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Surviving a Robot Uprising: an animated guide
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TrossenRoboticsBlog/~3/8suMPwGcVWY/
− at 22:17, 18. May. 2012
Here at Trossen Robotics we’ve seen and quelled our fair share of robot uprisings, so we can tell you that the advice from Epipheo Studios on surviving a robot uprising is spot on. Remember, go for the joints!
Via Neatorama
Robots: The Future of robot companions
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/robotspodcast/~3/JWPQ8EfI4xw/
− at 09:00, 18. May. 2012
In this episode, Paolo Dario talks about the future of robotic companions, where convergence between different fields of science and interdisciplinary teams become increasingly important.
See you at ROSCon!
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/IHeartRobotics/~3/-QAOe72QMZA/see-you-at-roscon.html
− at 08:20, 18. May. 2012
If you are at ROSCon on Saturday and Sunday, we will be in Town Square Ballroom B, if you want to stop by and test out some of the projects we have been working on.
Robots Assist Farmers in the Agricultural Industry
http://roboticsonline.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/robots-assist-farmers-in-the-agricultural-industry/
− at 07:10, 18. May. 2012
Robots are a staple in the food and beverage industry, especially when it comes to sorting, picking, and packaging. However, how often do you see a robot working at the start of the production process, outside of the factory and on the farm?
From Science Fiction To Fact, Robots Are Coming To A Farm Near You
by Jeremy Bernfeld[S]ome dairies are trying out new milking technology. It goes beyond just a little attachment to a cow’s udder that squeezes the milk out. This takes it a step further, using a robotic arm to prepare and clean the udders, attach the milking equipment, and monitor the cow’s health. (Check out the cool video here)
Robot technologies like these can buy farmers a little more time off.
“Just this past Christmas we had a customer of ours that had started up two of our (robotic milkers) with their herd,” says Mark Futcher, product manager for an automatic milking machine made by DeLaval. “That Christmas morning was the first time that gentleman had ever been witness to his children finding their Christmas stockings.”
Read the full article here on Capital Public Radio. What other ways can robots help out our farmers?
[original entry]
Jamming Grippers Combine to Form Robotic Elephant Trunk
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ieeespectrum/automaton/~3/ptZBAY8EdhY/jamming-grippers-combine-to-form-robotic-elephant-trunk
− at 00:00, 18. May. 2012
“Jamming” has to be one of the coolest new actuation techniques we’ve seen in the last couple years, and we’ve recently covered a bunch of fascinating implementations of it, including walking robots and grippers that can throw stuff. MIT may have just topped everyone by developing a robotic elephant trunk that’s strong, flexible, and, since it’s made mostly out of coffee grounds, absolutely dirt cheap.
[original entry]This Robot Makes Its Own Custom Tools Out of Glue
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ieeespectrum/automaton/~3/KQ8HmAzAzz4/this-robot-makes-its-own-custom-tools-out-of-glue
− at 00:00, 18. May. 2012
Humans are generalists. We’re adaptable. If there’s a task we can’t do on our own, we find ourselves a tool to help us. Robots aren’t usually like this, because it’s very hard to design a robot that implements all the different tools that might conceivably be useful to it. Roboticists at ETH Zurich are trying to get around this problem by designing a robot with just one tool, but the tool they’ve chosen is a hot glue gun that their robot can use to manufacture any other tools that it needs to.
[original entry]Video Friday: Robo Cheetah Goes for a Trot, Mind-Controlled Arms, and Robots Playing Football
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ieeespectrum/automaton/~3/Eo1dXhb2HK4/video-friday-robo-cheetah-goes-for-a-trot-mindcontrolled-arms-and-robots-playing-football
− at 00:00, 18. May. 2012
You didn’t think that just because we’re going all-out covering ICRA that we’d let any other cool robot news slip past us this week, did you? Of course you didn’t! There are many more awesome ICRA articles in the works for next week, but in the mean time, here are two robot vids that weren’t at the conference, plus several more that definitely should have been.
[original entry]Should You Get a Robotic Vacuum Cleaner?
http://www.robotshop.com/gorobotics/the-news/household/should-you-get-a-robotic-vacuum-cleaner
− at 21:12, 17. May. 2012
Efficient
Let’s face it, cleaning is hard, nobody wants to do it and getting a maid doesn’t come cheap nowadays. With the robotic vacuum cleaner, you’ll get your living room, and any room for that matter, spic and span in no time. Its features are that of the regular upright vacuum, only better. The robotic vacuum has different accessories like brushes, filters, cleaning mechanisms, and more, all within a sturdy casing, ensuring the best operation possible.Easy to Use
The robot vacuum is of course, automatic. It will work unattended; turn it on and let it do its thing. When you come back you’ll find the room sparkling clean. No special setup or configuration needed – just press the button, and the robotic vacuum will start cleaning without supervision. Some robotic vacuums go about the room randomly and may cover the same spot many times, while others are able to scan the room to detect obstacles and know to move around them, resulting in a more methodical approach. Most of these robots are able to recharge on their own if their battery power dips below a certain level; no need to worry about looking for it after it’s done cleaning. It would just be on its docking station waiting for you for its next scheduled assignment.If there are areas you don’t want the robot to clean, each manufacturer has the equivalent of boundary markers; some use infrared light while others use special strips (magnetic or other). Some of the more intelligent robots are able to clean multiple rooms, stopping to recharge when needed and continuing where they left off. Don’t want the robot to move around when you’re at home? Not a problem. You can schedule the robot to clean at specific hours and (in certain cases) on specific days.
