Robotics

 Holy $h!t That's a Fast Robot!

Posted May 2, 2012 -By Craig Garcia - I love robots, who doesn't? And during my lifetime thus far, I have watched them grow from sluggish and limited robots which barley deserve the name into the marvel they have become now. The video I'm going to show you today, isn't a recent video. This is actually from 2009 and although it is almost 3 years old this is extremely impressive! In the video below we see this robotic hand completing feats of amazing manual dexterity, from dribbling ping pong balls, to tying knots, and then picking up individual grains of rice... all done with amazing speed and accuracy.  If this was the state of robotics 3 years ago, I can only imagine where they will be 3 years from now.

Jumping Robot Can Leap 30 Feet!!: Original Post Date - March 30, 2012

I came across an article today that immediately caught my eye, it was about a robot that could jump 30 feet! Yes 30 feet! That's an amazing feat, even for a robot. Let me introduce you to the Sand Flea, it is the metallic child of Boston Dynamics.

This robot can drive around like your typical RC toy... but it has a trick up its' sleeve. Using a CO2 powered piston on the rear of the vehicle, it can leap up to 9m (30 feet) in a single bound.

An on-board gyroscopic stabilization system keeps the Sand Flea balanced during flight and helps with making a safer landing. This was developed with funding in part from DARPA, with the goal of providing increased situational awareness in combat situations. However the creators see this tiny jumper also playing roles in law enforcement, search & rescue and planetary exploration. Check out the video below, and for more information visit Boston Dynanics website here

Naval Research Laboratory Designs Robot For Shipboard Firefighting: Original Post Date - March 15, 2012

If you like robots, then you perhaps you already know about or may have heard about SAFFiR. This futuristic looking design is actually a shipboard firefighter... at least it will be.

The robot SAFFiR (Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot) was chosen to have humanoid features because it was deemed best suited to operate within the confining and often narrow environments on board naval vessels.

This bad ass 'fire-terminator' if you will, will come equipped with enhanced multi-modal sensor technology for advanced navigation. A sensor suite that includes a camera, gas detector, and stereo IR camera to see through smoke. The upper body will be able to operate fire suppression equipment and throwing propelled extinguishing agent technology (PEAT) grenades.

While this is still in the development stages, the NRL working hard on getting this into production and is planning on testing the robot on board the the USS Shadwell in September of 2013. So the next time you're on board a boat and hear something say 'come with me if you want to live' ... it might not be Arnie, but may still save your life.  Check out the NRL website for more information.

Cyberdyne: The Future Of Robotics...Today : Original Post Date March 13, 2012

If you have seen any of the Terminator movies, you've probably heard the name Cyberdyne at least once or twice. And to my shock, today I learned that Cyberdyne is not just a fictional company name, it turns out this is a real company based out of Japan. And guess what they specialize in ... yup that's right, robotics.

After a whole 30 seconds browsing their website, I came across this beauty. This is the Robot Suit HAL. When I first laid eyes on this my heart skipped a beat... this was eerily similar to the powerloader from that Alien movie from years ago, or the 'mech suits' from video games, except this was real. 

The Robot Suit HAL is designed to expand and improve on the physical capabilities of the wearer. Using a internal battery drive and weighing only 23kg, this suit can transform a ordinary person into a Robotic Mech! 

According to the website: " When a person attempts to move, nerve signals are sent from the brain to the muscles via motoneuron, moving the musculoskeletal system as a consequence. At this moment, very weak biosignals can be detected on the surface of the skin. "HAL" catches these signals through a sensor attached on the skin of the wearer. Based on the signals obtained, the power unit is controlled to move the joint unitedly with the wearer's muscle movement, enabling to support the wearer's daily activities. This is what we call a 'voluntary control system' that provides movement interpreting the wearer's intention from the biosignals in advance of the actual movement. Not only a 'voluntary control system' "HAL" has, but also a 'robotic autonomous control system' that provides human-like movement based on a robotic system which integrally work together with the 'autonomous control system'. "HAL" is the world's first cyborg-type robot controlled by this unique Hybrid System. "HAL" is expected to be applied in various fields such as rehabilitation support and physical training support in medical field, ADL support for disabled people, heavy labour support at factories, and rescue support at disaster sites, as well as in the entertainment field."

 There's a lot that can be done with this, and no doubt military minds have already considered the MechWarrior possibilities. But for the average person technology such as this could assist those with damaged limbs or difficulty walking or climbing, or those working in heavy labor work environments. This is an astronomical step in the field of robotics and cybernetics and I am eager to see what the future of Cyberdyne brings us..... just no SkyNet Please.

Robo-Glove: NASA & GM Aim To Make Zero G Work A Little Lighter - Originally Posted March 13, 2012

NASA and GM are currently working on a tool for astronauts which should make working in space a little easier. Meet the K-glove AKA the Robo-glove. This wearable tool is designed to minimize the physical force required to operate machinery in space.  By use of pressure sensors, synthetic tendons and a power supply similar to those of cordless drills, astronauts can exert less force while working, which in turn means they can complete more work before getting tired.

The idea is pretty neat, however I think there's a lot that can be improved upon. For more details about the Robo-glove, check out this page on GM's website.

Cheetah Robot Breaks Land Speed Record: Original Post - March 3, 2012

A remarkable moment in robotics has been achieved, the robot known as Cheetah has set a land speed record for legged machines by racing up to 18mph on a treadmill. This is quite an accomplishment, and the developers at Boston Dynamics are hoping for even greater achievements for Cheetah in the future.

The DARPA funded program is looking to take Cheetah out of the lab and into the field to better understand the limits of fast moving robots.