Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Florida Man Guns Down SWAT Team Robot With an AK-47 -- Naked]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/man-guns-down-swat-robot-with-ak-47-naked/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/man-guns-down-swat-robot-with-ak-47-naked/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/08/man-guns-down-swat-robot-with-ak-47-naked/#comments naked man shoots robot What's crazier than locking yourself in your house and threatening to kill anyone that crosses its threshold? Walking out of your house to shoot a robot with an AK-47. Naked. While being videotaped. A Florida man accomplished all of those feats, during a recent standoff with a camera-equipped SWAT team bot. The $65,000 robot bravely attempted to enter the man's house, where it was greeted with nudity and four bullets. The man was taken into custody, and is undergoing psychological evaluations.

SwitchedFlorida Man Guns Down SWAT Team Robot With an AK-47 -- Naked originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ak-47crazycrimefloridaflorida+robotflorida+swat+robotfloridarobotfloridaswatrobotnaked+man+swat+robotnaked+swat+robotnakedmanswatrobotnakedswatrobotpoliceRobotsStandoffSWATtopFri, 08 Apr 2011 11:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Geminoids Meet Their Meaty Doppelgangers]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/geminoids-meet-their-meaty-doppelgangers/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/geminoids-meet-their-meaty-doppelgangers/http://www.switched.com/2011/04/07/geminoids-meet-their-meaty-doppelgangers/#comments

Which ones are the humans and which are the robots? We're not even sure the participants in this terrifying photo op know the answer to that question. Three nightmarish Geminoids were brought together with the flesh bags they were modeled after, presumably so the 'bots could learn a bit more about their human counterparts before murdering them and taking their place in life.

SwitchedGeminoids Meet Their Meaty Doppelgangers originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creepygemenoid robotsGemenoidRobotsgemenoidsrobotstopThu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pro Tip: Don't Sell Military Spy Drones on eBay]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/raven-spy-drone-sale-gets-henson-chua-jailtime/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/raven-spy-drone-sale-gets-henson-chua-jailtime/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/raven-spy-drone-sale-gets-henson-chua-jailtime/#comments Raven Drone Being Launched The Raven, a U.S.-built spy drone, is little more than a glorified model airplane with a camera. It has a range of just over six miles, has to be launched by hand (i.e., firing up the engine and throwing it into the air), and has no capacity to carry weapons of any kind. Still, it's military equipment, and thus subject to the Arms Export Control Act. A Philippine man named Henson Chua discovered that violating that act can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years after he sold his spare Raven on eBay for $13,000. The buyer: undercover Homeland Security agents who tracked Chua after making the purchase, and apprehended him when he traveled to Los Angeles last month.

After being indicted on March 10th by a grand jury, Chua is facing significant jail time for selling something a crafty hobbyist probably could have built in his back yard. Let this be a lesson: if you're going to get arrested for selling a military drone, at least make sure it's one capable of firing off a few Hellfire Missiles.

SwitchedPro Tip: Don't Sell Military Spy Drones on eBay originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>droneebayhenson chuaHensonChuamilitaryravenRavenDronerobotstopTue, 29 Mar 2011 16:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Robots Juggle With Frightening Accuracy]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/flying-robots-juggle-with-frightening-accuracy/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/flying-robots-juggle-with-frightening-accuracy/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/29/flying-robots-juggle-with-frightening-accuracy/#comments

Zurich-based roboticists have developed a type of flying robot that plays hacky sack with other robots demonstrates an unprecedented level of communication and control. The quadrocepters may not look like much (as a sawed-off badminton racket makes up its playing surface), but they do sport cutting-edge guts that allow them to sense and react to changes in their environments. In the above instance, change takes the form of a ball that the 'copters bandy around like adorable stoners deathly proto-soldiers. Either way, horrifyingly accurate.

