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SOTAB Assists in Oil Spills

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,

SOTAB 1 Researchers from Osaka University have developed SOTAB 1 (Spilled Oil Tracking Autonomous Buoy 1) with imaging sensors that can spot globs from a distance. The GPS bot dives down and when it senses something that resembles oil, floats back to the surface and “swims” towards the oil spill. SOTAB then helps cleanup crews by providing data on wind speed, and depth and temperature of the water. Still in the developmental stage, head researcher Naomi Kato hopes the 243 lb. robot will be available commercially in a couple of years.

RoboPorter Assists Travelers

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science,

RoboPorter has taken up residence in Japan’s Kita Kyushu Airport. Standing 4 feet tall, travelers walk over to him and tell him where they want to go. They can also use a touchscreen with a map for identification. RP can handle luggage up to 110 lbs. and can inform patrons with airport information without asking for a tip. We are thinking that this would be a terrific application for grocery stores. Not only could they carry our groceries, perhaps they can be programmed to shop as well.

Zoe Makes Maps

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,

Zoe Zoe is learning cartography. The robot contains a hard disk with a basic map with data from ASTER (Astrobiology Science and Technology for Exploring Planets,) an infrared spectrometer on NASA’s Earth Observing Satellite. It works on about a kilometer of area at a time and takes one astral image/second. So far the bot is working on differentiating clay from basalt, with the researchers hoping that someday a similar device could be sent to a planet like Mars, where we won’t be tripping around for quite some time. Zoe has already mastered avoiding obstacles and fair-field sensing, simple for humans, but not for bots.

Tengu, Your New Best Friend

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Music, Videos, USB,

Hook up Mr. Jones’ Tengu to your USB port and he will light up and lip sync to music, voices or any other noise you prefer with no additional software. He features different expressions, depending on what he spits out, and goes to sleep when there is nothing to talk or sing about. He also responds to loud noises and interference by outside sources such as you blowing on him. We dig the little guy’s YouTube audition which includes the Beatles’ “I’m Only Sleeping.” Get your own pet Tengu for £24.99 (~$36.00.)

Robovie Directs Shoppers

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science,

Robovie The Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute in Japan has devised a bot that helps the navigationally challenged. Robovie people-watched a section of the Universal Citywalk Shopping Center in Osaka and offered his expertise if they seemed disoriented. After literally asking “Are you lost?,” he provided directions or suggested shops and restaurants. The robot uses 16 cams, 6 laser range finders and 9 RFIDs to keep track of up to 20 individuals, including their locations and behavior (such as walking or waiting.)

ATR will be establishing themselves permanently in the shopping center and hope to hire out its guides beginning this June.

Pollen Bots Assist Hay Fever Sufferers

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,

Weathernews has found an interesting way to monitor and alert Tokyo to the pollen count. The 200 Pollen Bots measure about one foot across, weigh 2.2 lbs. each, and glow in their styrofoam shells. The color of their eyes change as the count goes up or down. Given to those locals who suffer from hay fever, the recipients monitor the air in their space and send updated results over the Net to Weathernews’ headquarters. We would think that having to purchase a couple extra boxes of Kleenex would be a fairly decent and less expensive indication.

Read More | Weathernews Pollen Map (Japanese) via Toyko Mango

RoboThespians Find an Audience

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Internet, Misc. Tech, Music, Science, Videos,

Since most robots are made to serve, it’s nice to discover one that solely entertains. Engineered Arts’ RoboThespians speak, sing, tell stories, and do a dance step or two. You can watch it perform Robert Shaw in “Jaws,” something very “Alien,” “C3PO,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and our fave of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. If you are fortunate enough to live in the UK, you can see them perform at The Eden Project in Cornwall. If not, there is always YouTube. It ain’t Shakespeare, but it is amusing.

LawnBott Recovers its Tracks

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Science, Wireless / WiFi,

LawnBott 3500 Last May, we introduced you to the LawnBott, and it seems that KA Home Robotics is doing well, thank you very much. So well that they have introduced their new LB3500. The device can be programmed via Bluetooth through a compatible cell phone or PDA. Include days and hours and, at the end of its cycle, the Bott will return with its two lithium-ion batteries to its charging station. The 3500 features a higher sensitivity, a blade stop sensor, an on-board alarm, and a 360º bumper shell. Prices range from $3,249.00 to $4,279.00, depending on options.

CES 2008: Steamer is Two Roombas in One

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2008, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,

Steamer There can never be enough cleaning bots. So, in addition to iRobot’s roomba and scooba on the market, there is now one gadget that Hanulkid claims can do both. The bot can sweep door sills up to 1.5 cm high, and features IR, PSD, 3-way gyroscope, geomagnetic, and humidity sensors. When the Steamer has finished sucking up all that dirt, push a button and it will deep clean your carpets. The vacuum/steam cleaner needs 2AA batteries and comes with remote. Four hours of recharge time will give you 2 continuous hrs. of operation. Check with Hanulkid for price and availability.

Don’t Swat This Fly

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science,

Shades of Jeff Goldblum! Engineer Robert Wood has been working on a robotic fly since the late 90’s. After studying houseflies, bees, and fruit flies, he and his team created a layered composite that bends when electricity hits it, creating a micro-scale gearbox hooked to the wings. While the mass of a fly’s wings was figured to be 80 watts per kilo, this design produced more than 400W.

The Department of Defense liked his idea so much that they funded him, hoping the technology will be used for such applications as lost miners and military spying. Wood claims that he is only a third of the way there, as the next steps are to create an “on-board” power source and then teach the little buggers to fly en masse.

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