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WIND System Could Change How We Control Robots

by Ben Deitz on February 8, 2010 at 07:25 AM

We think it goes without saying that Japan loves robots. Japanese pop culture has had a love affair with our metallic friends since the '50s, and slowly but surely science is catching up to their imagination. fuRo, a Japanese robotic research & development firm, has taken their first tentative steps towards realizing a glorious future of wirelessly controlled robotic surrogates.

fuRo's WIND (Wireless Intelligent Networked Device) Robot System uses a vest-mounted series of System in Package (SiP) chips (the same all-in-one chips used in MP3 players and cell phones) and positional sensors to allow the user to wirelessly control a robot through bodily movement. These wireless robots may one day be used in environments too hazardous for ordinary humans to operate in, such as mines, disaster zones, and Anthrocon.

fuRo's other creations include the HallucII, a robot mounted on 8 multi-jointed wheels that operates in "vehicle", "insect", and "animal" modes. We hope that fuRo can eventually miniaturize the WIND into a wrist watch, allowing us to control our very own Giant Robot. [From DVICE, via: PlasticPals]

Tags: astro boy, AstroBoy, avatars, Japan, remote control, robot, robots, surrogates, top, wireless

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