SwitchedFlying Robots Juggle With Frightening Accuracy originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BadIdeasFlyingRobothacky-sackquadrocopterquadrocoptersrobotroboticistrobotstopTue, 29 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[This Robotic Octopus Tentacle Will Haunt Your Dreams]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/this-robotic-octopus-tentacle-will-haunt-your-dreams/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/this-robotic-octopus-tentacle-will-haunt-your-dreams/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/24/this-robotic-octopus-tentacle-will-haunt-your-dreams/#comments
Oh science, why are you going there? Haven't you seen the movies? Don't you know what your insatiable thirst for knowledge is bound to wreak? Hapless roboticists at Reading University are working on building a robot octopus that will move, react and grasp objects just like an actual octopus. Such a creature could be invaluable for performing underwater tasks -- such as maintaining watercraft or salvaging Le Cœur de la Mer. Currently, they've only got one working tentacle, but if the project goes as planned, they'll have an entire autonomous, battery-operated creature in a few years. Oh, swell.

SwitchedThis Robotic Octopus Tentacle Will Haunt Your Dreams originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BadassBadIdeasoctopusroboticistsroboticsrobotsTentaclestopThu, 24 Mar 2011 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cornell Roboticists Print Tiny, Flapping Ornithopter]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/cornell-roboticists-print-tiny-flapping-ornithopter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/cornell-roboticists-print-tiny-flapping-ornithopter/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/23/cornell-roboticists-print-tiny-flapping-ornithopter/#comments
Rapid prototyping and 3-D printing continue to find new uses, the latest neat-o product being these tiny ornithopters (machines that fly by flapping wings). Cornell roboticists printed themselves a minuscule 3.89-gram ornithopter -- a creation that would normally take days to design and build, but took mere minutes with the 3-D printing equipment. Check out the video above of the dragonfly-like 'bot flying and hovering.

SwitchedCornell Roboticists Print Tiny, Flapping Ornithopter originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dPrintingdesignornithopterrobotstopWed, 23 Mar 2011 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA['Blinky' Offers Glimpse of Future Robot 'Helpers']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/blinky-offers-glimpse-of-future-robot-helpers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/blinky-offers-glimpse-of-future-robot-helpers/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/21/blinky-offers-glimpse-of-future-robot-helpers/#comments
If we had to guess how the robot revolution would begin, it would look something like this. 'Blinky[TM]' is the work of Ruairi Robinson, an Academy Award-nominated short film director. His latest work stars Max Records (from 'Where the Wild Things Are'), alongside an adorable helper robot named Blinky, who turns out to be quite good at following directions. Just hit play now.

Switched'Blinky' Offers Glimpse of Future Robot 'Helpers' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blinkymax recordsMaxRecordsmoviesrobotsRuairi RobinsonRuairiRobinsontopMon, 21 Mar 2011 17:40:00 EST<![CDATA[The Latest ISS Crew Member is a Humanoid Robot]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/robonaut-r2-unboxed-on-iss/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/robonaut-r2-unboxed-on-iss/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/18/robonaut-r2-unboxed-on-iss/#comments
Robonaut (or R2 for short) just made his grand debut on the International Space Station as the first humanoid 'bot to reach the void above. R2 was dropped off by the Space Shuttle Discovery on its last mission to the final frontier, and on Tuesday (a full two and half weeks after its arrival) crew aboard the ISS finally held an unveiling ceremony for its latest member. Astronauts Catherine Coleman (America) and Paolo Nespoli (Italy) mugged for the camera as they pried the lid off the box declaring, "It's like unearthing a mummy!" They revealed a crate full of foam, but no robot. Eventually the camera zoomed out to reveal Robonaut in front of a control panel. "I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our crew," said Coleman.

Robonaut's official arrival was also announced via the humanoid's Twitter feed. R2 isn't tweeting on his own however. Messages are posted by members of the NASA ground crew. Check out the entire video unveiling above.

