. If you've noticed your multiplayer level inexplicably reset to one, you'll now get it back to the proper level, plus whatever experience you earned post-reset. The update will also correct Trophy errors, such as the one requiring 10,000 kills -- if you've done the deed but not gotten the reward, this patch will retroactively apply it. Full patch details after the break.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Resistance 2 Public Beta apps now accepted
Look, you gotta understand, not everyone gets into a private party. But a public one? Man, you gotta have some bad luck -- or some funky smelling breath -- not to be invited in. Go on, prove that you're still worthy, apply for the Resistance 2 Public Beta. You can drop your answers here (remember, there's always a right answer, even if it doesn't count). Here's what Insomniac has to say:"We'll notify you via e-mail if you are accepted into the Public Beta. Space is limited. So, if you want to get a chance to try out all the new multiplayer features in Resistance 2, such as the 8-player co-op and up to 60-player competitive multiplayer, apply now! Good luck!"[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
