Starting as early as the end of the year, tiny electronic spiders and other insect like robots maybe hitting the battlefield. Developed by Bristish defense BAE systems, the devices could saves thousands of lives by setting off bobby traps or performing dangerous recon missions. Futurre robots could also be outfitted with not only cameras, but sensors to detect chemical and biological weapons. BAE Systems just signed a $40 million contract with the US Army.
I guess Japanese dentistry students don’t practice on humans but on robots! The Simroid (aka Pain Girl) reacts when the student drills too far or too deep, and hits a nerve. As one Youtube commenter pointed out “u can do SO MUCH MORE with that then just practice dentistry”. To his credit, the mouth does look pretty real. Zing!
Absolut Vodka’s new marketing campaign involves two massive machines and you. That’s right, you. It’s all pretty crazy and grandiose, but essentially two MIT grads have built two huge machines, one located in NYC and one in Stockholm. The first is machine is The Absolut Quartet, and is what they’ve called a “multi-instrumental music-making machine”. Through the use of art and technology they’ve created the “equivalent of a classic human quartet”. The machine is made up of 3 robotic musicians and when you log in you become the 4th musician, leading them by what you play. The other machine, the Absolut Choir, is 22 “characters” (they’re actually sculptures) of varying size each containing their own unique synthetically produced voice. You type words and sentences and “inspire members of the choir to sing”. Interaction with both machines is enhanced with 4 live web cameras.
Check it out here (warning: the site is the inverse of Web 2.0).
Guys over at TiltedTwister took the Lego Mindstorm and programmed it to solve a Rubiks Cube in about 6 minutes. How’s it work? A light sensor reads the cube’s color configuration then calculates the necessary moves and presto, it begins to solve the conundrum. There’s no external computer and the Lego Mindstorm solves the cube in 60 faceturns.
This is great. It’s an Etch A Sketch hooked up to a laptop and a few robotic dials that automatically draw the time. Every minute it takes a bow to erase itself.
Unbeknownst to me, and probably 99% of the population, surgery under the guidance of a live operating MRI was impossible due to the magnetic fields. The NeuroArm is the world’s first MRI-guided neurosurgical robot allowing for microscopic surgeries. The NeuroArm’s motors were designed and built using ceramics, enabling it to work within magnetic fields and allowing surgeons and scientist to navigate and see how the brain is impacted during surgery.
The only thing better than traveling first class would be first class with no baggage to haul around. Starting this month in Japan’s Kita Kyushu airport the reality maybe closer then you think. Robotic porters will be available during select afternoon hours and can carry just over 100lbs of luggage. Travelers either speak or input their desired point of destination via the on screen map. I’m guessing the phone is for calling taxi, limos or other airport services. Currently the robot porters are limited to taxi or bus stops. Pair this technology with the RFID luggage tracking I mentioned earlier this afternoon, and your bags might just magically show up at your hotel or house.
Fisher-price announced a new Elmo toy today, the Elmo Live. For $60 he sounds like a God send to parents looking to preoccupy their children. Hell, he even sounds mildly entertaining to me, and I am on the verge of turning 30. Set for release in October 2008 (right before the Holiday shopping season), the new Elmo will “actually be speaking as his mouth opens and closes just like the real Muppet, Elmo, from Sesame Street. His mannerisms are right on target as his head bobbles back and forth as he speaks. He waves his arms, sits and stands, even crosses his legs, all the while telling stories and jokes…”. I’m waiting on video and additional details to see if it truly is an animatronics like experience or pure hype.
Starting as early as the end of the year, tiny electronic spiders and other insect like robots maybe hitting the battlefield. Developed by Bristish defense BAE systems, the devices could saves thousands of lives by setting off bobby traps or performing dangerous recon missions. Futurre robots could also be outfitted with not only cameras, but sensors to detect chemical and biological weapons. BAE Systems just signed a $40 million contract with the US Army.
and a few robotic dials that automatically draw the time. Every minute it takes a bow to erase itself.
