ServiceBot
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EMIEW 2 robot connects to the internet, wants to google your stuff (video)
The adorable, metallic-haired EMIEW 2 has been given permission to go on the internet and it's going to use that privilege to find exactly where you left that stapler. First, the android uses its built-in camera to take a snapshot of objects and then queries the visual data online to recognise it. Then, as shown in Hitachi's recent demonstration, it teams up with an array of cameras dotted around a hypothetical office. These help the robot seek out specific objects and guide puny humans to what they need -- with some voice recognition thrown into the mix. Skeptical types can watch the robot find and destroy all that lost property right after the break.
Homemade robot has boring name, but likes to party
Is all that bottle-poppin' and drink-serving getting in the way of you releasing your inner party animal this New Year's Eve? Fear not, dear readers, for our friends from Japan have built yet another humanoid service robot, only this time it was constructed using "off the shelf parts." While we're skeptical that the 'Shack has everything needed to build one of these for your stateside soiree, the THKR-4 (as he is not-so-affectionately known) was created to perform all of your mundane party tasks like opening the fridge, pouring drinks, and greeting guests. The robot won't be entertaining guests with a dance routine or kissing you at midnight, but it can give you a back-rub to keep you relaxed when that inevitable 'party foul' ruins your leather couch. Check out the video after the break to see the 'bot do its Mr. Belvedere thing.
KIST Mahru-Z waits on you very, very slowly
We've seen KIST's Marhu robot tooling around here before, but now they're showing off the latest models, the Mahru-Z (with some help from Mahru-M), in some super useful scenarios. Mahru-Z and M have been successfully demonstrating their service abilities by carrying cups of tea, and retrieving toast from toasters and delivering it as well. The Z-version bot is a bit shorter than previous iterations, and also sports different, more dextrous arms. He stands about 4 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 122 pounds. Both bots are networked and use 3D object recognition in their task completion. Overall, the improvements to the Mahru bots are iterative, but it sure is great to hear that one day we'll have someone to bring our breakfast to us in bed. Video is after the break.
Pal Technology's REEM-B humanoid shown off in Abu Dhabi
We heard that Pal Technology's REEM-B would be "fully revealed in Q1 2008," and while things seem to be running ever-so-slightly behind, we can't gripe too much. The creature was recently shown off in Abu Dhabi, where onlookers swooned and secretly crushed on the totally macho being. Its creators have also announced that the 1.47-meter tall robot was the last prototype to be formed, as it has plans for a commercial venture "in the near future." The overriding goal for REEM-B is to have it act as a service bot for the elderly and disabled, and considering that it has no qualms reacting to voice commands and "engaging in simple conversations," we'd say it's pretty well suited to do just that. Check out the video after the break to see it in action.[Thanks, Saad]
Hitachi's EMIEW 2 humanoid runs errands, could easily replace Michael Scott
While we thoroughly enjoyed hearing of EMIEW's (presumably) short-lived career as a hotel clerk, it looks like Hitachi's EMIEW 2 has some seriously large aspirations. In a recent demonstration in Hitachinaka, the two-wheeled robot wowed onlookers as it received commands wirelessly and happily ran office errands without too much trouble. The creation, which stands some 31.5-inches tall and weighs 29-pounds, did crash into a desk and stand motionless momentarily while being previewed, but developers didn't hesitate to inform the crowd that kinks were still being ironed out. Nevertheless, it was able to avoid obstacles while rolling about, understand and respond to human speech and move around for an hour before needing a recharge. The company refused to spill details surrounding its eventual price and release date, but we're hearing there may soon be an open spot in Scranton that this fellow could certainly fill.[Via Inquirer]
Ladybug-styled robot to clean restrooms, give travel tips
Japan's no stranger to a wide variety of service-oriented robots, and it looks like it could soon become home to yet another mechanical being that does our dirty work. The Lady Bird prototype, which is set to hit production sometime in 2009, would scour the floors of public restrooms and keep things looking clean throughout the day. Reportedly, the bot stands about 1-meter in height and is equipped with amenities such as a water tank, brushes and a few other grime-busting tools to boot. Furthermore, it boasts obstacle detection sensors to avoid patrons while on the clock, and it even includes voice recognition software along with access to current traffic information in case someone has the urge to spark up a conversation. There's no word on what this thing will do should someone try to stuff it in their trunk for at-home use, but if all goes well, the creature is expected to sell for around ¥3.5 million ($31,713) when it goes commercial.[Via PinkTentacle]
Enryu T-53 service robot cleans up Japan post-earthquake
It's been far too long since we've seen the Enryu support robot out on the streets of Japan, and unfortunately, it was called into action once again recently after an earthquake reportedly rocked Niigata. The newest edition, dubbed the T-53, has received a number of improvements over the prior T-52 model, and aside from being able to hoist 220-pounds per arm without a stressing a joint, this rendition is supposedly a registered, street-legal vehicle to boot. Check it in the work zone after the break.
University of Tokyo crafts tea-grabbing humanoid to serve you better
If you've got a domesticated service bot around to flip your channels and chase away any uninvited intruders, there's not too much else a lonely, elderly individual needs from a fellow humanoid, but researchers at the University of Tokyo are crafting more lifelike and more agile servant bots nevertheless. In an effort to create a tactical team of droids ready and willing to serve the aging population of Japan, the team is working with Kawada Industries Inc. to create friendly robots that can assist folks with around the house chores such as pouring tea and cleaning the dishes. Several models were out and about during a recent demonstration, as one wheeled bot delivered beverages to its master, and other renditions responded to human movements and the bevy of sensors installed in the floor and sofa of a room. Essentially, the team is attempting to seamlessly integrate robotic life with our world, and they're already prepared to feel a lashing from privacy advocates who will protest the embedded camera systems that the robots feed off of. Still, we'd rather have a potentially Big Brother-equipped servant to make sure our favorite dramas get recorded than no one at all.
Yuki-taro chrews through snow, chunks out ice cubes
The Japanese are well known for crafting useful robots to do the dirty work for humans who'd rather park it at home, and the Yuki-taro autonomous snowplow is just another example of machines taking care of the business people can't (or won't). In a collaborative effort between five Niigata-based organizations, the snowbot was created to go off by itself and chew through massive sections of snow to make areas passable once more. The nearly 900-pound machine rocks a yellow and black shell, scoots about on tracks, and features a wide mouth to gobble up the fallen snow, compress it into small blocks, and then expel them from the device's rear. Internally, it boasts a GPS module and a pair of video cameras integrated into the eyes, and while we're not certain what type of energy this thing utilizes, its inventors did manage to receive a design award for its snow-crunching abilities. So if you're tired of shoveling for hours on end in a seemingly futile attempt to uncover your driveway, keep an eye out for a commercial version of the Yuki-taro, as plans are to bring it to market for around $8,300 within five years.[Via Pink Tentacle]