SwitchedThe Latest ISS Crew Member is a Humanoid Robot originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>international space stationInternationalSpaceStationissnasar2robonautrobotsspacespace shuttlespace shuttle discoverySpaceShuttleSpaceShuttleDiscoverytopFri, 18 Mar 2011 10:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Robots Now Really Good at Video Games, Humanity in Peril]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/robots-winning-video-games/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/robots-winning-video-games/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/17/robots-winning-video-games/#comments
The robots are already kicking our asses at just about everything, so seeing video games added to that list is not shocking. This 'bot from Adept Technology blazes through the iPhone game '1to50' in a record-setting 6.67 seconds (more than a second less than the fastest human). Check out the videos above and after the break. And keep your chin up -- the robots may be better gamers, but can they love?

Continue reading Robots Now Really Good at Video Games, Humanity in Peril

SwitchedRobots Now Really Good at Video Games, Humanity in Peril originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1to50gamingrobotstopThu, 17 Mar 2011 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Great, Now the Robots Know When We're Ignoring Them]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/simon-robot-knows-when-humans-ignore-it/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/simon-robot-knows-when-humans-ignore-it/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/11/simon-robot-knows-when-humans-ignore-it/#comments
If robots are going to play well with humans, they have to master even the subtlest of interactions. Georgia Tech roboticists (the same guys who gave us a robot that touches appropriately) have developed a robot that gauges its observers' attention level, and reacts to those around it.

With a wave, the adorably humanoid Simon attempts to get the attention of a nearby researcher. Using only cameras, the robot then attempts to suss out whether the human has noticed him, or not. Researchers put his accuracy in correctly understanding the interaction at about 80-percent. Not bad for a creature we'd expect to be slightly antisocial anyway.

SwitchedGreat, Now the Robots Know When We're Ignoring Them originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GeorgiaTechnewsmainRobotssimonsimon the robotSimonTheRobottopFri, 11 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[We Welcome You, Robotic Pharmacist]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/robot-pharmacist-at-ucsf-medical-center/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/robot-pharmacist-at-ucsf-medical-center/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/robot-pharmacist-at-ucsf-medical-center/#comments
I, for one, welcome our robot overlords -- especially when they're the ones dispensing meds. UCSF Medical Center's new robotic pharmacist is a massive drug-dispensing machine that removes the "human-error" variable from the sometimes-tedious task of measuring and packaging doses. According to UCSF, the robotic pharmacist hasn't messed up once in 350,000 dispensations.

All hail the robots! (Do you really want to upset the machine responsible for your simple human life? Didn't think so.)

SwitchedWe Welcome You, Robotic Pharmacist originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biotechfuturemedicationmedicinenewsmainpharmacyrobot overlordsrobot pharmacistRobotOverlordsRobotPharmacistRobotstopThu, 10 Mar 2011 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Touched By a Robot, Not Exactly Thrilled]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/cody-robot-touches-humans/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/cody-robot-touches-humans/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/10/cody-robot-touches-humans/#comments robot nurse Artificial intelligence may have made leaps and bounds in recent years, but roboticists still have a long way to go in mapping and replicating the type of emotional intelligence that informs much of human interaction. It's no easy task. The trick is that even while scientists make progress on one front (take the emotionally mature Nexi), human interactions are so complex that even small issues can pose huge problems. Take, for instance, the question of touch. Would you mind if a robot patted your arm? Would it make a difference if the robot was trying to comfort you? Or would it, to put it bluntly, skeeze you out?

In a study done at the Georgia Institute of Technology (starring Cody, the robot nurse), researchers discovered that human reaction to robotic touch hinges largely on perceived intent. When Cody swabbed participants' arms in a manner perceived as serviceable, people were fine with it. When he touched them for comfort, not so much.

