What's New



Simon Says

By Owen Li | Published: December 30, 2014

With more and more robots coming to the aid of the ever-lazier human, it’s easy to be swept off your feet by those quiet, busy bots and lose all social function. But fear not, robot enthusiasts! Researchers at Georgia Tech. have been working on Simon, a servant/companion robot built for the home.

Human-Robot interaction is the entire business of the Socially Intelligent Machines Lab. These robots can hold conversation, interact with the different objects like LEGO cubes, and also learn basic skills, such as holding a ladle.

The days of the Jetsons are not that far away, my friends!

+7
0
  
Posted in Images, Videos | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Skin Gun

By Owen Li | Published: December 29, 2014

Your skin is the largest organ of the body, and standard techniques for treating and performing large skin grafts takes weeks, even months. Patients who do die from these procedures die because of infection while waiting for the skin to heal. If you could treat skin in, let’s say, a week, that number of deaths from these procedures would be drastically lower.

Check out this cool video about the Skin Gun.

+6
0
  
Posted in Images, Videos | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Worm in a Robot’s Body

By Owen Li | Published: December 28, 2014

“What?”, you ask. But it’s true! Scientists have transplanted a worm’s (Caenorhabditis elegans) nervous system into the body of a Lego Mindstorms EV3 robot.

“Why?”, you ask again. OpenWorm, an organization that wants to create the first virtual organism in a computer, hopes to further understand the human brain. Understanding a simple worm’s brain is just the first step in the enormous ladder that is understanding the human brain.

The scientists reverse-engineered the worm’s neural networks using software and sensors. Apparently, the robot does act a lot like the worm: stimulation of the nose made it stop moving, and touching another sensor made it move forward.

+6
0
  
Posted in Images, Videos | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

‘Tis the Season

By Owen Li | Published: December 23, 2014

This year has seen huge breakthroughs in technology. What a better way to cap off a great year of robots with some Christmas themed robot fun!

Merry Bot-mas!

+7
0
  
Posted in Videos | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Real-Life Cyborg?

By Owen Li | Published: December 22, 2014

After losing both of his arms to an electrical accident, Les Baugh now has 2 brand-new robotics arms. Thanks to the John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Baugh can control both of these arms, which are attached wirelessly to his nerve endings, with his mind.

The future is bright for both Baugh and for prosthetic technology.

+7
0
  
Posted in Images, Videos | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Water Pipe Inspector

By Owen Li | Published: December 12, 2014

Robots that inspect the insides of water pipes usually use rubber wheels and treads to grip the pipe, which ends up dislodging rust particles that end up in peoples’ taps.

To combat this problem, the European Union TRACT project is developing a propeller-driven robot that keeps the pipe-touching to a minimum. Developed by Norway’s SINTEF research group, the current 3D-printed prototype has a segmented body, with propellers at each end and spring-loaded fins to lightly brush against the pipe. It also uses ultrasound transducers the pick up on how much of the pipe has been eroded.

The robot can get through pipes as small as 10cm (3.9 inches) and can make 90 degree turns, and can travel up to 150 meters.

+7
0
  
Posted in Images, Videos | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

OSHbot

By Owen Li | Published: December 11, 2014
3

Hey look! Yet another reason for retailers to start laying off employees! That reason? The OSHbot.

Developed by OSH, this friendly robot will come up to the customer as they enter the store and ask for what they’re looking for. Equipped with a 3D & Product Scanner, autonomous navigation, and obstacle avoidance capabilities, this robot can see what you want and lead you to the correct aisle and shelf, all while avoiding other customers and other robots!

Now you don’t have to walk up to that guy who looks like he hates his job for help, you can just ask a friendly little robot!

+7
0
  
Posted in Images, Videos | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments