Feb 2 2010

Fujisoft’s PALRO humanoid robot in the running to be our new best bud

Fujisoft’s recently taken the wraps off its latest companion bot, and they call this one PALRO. PALRO’s 39 centimeters tall (just over a foot), and boasts a 1.6GHz CPU Intel Atom CPU, 1 GB of RAM, 4 GB of flash memory, a 3 MP camera, Wi-Fi, 802.11 b/g/n, and a lithium ion battery to top it all off. He’s also equipped with a 3 megapixel webcam, but don’t worry — his specs don’t make him unapproachable. As you’ll see in the video which is after the break, PALRO’s probably the kind of guy that you could spend a lot of time with… but see for yourself. Fujisoft plans to start shipping units in March for 300,000 yen (that’s about $3,300 ). Hit up the source link for a lot more video.

Continue reading Fujisoft’s PALRO humanoid robot in the running to be our new best bud

Fujisoft’s PALRO humanoid robot in the running to be our new best bud originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Plastic Pals  | Email this | Comments

Jan 30 2010

Proto-2 humanoid robot auditions for Thunderbirds 2.0

While there are some robots like ASIMO still keeping it real with their classic robot looks, it seems that humanoid bots these days are increasingly falling into one of two categories: creepy and more creepy. Making no attempt to alter that trend are the researchers from Advanced Robotic Systems Laboratories (or ARSL), who are now showing off their new Proto-2 robot — and apparently holding it against its will. Designed partly to aid in the study of human-robot interaction, Proto-2 packs an “expressive face” complete with moving, Peter Gallagher-esque eyebrows, and it apparently has a more natural walking gait than many other humanoid bots thanks to a new dynamic toe-joint that ARSL developed. Unfortunately, there’s no video of it in action available just yet, but you can check out plenty more pics, and even an interview with its creator by hitting up the links below.

Proto-2 humanoid robot auditions for Thunderbirds 2.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  ARSL, Plastic Pals interview  | Email this | Comments

Jan 29 2010

Meet Diego-san, the latest robot baby to haunt your nightmares

The Apple iPad wasn’t the only magical and revolutionary thing revealed this week.

Meet Diego-san, the latest robot baby to haunt your nightmares originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Pink Tentacle  | Email this | Comments

Jan 4 2010

ATOM-7xp humanoid robot is indeed Atom-powered, Windows-based

Our enthusiasm for this particular walking robot is unfortunately a bit dampened by a lack of video, or any evidence of actual walking, but both of those are promised to be forthcoming, and the bot still has enough going for it to distinguish itself in the meantime. Proudly made in the USA by Futurebots, this so-called ATOM-7x robot is actually powered by not one but two Atom processors (a dual-core Atom 330 and an Atom 230), which themselves power two separate systems running Windows XP and Windows 7. Those, paired with slew of sensors, gyros and accelerometers, promises to give the bot a whole range of humanoid capabilities, including an advanced stereo vision system that its creators say will let it “take on real world problems.” Complete details are otherwise still a bit light, but the bot can apparently operate autonomously in addition to being used as a telepresence robot, and it unsurprisingly wasn’t cheap or easy to build (”2 mortgages and lots of sweat”). We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any sightings of this one in action.

ATOM-7xp humanoid robot is indeed Atom-powered, Windows-based originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Futurebots  | Email this | Comments

Dec 21 2009

Nippon Institute of Technology unveils educational humanoid robot

We really can’t get enough of these humanoid robots. Researchers collaborating from the Nippon Institute of Technology, Harada Vehicle Design, ZMP and ZNUG Design have just taken the wraps off another addition to the crew. The newest version of the e-NUVO walk bot stands about 4 feet tall, making it roughly the size of an elementary school aged child, and will be incorporated into classes to teach children about humanoid robots in a hands-on environment. We’ll admit that after seeing a video of the bot in action (it’s after the break), we’re pretty jealous of those school children.

Continue reading Nippon Institute of Technology unveils educational humanoid robot

Nippon Institute of Technology unveils educational humanoid robot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Plastic Pals  |  Nippon Institute of Technology  | Email this | Comments

Dec 11 2009

Nao performs Star Wars homage, scores mad geek cred

While we’re still busy thinking up legitimate uses for a humanoid robot, Aldebaran Robotics keeps finding newer and zanier ways to play with its Nao. The latest is a pre-programmed Star Wars routine that should have all you aging loyalists positively moist with glee, and even includes a terrific R2D2 impersonation that is not to be missed. Past the break, you shall find it. Oh, and as to real world uses, there are further videos of Nao reading out your emails and doing balancing acts, which may be found at the source link.

Continue reading Nao performs Star Wars homage, scores mad geek cred

Nao performs Star Wars homage, scores mad geek cred originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Plastic Pals  |  Impress  | Email this | Comments

Nov 21 2009

Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable

It started off innocently enough. Personal transporters, they told us, just robots to make life easier. Now look at them — Toyota’s Partner Robots are set for upgrades that include back-mounted solar chargers, spring-loaded jumping mechanisms, and a design hardy enough to withstand lunar temperature drops. Intended for the performance of exploratory missions on the moon — alongside a four-wheeled robotic rover — the new designs were introduced by Toyota in a presentation titled “Realization of Moon Exploration Using Advanced Robots by 2020.” So, if the world doesn’t actually end in 2012, by 2020 we’ll have extraterrestrial robots plotting our demise anyway. More pictures of lunar colonization can be found after the break.

Continue reading Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable

Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Plastic Pals  |  GetRobo  | Email this | Comments

Page 1 of 212»
UBD Moneymaker Theme by Unique Blog Designs & Phillip van Coller