Continue reading Touched By a Robot, Not Exactly Thrilled

SwitchedTouched By a Robot, Not Exactly Thrilled originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencecodycody robotCodyRobotGeorgiaTechmedicinerobotstopThu, 10 Mar 2011 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Horrifyingly Realistic Humanoid 'Bot May One Day Enslave Us All]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/05/realistic-gemenoid-f-humanoid-may-enslave-us-all/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/05/realistic-gemenoid-f-humanoid-may-enslave-us-all/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/05/realistic-gemenoid-f-humanoid-may-enslave-us-all/#comments Geminoid-F This is the latest iterationn of the Geminoid-F, a successor to the original Geminoid 'bot designed by Hiroshi Ishiguro of ATR, the man behind the Telenoid and Elfoid robotic nightmares. This model, however, was created outside of Japan, a first for the series. This Geminoid-F, which comes from Aalborg University in Denmark, is in some respects simpler than the original version -- but disturbingly more realistic. The skin and hair are almost indistinguishable from that of a real person (at least, in photos and video) and it even blinks and "breathes." After the break, check out a few videos of what will inevitably be seen as a direct ancestor of the T-800.

Continue reading Horrifyingly Realistic Humanoid 'Bot May One Day Enslave Us All

SwitchedHorrifyingly Realistic Humanoid 'Bot May One Day Enslave Us All originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creepygeminoidgeminoid fGeminoid-FGeminoidFrobotstopSat, 05 Mar 2011 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Humanoid Cell Phone Is Covered in Realistic 'Skin']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/04/elfoid-p1-humanoid-cellphone/#comments
Remember the Telenoid, the creepy humanoid bot that transmitted both the voice and the head movements of its operator? Imagine having that nightmare-inducing creation in your pocket at all times. The Elfoid P1 is essentially that: a ghostly robot effigy, shrunk down to handheld proportions and made into a cell phone. The outer coating is specially designed to feel like human skin (eww!), and hides a dial pad, as well as a glowing LED "heart," which turns blue when the phone is in use and red when in standby. Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International is hoping to bring the device to market by 2016 with the added ability to display facial movements. A camera in the device's head will track the speaker's facial movements, and the Elfoid on the receiving end of the call will recreate those expressions. See a demonstration of this future star of your night-terrors above.

SwitchedHumanoid Cell Phone Is Covered in Realistic 'Skin' originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdvancedTelecommunicationsResearchInstituteInternationalcellphonescreepydesignElfoidP1robotstelenoidtopweirdFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese Robot Baby Helps Treat Depression in Seniors]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/babyloid-helps-fights-elderly-depression/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/babyloid-helps-fights-elderly-depression/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/babyloid-helps-fights-elderly-depression/#comments Robot baby keeps elderly company. A Japanese researcher has created a robot that is designed to treat depression in seniors with dementia. Masayoshi Kano's Babyloid, which was inspired by the looks of a baby beluga whale, measuers 17 inches long and weighs about five pounds. It can move its stubby arms, round head, thin mouth and beady eyes while making baby noises. The bot's faces features LEDs that help to mimic human expressions, while a microphone and several sensors detect when a person is nearby. The idea is that simulating childcare using the Babyloid will reduce depression and keep minds sharp. Kano, who recently spoke at the Artifical Intelligence Research Promotion Foundation, has tested Babyloid with five residents at an intensive-care nursing home. The outcome must have been positive, because, although it's just a prototype now, Babyloid will retail soon in Japan for about $600.

The prototype Babyloid almost makes our skin crawl, as most robotic babies do. But, if taking care of this pill-shaped, blank-faced bot baby really makes older folks happier, well, we don't have a problem with it. Just keep it far, far away from us.

SwitchedJapanese Robot Baby Helps Treat Depression in Seniors originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>babybabyloiddementiadepressionelderlyhealthMasayoshiKanoresearchrobotRobotstoptreatmentWed, 02 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Freakish Robot Seal Is a Better Basketball Player Than You]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/robot-seal-plays-basketball-better-than-you/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/robot-seal-plays-basketball-better-than-you/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/02/robot-seal-plays-basketball-better-than-you/#comments
If robots were allowed to play in the NBA, this mechanical arm disguised as a Muppet seal would be a huge star. The 'bot, whose gripper terrifyingly juts out of the sad-eyed stuffed animal's mouth, is able to sink a basketball with 98-percent accuracy. Check the interesting and slightly unsettling video above.

