Remember the R/C Battling Sumo Wrestlers? Those were cute, with eternal grins plastered all over their mugs. Apparently, robots want in on some sumo fun as well with these R2-D2 lookalikes that go head-to-head (or wheel-to-wheel, depending on how you look at it) in a circular ring. Whoever knocks over his opponent first is a winner, and you are guaranteed to have tons of fun with this great party game (especially more so when you have incorporated some drinking elements inside). Each set is known as the DNA Robot Wars, and a pair will retail for £49.95, making it a budget Christmas gift that will definitely bring a smile on the face of its intended recipient.

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Most robotic kits that we see in the market these days are pretty simple as they come pre-fitted from the factory, ready to be played with out of the box. All you need to do is insert some batteries, and perhaps run a program off a CD for the more complex offerings and you’re good to go. Not the Bioloid Multi-Bot Robot Kit though – this bad boy ships in it’s most basic format and arrives naked in this world just like us, but it does have a cool array of limbs that can be fitted in any way you like ala Lego bricks in order to create more than just a bi-pedal humanoid Transformer-like robot.

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Using robots as guards to create a reliable security system is an old idea for science fiction books, but apparently the concept is about to become a reality. The Japanese company Sohgo Security Services (ALSOK) announced that it will be creating a semi-autonomous security system based on the interaction between robots and humans.

The robot to be used in the system is an upgraded version of the Guardrobo D1, produced by the same company. It weights 200 pounds and stands fifty inches tall. Each robot costs $3000 and a the complete security system is estimated from $10000 to $20000. Read the rest of this entry »

Alright, if your company is having a hard time to find a reliable secretary or assistant why not just hire a robot instead? That is exactly what Ubiquitous Exchange, an organization based in Tokyo, is offering. For an hourly wage you can hire Ubiko, a robot that is able to welcome visitors, answer questions and carry objects around.

What is the hourly wage, though? Grab your seat, because the little robot goes for $445 an hour. I mean, for that price I would at least expect the gizmo to do the coffee and clean the floor… I don’t know about your country but here in Brazil you can hire two complete footbal teams for that price, supporters included. Read the rest of this entry »

Scientists from the University of Vermont and from the Cornell University have announced a new robot that is able to study the surrounding environment, re-adapt to it and even heal itself in the case of unexpected damage. As you can imagine those capabilities could prove really useful for missions on unknown or dangerous territory.

The process is not that simple. Apparently the robot is able to create a virtual model of itself on the internal computer that it carries. Every movement is then updated into the model so that the computer will be predict future actions and even compensate for specific malfunctions. Read the rest of this entry »

Industrial robot manufacturer Kuka has teamed up with Primal Rides, the Canadian amusement park ride designer in order to developed theme rides that are based on a robotic Kuka arm. Known as the Robocoaster, this is a pretty interesting piece of news as it can be safely said that the Robocoaster is the only rollercoaster in the world that will bring its riders for a wild, wild ride, with the ultimate objective – to make its riders puke.

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To make the most of the Robot category here at Coolest Gadgets and reach the tenth position, I present you the R100 Personal Robot – man’s best friend after beer, dogs, women. It is a strange looking robot made by the famous IT company – NEC.

I’m wondering if the persons in charge of building the R100 focused so much in giving the robot plenty of features that they forgot to make it look good and stylish in terms of colors. What I mean is that a blue, red and yellow stripe is not a good option – maybe that is why they accepted some original color scheme ideas. In terms of design and shape, it is understandable the decision to make it simple since it is easier to make it move around.
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The RoboMop is a neat robotic solution to cleaning smooth floors. It does look a bit cheap and plasticy but if it saves a bit of menial labor who cares what it looks like.
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