Military’s Secret X-37B Robotic Space Shuttle Returns to Earth

By Dan on December 5, 2010

The US Military’s secret unmanned mini space shuttle returned to earth on Friday.

Originally a NASA project, the X-37B became the military’s secret unmanned space shuttle in 2004. When the X-37B launched last April, no one knew what was really going on. Foreign media saw the launch as a signal of space militarization. Officials say the spacecraft is undergoing testing.

X-37B Unmanned Space Shuttle Lands

X-37B Unmanned Space Shuttle Lands

Here is a video of the launch on April 22, 2010:

With the spacecraft on the ground, what is next? Another X-37 will be completed and tested by 2011. However, these mini-shuttles cannot fill the void of NASA’s now vanishing shuttle program. The X-37B can only carry less than 1% of the payload the significantly larger Space Shuttles can, ruling out the military using this to do any heavy lifting in space.

X-37 before its launch, don't be fooled. It is only slight larger then a pick-up truck.

X-37 before its launch, don't be fooled. It is only slight larger then a pick-up truck.

It would be interesting to see this platform used a robotic rescue platform. Launch the X-37 with an advanced robot on-board, capable of repairing or upgrading defunct satellites, sending supplies to space stations, and other tasks a smaller ship might be good at.

Posted in Space and NASA | Tagged , , , , | 2 Responses

Robot Box is Facebook for your Robots. Share your robots and make friends.

By Dan on November 28, 2010

Robot Box is a place to share your robots and make friends.

Robot Box is a community oriented site where users share the robots they have created. Local robotics groups, user created robot showcases, and part reviews are popular features of the site. Robot Box allows you to create relationships with other users, almost like a supped’ up Facebook for your robot creations!

Robot Box Logo. Robot Box is a place to share your robots and make friends.

Robot Box is a place to share your robots and make friends.

You can almost think of RobotBox like a cross between your personal portfolio and a social network. Gather all your projects in one place, and share them with the world. It’ll be good for you, and good for other people! – RobotBox About Page

This site is pretty impressive, there are lots of things to do there. Remember that it is a new site, still being developed, so some kinks here and there are to be expected.

You can check out the Robot Box page I have created here: My Robot Box Page.

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Are you looking for a Robotics Job? Get Robotics Jobs Will Help You Get Hired.

By Dan on November 28, 2010

If you are looking for jobs within the robotics industry, Get Robotics Jobs is a great place to start. We’ve added them to our Robotics Blog Friends Page.

Get Robotics Jobs is a great resource for robotics professionals or hiring managers to seek or fill jobs in the robotics industry. Their listings are easy to use and don’t require you to login like other job search sites. One click allows a job hunter to quickly sort listings by country, state, and keyword. Get Robotics Jobs’ listings are up to date and plentiful. This site is an excellent tool for anyone looking for employment in the field of robotics.

We recommend taking a look at getroboticsjobs.com if you are trying to find a job in robotics.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , | 3 Responses

Rat Brain Controls Small Cyborg Robot! With Video!

By Dan on November 15, 2010

This small robot is controlled entirely by lab grown rat brain cells. The team grows neurons on an electrode array, which via wireless (bluetooth) communication receives signals from the robot’s ultrasonic sensors. The rat neurons then process that information and send a signal back to control the robot’s movement.

When the neurons that connect together both sides of the electrodes first receive signals from the robot’s ultrasonic sensors, they do not always respond well. With time and ‘practice’, the neurons begin to form stronger pathways. These stronger pathways result in the robot learning to avoid walls. According to the video each brain lasts a few months and is unique. Some brains are better than others or behave differently. Fascinating!

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Neurons and dendrites interconnect in the brain.

Neurons and dendrites interconnect in the brain. Image: Journal of Cell Biology, CC:NC-SA

The next step is to increase the amount of neurons in the brain from roughly 100,000 to 30 million by creating a 3D-array of cells. Further research also includes using human brain cells!

Using human brain cells brings up important ethical questions. What constitutes a person? If a ‘human’ brain can be created in the lab using genetically human materials, with human characteristics, thoughts, and personality, should it be its own legal person? If a future ‘robot’ is exactly like a human in every way, is it not actually a human?

Kevin Warwick at University of Reading is the man behind this project. He is known for other robotics and cyborg projects, including implanting both a RFID chip and electrodes to control a robotic hand remotely!

Here is an excerpt from his website:

Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, England, where he carries out research in artificial intelligence, control, robotics and biomedical engineering. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng.) and is a Fellow of The Institution of Engineering & Technology (FIET). He is the youngest person ever to become a Fellow of the City & Guilds of London Institute (FCGI). Source: http://www.kevinwarwick.com/

We will be keeping a close eye on his future work.

via [Spectrum]

Posted in Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Response

Like us on Facebook! Robotics Blog has a Facebook page!

By Dan on November 13, 2010

Check us out on Facebook! No one likes us yet :( … You can be the first!