SwitchedFreakish Robot Seal Is a Better Basketball Player Than You originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>basketballrobotsRobotSealsportstopWed, 02 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect-Enabled Rescue 'Bot Could Help Scan for Earthquake Survivors]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/warwick-mobile-robotics-uses-kinect-to-scan-for-survivors/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/warwick-mobile-robotics-uses-kinect-to-scan-for-survivors/http://www.switched.com/2011/03/01/warwick-mobile-robotics-uses-kinect-to-scan-for-survivors/#comments With rescue workers continuing to search for survivors among the rubble from last week's devastating earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, a group of engineers from the U.K. have constructed a robot that could make their jobs a little easier -- thanks to Microsoft's Xbox Kinect. The Kinect's motion-detection sensors can instantly model the robot's surroundings and scan them for survivors, while its 3-D imaging can tell rescue workers how far away any spotted victims may be. "It's not really designed to bring people who are stuck there out," explained mechanical engineer Peter Crook, from Warwick University. "But it would mean that the rescue services know where they are."

Continue reading Kinect-Enabled Rescue 'Bot Could Help Scan for Earthquake Survivors

SwitchedKinect-Enabled Rescue 'Bot Could Help Scan for Earthquake Survivors originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christchurchearthquakekinectMicrosoftNewZealandrescueRobotssurvivorstopukUniversity of WarwickUniversityOfWarwickWarwick Mobile RoboticsWarwickMobileRoboticsxboxTue, 01 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Read This: The Growing Robot Armies]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/27/read-this-the-growing-robot-armies/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/27/read-this-the-growing-robot-armies/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/27/read-this-the-growing-robot-armies/#comments
Well, right now, there's something like 43 countries [that] have robotics that they are using out in the field, primarily in the form of unmanned drones - some armed, some not. We're in the early stages of seeing deployment of ground robots as well. Many of those are for bomb disposal. The development of ground robots like the iRobot Packbot was motivated largely by the desire to carry out bomb disposal without endangering human life.

The U.S., obviously, is the leader... By 2015, they estimate... one-third of their forces will be unmanned. It's a very big shift.
CBC News talks to documentary producer Leslea Mair about the growth of robots and drones in military forces.

SwitchedRead This: The Growing Robot Armies originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>leslea mairLesleaMairRemote Control WarRemoteControlWarrobotstopSun, 27 Feb 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota 'Partner' Bots Show Off Their Violin and Trumpet Skills]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/toyota-partner-bots-show-off-their-violin-and-trumpet-skills/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/toyota-partner-bots-show-off-their-violin-and-trumpet-skills/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/23/toyota-partner-bots-show-off-their-violin-and-trumpet-skills/#comments
Thanks to the engineering impresarios at Toyota, those unguided hordes of boogying robot dancers finally have mechanical musicians to move them. The company's updated 'Partner' 'bots recently demonstrated their automated violin and trumpet skills, both solo and with human accompaniment, at the Robot & Human Concert in Tokyo. Despite its impressive skills, the violin-'bot will still require years of dedicated training programming before its can rival this technological violin master.

SwitchedToyota 'Partner' Bots Show Off Their Violin and Trumpet Skills originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PartnerRobotPartnerRobot2.0PartnerRobotsRobotHumanConcerttopToyotaRobotToyotaRobotsWed, 23 Feb 2011 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Robotic Snake Slithers in for Surgery Through a Hole in Your Chest]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/cardio-arm-robotic-snake-helps-heart-surgery/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/cardio-arm-robotic-snake-helps-heart-surgery/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/22/cardio-arm-robotic-snake-helps-heart-surgery/#commentsHaving a snake burrow its way through your chest doesn't sound like a terribly enjoyable experience, but that's exactly what the Cardio Arm is designed to do to patients undergoing heart surgery.

Created by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the Cardio Arm is a snake-like robot capable of entering a patient's chest through a three-quarter inch incision in the solar plexus. The snake and all of its 102 joints can be controlled with a joystick, while a camera attached to its head allows a surgeon to see where it's headed.

