made in the uk » Robotics

Interview with a Robot [Bina48]

admin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:12:43 +0000

Video of a NY Journalist trying to interview perhaps the worlds most advanced emulation of a real person( Bina48 ). A long way to go obviously but it’s a very interesting start.

Robotic Humming Bird

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:24:58 +0000

Amazing engineering, robotic hummingbird in flight.

Robots that can climb

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:49:48 +0000

So, the single feature that prevented the original Daleks from taking over the world is that they couldn’t climb, so for some bizarre reason we have invented a robot that specializes in climbing, go figure!!

Anyway, it’s pretty cool, take a look at the video below, no doubt this critters grandchildren will one day climb buildings to assimilate us while we sleep.

Humanoid Robot Baby created

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:18:56 +0000

Researchers from the Machine Perception Laboratory at the University of California, San Diego have teamed up with Japanese robotics firm Kokoro Co., Ltd. to create a sophisticated humanoid robot modeled after a 1-year-old child.

The baby robot — named “Diego-san” — is designed to help researchers study how infants develop motor skills during the first year of life, according to a recent Kokoro newsletter (PDF). In addition to providing clues about how infants interact with the physical world, researchers will also use the robot to explore how babies acquire and refine the ability to use nonverbal communication such as gestures and facial expressions.

Diego-san’s body has over 60 moving parts, making it Kokoro’s most sophisticated robot to date. The robot weighs 30 kilograms (66 lbs) and is 1.3 meters (4 ft 3 in) tall, which is quite a bit larger than the average 1-year-old.

The baby humanoid also has a rather sizable head, thanks to 20 moving parts that allow it to make facial expressions, along with high-resolution cameras for eyes, an audio speaker in the mouth, and 6-axis accelerometers in the ears that allow it to detect orientation and movement.

Other features include 5-fingered hands capable of holding objects such as plastic bottles, sensors that detect the amount of pressure placed on different joints in its body, and the ability to stand up from a sitting position in a chair.

Apparently, Diego-san’s face is still under development (the rubber face shown in the photos is just the first prototype). The researchers are still debating about whether the robot should have a realistic human-like face or one that looks more mechanical.

Scientists create artificial hand with feelings

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:20:53 +0000

Artificial hands aren’t really anything new but this hand can sense, it sends pressure and touch information to the wearers brain. This could be the start of something VERY special for amputees. Take a look at the video below.

Look Mom I'm a Transformer

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:26:38 +0000

Ooh the possibility with your very own set of robot powered arms and legs, remember this scene from Aliens?

Ultra Fast Robotics

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 08:17:19 +0000

Amazing video showing high speed robotic dexterity.

My personal favourite is the bit where the robot hand throws and catches the mobile phone, very impressive speed and precision.

Robot Rides Motorbike | Kind of ….

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:31:08 +0000

Introducing Flossie, the Castrol-developed test rider that’s threading a Fireblade between its “legs”. The robot features a self-learning mode that enables it to get a feel (throttle response, clutch drag, gear shifting patterns, etc.) for any stationary bike upon which it’s perched . Still, as the ultimate precision rider that never tires, Flossie allows Castrol to evaluate its lubricants as effectively as possible.