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Robotic Deer Helps Officers Thwart Illegal Hunting!

By Dan on November 13, 2010

This robotic deer helps protect wildlife and citizens from illegal hunting. The remote controlled deer has a moving head and tail. Officers bust hunters shooting from their cars shortly after the shooters are tricked by this life-like animatronic deer. Watch the video below!

Robotic Deer Helps Catch Poachers

Robotic Deer Helps Catch Poachers Image Credit: Planet Green




This is not a new problem in wildlife management. Robotic deer have been used in Indiana, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and many other states to help stop illegal hunters. This just shows how a little application of technology can make a deer look realistic enough to fool hunters from a distance.

What are your thoughts?

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Electroadhesive Gripper Gives Robots Sticky Hands

By Dan on November 7, 2010

Using electricity in a robot hand to pick up objects! This new technology is called electroadhesive gripping, and it allows robots to grip a wide array of objects and surfaces.

Traditionally, robots have had a hard time gripping objects because there are few good universal grippers. Most objects are very different from each other, with different textures, sizes, and physical properties. Using electroadhesion, grippers may be designed to pick up many more objects than previous robot grippers could.

Below is an example of electroadhesive gripping applications. The grippers are even used to give robots traction to climb up brick walls, glass windows, and a variety of other difficult surfaces!

Electroadheive Robot Gripper Picking Up Objects

Electroadheive Robot Gripper Picking Up Objects

By inducing charges on the surfaces, the electroadhesive gripper makes robotic hands “sticky”. Because this gripper uses electricity to run, it makes it more convenient for robot builders to use; there is no need for pneumatic vacuum pumps like many other universal grippers require.

Electroadhesion Illustration

Electroadhesion Illustration, How the gripper works. Source: SRI.com

As the name implies, electroadhesion is an electrically controllable adhesion technology. It involves inducing electrostatic charges on a wall substrate using a power supply connected to compliant pads situated on the moving robot. SRI has demonstrated robust clamping to common building materials including glass, wood, metal, concrete, etc. with clamping pressures in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 N per square cm of clamp (0.8 to 2.3 pounds per square inch). The technology works on conductive and non-conductive substrates, smooth or rough materials, and through dust and debris. Unlike conventional adhesives or dry adhesives, the electroadhesion can be modulated or turned off for mobility or cleaning. The technology uses a very small amount of power (on the order of 20 microwatts/Newton weight held) and shows the ability to repeatably clamp to wall substrates that are heavily covered in dust or other debris.

 — Source: SRI International

This new technology from SRI is certainly one we will see in the next generation of robots.

Posted in Research | Tagged , , , | 1 Response

Surgical Robots With Tactile Force Feedback Allow Surgeons to Feel Their Cuts.

By Dan on October 16, 2010

A surgical robot made by Linda van den Bedem has tactile “force feedback” which allows surgeons to feel their cuts and sutures.

This technology was developed so that surgeons would know how much resistance and back pressure tissue was giving. The robot, named Sofie, is smaller and more compact than other surgical robots like the Da Vinci Surgical Robot.

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Sofie the surgical robot

Sofie the surgical robot is smaller and more compact that other surgical robots, and now has force feedback. (Photo Credit: Bart van Overbeeke)

Sofie is not currently on the market, and it may be another five years until she is.

This is one more advancement in the important field of robotic medicine. While the concept is not new, force feedback is an important step in bringing on mainstream usage of surgical robots. Sofie’s small size further facilitates adoption of such robotic surgery technology.

What are your thoughts?
[Source]

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Posted in medical | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Response

Google Car Drives by Itself In the City, humanless for 1000 Miles.

By Dan on October 14, 2010

Google’s autonomous car, which is a highly modified Toyota Prius, has logged over 1000 miles of humanless driving!

Several DARPA challenges, in the desert, and in an urban environment, have showcased autonomous vehicles which navigate harsh and complex terrain with zero human interaction. It appears that Google’s foray into this emerging field has produced a formidable opponent to the DARPA challenge’s winning teams.

The car might be able to run autonomously most of the time, but the times it cannot… That scares me!

Apparently the only accident so far was when someone rear ended the Google car while stopped at a stoplight! Robots will end up replacing us :( .

Check out this infographic from NYT:

Google's Autonomous Toyota Prius

Google's Autonomous Toyota Prius

Posted in New Robots, robot news | Tagged , , | 1 Response

Segway RMP 200 Bots Used To Train Snipers as Moving Targets.

By Dan on April 9, 2010

Check out this video of modified Segway bots being used to simulate human targets in a live fire sniper training exercise. The bots are programmed to react much like real humans would. After a target is hit the bots are programmed to scatter.

The Segway bots have attached to them a realistic looking upper-body and wear black hooded sweatshirts. They can even enter buildings.

Posted in Military | Tagged , , , , | 2 Responses

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