Saturday, May 18, 2013
Sex With Robots? Sooner Than You Might Think!
... Meet Aiko - a robot who not only looks feminine and sexy but also does household tasks and accounts
... Intl. Computer Games Assoc President, A.I. expert, and author of “Love and Sex with Robots,” David Levy, says that in a few years everyone will be having sex with robots
Glass-handling robot wins robot of the year award
... Honda provides these robotic legs to assist factory workers who regularly squat and climb
One of these two hands is bionic!
... See Dean Kamen of DEKA Research & Development display an almost-ready-for-production American version of an even better bionic hand and arm
... Here’s a more detailed video.
Whatever He Wants! (What do you give a 700-ton robot?)
... Caterpillar explores driverless heavy-duty and hazardous vehicles
Dev: Robotic companion for disabled with same capabilities as service dogs
Bailout Approved: Automakers get $17.4B in loans
... Toyota slashes earnings forecast to reflect $34 billion in reduced sales
.... Industrial robot providers and associated business stocks tanking and 9-month orders are down
Service Robots to Lead Industry Growth
... Eg: Many industrial robotic companies are laying off, scrambling for cash, and restructuring, eg: Adept Technology
... In 2011 more than 18 million robots will populate the world - up from 6.5 million in 2007
... Eg: iRobot is selling their service robots from mall kiosks and their PackBots to the Army
Two low-cost robots for kidults:
... $99 world’s smallest humanoid robot from Hammacher Schlemmer by Takara Tomy’s iSobot
... Robot responds to verbal commands and perform remote-controlled or pre-programmed movements in sequence.
2008 Engelberger Robotics Awards
... I was in Seoul for the presentation but Joe wasn’t. Maybe next year in Barcelona.
EMAIL: info@therobotreport.com
AeroVironment Gets Cramer’s and Italian DOD’s Recommendations
... Other UAV providers also recommended
... Almost all industrial robotic providers are tanking
... Meanwhile robotic surgical successes are keeping Intuitive Surgical, MAKO and researchers busy
Robotic Companies Hit Hard By Recession
... iRobot cuts 10% of workforce
... Toyota delays new US Prius plant
... Fujitsu sees slow 2009 as demand weakens
Everyone’s Talking Assistive Robotics
... Dr. Mataric of USC’s Center for Robotics keynote discussed socially assistive robots
... Dr. Thrun of Stanford’s AI Lab keynote described implications of cars driving themselves
... MobileRobots’ session on putting applications on an autonomous, standardized mobile platform
For those of you who have ever taught a musical instrument to a child
. . . New music teaching robot being developed
Popular Products - Rovio by Wowee
This $299 three-wheeled robot, which went on sale in October, is equipped with a webcam, microphone and speakers that allow you to patrol your home via a web browser no matter where you are in the world. Rovio is the first surveillance bot to hit stores but iRobot is working on a similar product called ConnectR.
Popular Products - Verro by iRobot
This $399-$999 robotic pool boy, systematically trolls the floor and walls of your pool, sucking up dirt and leaves and scrubbing surfaces. The bot can clean a pool from floor to water-line within 90 minutes.
