Robotics Blog » New Robots

Rat Brain Controls Small Cyborg Robot! With Video!

Dan — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:08:17 +0000

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.

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

Dan — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:27:15 +0000

Surgical robot 'Sofie' has force feedback to allow surgeons to feel their cuts. An important advancement for medical science and robotic surgery.

Sushi Chef Robot Stirs a Crowd at the International Food Machinery and Technology Expo

Dan — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:52:33 +0000

A slew of robots performed delicate acts of edible showmanship this week at the International Food Machinery and Technology Expo in Tokyo, Japan. Creations perhaps destined someday to bring to life a Jetsons-style future of ubiquitous robotics demonstrated their ability to handle food.

Among the crowd pleasers stood a rather beefy, industrial looking robotic arm with a nimble human hand that assumed the position of “sushi chef” and gracefully arranged faux-sushi on a platter. The 5-axis, 0.5mm precision M-430iA robot by FANUC specializes in high speed, ultra precision picking and food handling, according to the company’s website.

This robochef arranged delicate pieces of sushi on a platter.

One day, a robot like this will be making your dinner.

via TokyoMango

59-foot Tall Japanese Gundam Robot Looks Menacing

Dan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:56:57 +0000

Crazy pictures from Japan show a nearly 60ft tall life-size "Gundam" robot. Word so far is that the rocket packs are NOT operable. What a relief.

Medical Robot Helps Teach Aspiring Dentists

Dan — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:00:06 +0000

A robot named Simroid allows dental students to interact with a realistic, robotic patient. Simroid can sense pain, listen to the student, and even talk back to the student, making it a very realistic robot.

Similar medical robots have been used in other areas of medicine, like the robot that gives birth. Medical robots are becoming and important part of training aspiring doctors and nurses with the skills and practice they need to handle real patients.

Ember Military ‘LANdroid’ Robot Video Update

Dan — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:14:26 +0000

'Ember', is their book-sized autonomous robot made for the LANdroid program.Ember's ad-hoc network maintains communication between soldiers on the battlefield.

KOBIAN: Emotional Humanoid Robot

Dan — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:00:37 +0000

Finally, a humanoid robot that does emotions well. KOBIAN doesn’t just do facial expressions like most other humanoid robots. This bot uses its whole body to convey emotion, much like how we humans display body-language.

We’re one step closer to having the friendly, humanoid robotic housekeeper we were all supposed to have by now. KOBIAN, make me a sandwich!

KOBIAN is good at Displaying Human Emotions

[Pink Tentacle]

Are Electronics-Free Robots the Future?

Dan — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:21:29 +0000

When I think of robots, I think of tangled wires and brushed metal. So, could these new gel bots be the future of robotics?

They’re limited to “inchworming,” so they’re not very mobile, or otherwise comparable to what we know electromechanical robots can do. The main advantage of the chemical robots is that they do not need an electrical source of power. The robots gain energy through chemical reactions with their environment.

This technology is still very new, so don’t count out an army of advanced chemical polymer gel bots busting down your door some time in the future.

This Gel bot inchworms

Researchers at the Shuji Hashimoto Laboratory in Tokyo, Japan have taken the first steps towards creating an electronics-free robot. They have developed a chemical gel capable of autonomous movements without any electrical inputs. Their robot combines polymers that change their size based on the chemical environment. The surrounding gel and the tension built into it amplify this reaction, rendering the robot capable of walking by clenching then expanding its bridge-like form.

[via]
[Chemical Robotics Group]

iRobot’s Tiny ‘Ember’ Bot Creates an Ad-Hoc Network for Soldiers.

Dan — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:02:37 +0000

One of Ember's duties is to keep soldiers in communication. In urban environments, buildings and angle of incidents between wireless devices can greatly affect signal propegation. LANdroids are tasked with autonomously seeking a position that keeps the network alive, while still maintaining other missions objectives

Can Robots Make Art? These Robots Can Paint!

Dan — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:08:44 +0000

Robots can provide a helping hand in almost any human activity. But can robots make art?
Apparently, they can! Or, At least lend a helping hand to the artist.

Francis, of paintwithrobots.com, has several robots assisting him with his art. It’s just more proof of the limitless applications that we humans can use robots and computers on. There are tons of possibilities on what to program the robot to paint. They could be especially useful in doing large paintings in great detail, or painting small repetitive or tiresome figures.

[Paint With Robots]