Join Conceptual Gadgets, GPS gadgets, Robot Gadgets, Vehicle Gadgets
AIDA: A robot head on your dashboard to show you the way
Imagine if you were to chop off Johnny Five’s head and put him on your dashboard. I realize that sounds gruesome, and I’m sure someone actually did that at the end of the original Short Circuit, but just imagine that cute little head on your dash having loving expressions, and showing you the way to go home.
This is essentially the role of AIDA (Affective Intelligent Driving Assistant). This robot head not only serves as a GPS Navigation system, but it actually has expressions. It’s eyes will look happy when you’re going the right way, and become a warning sign when you are not. There is a video of this intriguing concept after the jump if you aren’t already sold on it yet.
AIDA is more than a navigation system, though. It is intelligent enough to remember where you have been, and from this information determines your driving habits. It uses a lot of sensors to gather intel, and will even let you know when you’re low on gas, and where is the best place to stop for gasoline on your way.
Conceptual Gadgets, Robot Gadgets, Toys
Ropid Robot can run and jump on your command
You got to admit that Ropid the robot looks like it should have been in the recently released Astro Boy movie. By the way, that movie is actually pretty good, just so you know.
Ropid is the creation of a Kyoto based group known as Robo Garage, and it has the ability to run and jump. By the way, the robot is programmed to jump with a vocal command. In other words, if you say “jump”, then the robot may not say “how high”, but it will jump as high as it can, which is 8 centimeters high.
That’s not bad considering Ropid measures 38 centimeters tall, and weighs 16 kilograms. The robot has 29 joints and four gyro-sensors, and is powered by a lithium-ion battery. By the way, the vocal commands will also run when you tell it to run, and stop when you say stop. Now if it could run and jump, perhaps it could beat the Olympic long jump record.
Robot Gadgets
Roboni-i launched by Robonica
Robonica has rolled out the Roboni-i toy that will fuse elements of robotics, R/C vehicles and interactive gaming to deliver a brand new entertainment category known as “Robotic Gaming”. Gamers will find meaningful and structured gameplay within regardless of whether they play alone, with friends or online. Retailing for $249.99 a pop, Roboni-i is touted to be the “evolutionary ‘next step’ for entertainment robotics.”
A smart, fully programmable and highly agile two-wheeled robot, Roboni-i is the first entertainment robot to offer unlimited play patterns. The state-of-the-art robot features 16 sensors and four processors, RF (ZigBee) remote control and peer-to-peer protocol allowing for competitive gameplay with real-world robots. It also comes packaged with game accessories and six action games enabling players to lay out a playing field and use the gaming controller to select a game as they enter a new dimension of interactive, real-world robotic gameplay. Whether alone or with friends, they will need to beat the odds, race against time, manage resources, neutralize threats, execute special effects and collect bonus points to improve score.
The Roboni-i’s online universe is tipped to roll out this November in its beta version. Are you looking forward to this new method of gaming?
Conceptual Gadgets, Robot Gadgets
Hoya Robot can go into burning buildings
One of the problems with firefighting is that firefighters often run into burning buildings, without any idea if anyone is in trouble. I’m sure there are times in which firefighters have ran into empty burning buildings, only to have the structures collapse on top of them. It is always terrible when someone dies for nothing, but the Hoya Robot from South Korea could help cut down on needless deaths.
The Hoya is a rolling robot that resembles the Sony Rolly, and travels at one foot per second. It has a range of 54 yards, and can transmit images of what is inside. It also has onboard lights to illuminate its path, and it can check a burning building for temperature, smoke, and gas.
The Hoya can withstand temperatures of up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit, is water resistant, and can withstand drops of six feet. It can operate up to 30 minutes without charging.
Conceptual Gadgets, Robot Gadgets
Power Loader Exoskeleton can help you lift 220 pounds
I’m sure you all remember the classic scene in Aliens where Sigourney Weaver enters the room wearing that bulky, yellow, and yet powerful Power Loader suit and heroically exclaims: “Get away from her, you b___h!” Man, did that make the Mother Alien say: “oh, s__t!”
I remember reading a screenwriting book that talked about how awkward that scene would have been if that Power Loader not been given proper introduction in an earlier scene. In fact, when that movie first introduces the Power Loader, I knew it was going to work its way into the film much later.
After all, it was too cool not to. It appears that a company called Activelink, a Panasonic subsidiary based in Kyoto, Japan, has created one in real life. There is a video of it after the jump.
Conceptual Gadgets, Remote Control Toys, Robot Gadgets
Robot obeys its Master’s thoughts
Of course, I was completely mesmerized when I saw this particular item of interest: a robot that obeys your thoughts.
Stop right there. Is this serious? Apparently so. Inventor Taku Ichikawa of the University of Electro-Communications in Tokyo is creating this robot for the Robo-One contest in Toyama, Japan.
The Robo-One is sort of a battlebots style competition, and I suppose that thoughts really are the best interface for that. Unfortunately, this is about all the information my sources have about this.
Robot Gadgets
Programmable Gaming Robot
Have a penchant for kicking up a brand new bunch of codes that is capable of causing a mini revolution? Well, if you’re pretty handy at coding and love the world of robotics, the Programmable Gaming Robot ought to be your cup of tea. After all, this Programmable Gaming Robot is able to go up against the clock or against other robots in a variety of games where you will be the one behind its movements.
The six included games are interactive environments composed of pieces that include a base station, energy port, special effects hub, and three universal gaming pads; each accessory may be individually programmed using a simple, drag-and-drop interface with the included software (requires a PC running Windows XP or Vista). Depending upon the game you select (or modify using the software) each accessory serves a unique purpose: the base station can act as a depot, timer, or target; the energy port ejects a ball (which is corralled by the robot’s built-in scoop) and recharges the robot; and the special effects hub provides robots with advanced maneuvers and abilities. The robot has infrared sensors and radio frequency identification chips that allow the robot to react to the game’s accessories and other competing robots, helping it to avoid obstacles, navigate autonomously, and participate in any of the six included games. You can also participate in interactive online gaming using any of the robot’s programmed routines–you can identify other robots online as “friend” or “foe” and the robot will interact with them accordingly. The games involve the robot picking up different colors by driving over encoded pads and delivering them to the hub before time expires, collecting a ball while avoiding “bullets”, dropping electronic “land mines” to obstruct competing robots, and more. The robot’s dual monowheel design provides nimble 360ยบ movement as it moves between accessories–you can control it from up to 30′ away.
We would strongly recommend you get a healthy dose of AA batteries, as the entire set will take up to a dozen of those puppies before it is able to get up and running. The Programmable Gaming Robot will retail for $299.95.
Conceptual Gadgets, Medical Gadgets, Robot Gadgets
Bloodbot combines your worst vampire and robot fears
There are a lot of people who faint at the sight of a needle, as well as those that swoon at the sight of blood.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was some machine like this Bloodbot that could draw your blood, without a human ever being present?
Some of you might faint at the very idea of that, but haven’t you ever had a doctor who had a hard time finding the vein while you were donating blood? Apparently, this bloodbot has an accuracy rate of seventy-eight percent. Normally, I would say that is good, but I would like to see the average accuracy rate for a doctor.