Compact
Most current robotic vacuums look like a flat, disk-shaped device. It’s flat so it can go under furniture and disk-shaped so it can turn easily, especially in corners. This design currently seems to be optimal, allowing it to reach all those places a normal vacuum can’t. There’s no need to move sofas, stools, and low-set tables. The vacuum’ disk-shape also allows it to go around furniture’s legs and wall corners effectively, cleaning as it goes. Most also feature a bumper to detect and absorb collision with a solid object.
Intelligent
The core technology used inside these robot vacuums is similar to what the army uses to clear land mines. Robotic vacuums contain a variety of different sensors to detect:- dirt (not only detect it but to clean that area until no more dirt is detected)
- drops (like stairs for example)
- path (it knows where it’s been)
- charging base (it can sense where its base is and get there)
- obstacles (either by lightly hitting them or detecting them at a distance)
- battery usage
- and more…
Affordable
Robots, just by their connotation, must be really expensive, right? Owning even one robot for personal use seems like a luxury. Well, not these ones. Believe it or not, iRobot’s Roomba ranges from CA $250 to CA $450. While the Infinuvo’s Cleanmate models start at CAD $170. The Neato, which scans a room even before it starts to clean, is less than $500. Mass production has made these intelligent vacuums as inexpensive as normal vacuums.Upgradeable and Repairable
Worried that something so technologically advanced will break and cost a lot of money to fix? If you buy the vacuum from some retails, you would be right to be scared; however, if you buy from RobotShop, you get a lifetime warranty against failure! Although anyone can do the routine maintenance required to keep the robotic vacuum working (emptying the dust bin, replacing the brushes when they are too worn), some of the more complicated issues (“the robot is turning in a circle” or “it’s depressed”) are harder to resolve. Send the bot back to RobotShop and they’ll take care of it free of charge (assuming it was bought there).We’ve all seen those garage sales where a lonely old vacuum lies off to one side being passed up by everyone. Unlike your standard upright vacuum, these can be upgraded with new software to make their cleaning patterns more efficient. Brushes and parts are modular and easily replaced. Want a brush that’s better suited for pet hair? Not a problem! Want a battery that lasts longer? They have those too! Want your robots to communicate with each other? That’s on the way…
Don’t be thrown off by “cheap knock offs”. As with all popular products, some manufacturers are entering the robotic vacuum market by trying to copy the leaders without any real understanding of the technology or software. These copies are often much lower quality than those that have been on the market for some time, and if they are ever broken, are almost always impossible to repair and not covered by a decent warranty. It’s better to pay a few dollars more for something you know can be fixed and is backed by an excellent warranty than trying to save a little only to end up with a disk-shaped paperweight.If you buy a technological device from a non-technological company, servicing and repairs will be significantly harder than if you purchased from a specialized robotic company like RobotShop. You should also take a look at the warranty offered as this can differ significantly from company to company; a big incentive to buy from specialists is that even after a manufacturer’s warranty has run out, you may still be covered for many more years by the distributor you purchased from.
As with all technological devices, there may be a new type of robotic vacuum which comes out in a few years which includes a “must have” feature. However, since the release of the first mass market robotic vacuum, the shape and technology have not changed much. The most recent advancement has been a scanning laser which maps the room and is proprietary technology on the Neato. iRobot has released a physically smaller vacuum than previous models, but the basic technology is the same. It’s really up to you to choose the features you want most (self-charging base; room mapping; dirt detection; remote control etc.). These robots may be intelligent and advanced, but are robust enough to last a long time and perform reliably so long as you take care to empty the dust bins and periodically check the machine.
These are just some of the reasons that may urge you to get your own robotic vacuum cleaner. Just imagine the time you’ll save vacuuming your house’s entire floor area. You can do something else with all that time you should have spent cleaning. And in this fast changing world, time saved is definitely worth the price.
[original entry]Open Source Robotics Foundation Announced
http://robots.net/article/3379.html
− at 20:18, 17. May. 2012
Announced via the Willow Garage website, the Open Source Robotics Foundation, Inc. (OSRF) is nindependent non-profit organization founded by members of the global robotics community.
Its mission is to support the development, distribution, and adoption of open source software for use in robotics research, education, and product development.
OSRF's board of directors includes Professor Wolfram Burgard of the University of Freiburg, Ryan Gariepy, CTO of Clearpath Robotics, Brian Gerkey, Director of Open Source Development at Willow Garage, Helen Greiner, a co-founder of iRobot and currently CEO of CyPhyWorks, and Sam Park, Executive Vice President of Yujin Robot. Initially sponsored projects include the Robot Operating System (ROS), and Gazebo, a 3D multi-robot simulator with dynamics. Gazebo has been chosen by DARPA as the simulation platform for its recently announced robotics challenge for (humanoid) disaster robots.
Paralyzed Woman Finishes London Marathon
http://robots.net/article/3378.html
− at 18:52, 17. May. 2012
While it took her 16 days to do it, Claire Lomas, who lost use of her legs in a 2007 accident, finished the London Marathon with the aid of a ReWalk powered exoskeleton from Argo Medical Technologies.
[original entry]