Continue reading Robotic Snake Slithers in for Surgery Through a Hole in Your Chest

SwitchedRobotic Snake Slithers in for Surgery Through a Hole in Your Chest originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biotechcardioCardioArmdoctorhealthheartmedicineRobotssciencesnakesurgerytopTue, 22 Feb 2011 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Aerial Robot Flits Like a Hummingbird, Reports Back to DARPA Like a Stool Pigeon]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/19/hummingbird-robot-flits-flips-packs-camera/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/19/hummingbird-robot-flits-flips-packs-camera/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/19/hummingbird-robot-flits-flips-packs-camera/#comments
DARPA has a fancy new spy drone that looks almost exactly like a hummingbird (provided you don't get too close to it). The tiny robot is able to zip through the sky, performing feats of aerial acrobatics similar to what an actual hummingbird is capable. The hope is that, when deployed, it won't draw much attention and will be able to find a perch near a potential target. The current version can stay aloft for eight minutes -- not enough for long range missions, but plenty of juice for urban espionage.

SwitchedAerial Robot Flits Like a Hummingbird, Reports Back to DARPA Like a Stool Pigeon originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerovironmentdarpadronehumming birdHummingBirdmilitaryrobotstopSat, 19 Feb 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan Planning to Send Tweeting Humanoid Robot to Space Station]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/japan-planning-to-send-tweeting-humanoid-robot-to-space-station/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/japan-planning-to-send-tweeting-humanoid-robot-to-space-station/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/18/japan-planning-to-send-tweeting-humanoid-robot-to-space-station/#comments It's no secret that the Japanese love their robots. But the country's space agency, JAXA, is hoping that other nations will enjoy its android creations, too. The country of cutting-edge 'bots is planning to send a humanoid robot to the ISS, where it will monitor the health and stress levels of astronauts, and report back via Twitter.

SwitchedJapan Planning to Send Tweeting Humanoid Robot to Space Station originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Astronautinternational space stationInternationalSpaceStationISSJapanJAXArobotsspaceTopTwitterFri, 18 Feb 2011 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists Create Ominous Baby 'Bot, Needs Diaper-Changing Skills]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/08/creepy-affetto-baby-robot/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/08/creepy-affetto-baby-robot/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/08/creepy-affetto-baby-robot/#comments
Studies have indicated that if a robot appears and acts like a human, then babies will actually believe the robot is a human. But, what if the baby is a robot? Will it grow up thinking it, too, is human? Robot researchers at Osaka University don't have to worry about that realism uncertainty, for now, because their new AFFETTO baby 'bot may just be the creepiest creation to ever roll off a robot production line.

The scientists apparently hoped to engineer a "child robot with realistic facial expressions," so that it could endear itself to human caregivers. (Umm, why exactly would a robot need a human caregiver? This just keeps getting creepier.) It's hard, however, to notice anything other than those soulless, shifty eyes. Watch the video above for a demonstration of the simulated, synthetic emotions, and (if you'd also like to see what a baby Terminator looks like) check out the follow-up for an inside view of the gears and guts, after the break.

Continue reading Scientists Create Ominous Baby 'Bot, Needs Diaper-Changing Skills

SwitchedScientists Create Ominous Baby 'Bot, Needs Diaper-Changing Skills originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AFFETTObaby robotBabybotBabyRobotosaka universityOsakaUniversityrobotrobotstopTue, 08 Feb 2011 14:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Texas Teen Uses Robot to Remotely Attend High School Classes]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/04/lyndon-baty-uses-robot-to-attend-high-school/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/04/lyndon-baty-uses-robot-to-attend-high-school/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/04/lyndon-baty-uses-robot-to-attend-high-school/#commentslyndon baty and the vgo robot Lyndon Baty's weakened immune system won't allow him to attend classes at his local high school in Knox City, Texas. Fortunately, though, there's a robot capable of doing that for him.

Baty, who suffers from Polycystic Kidney Disease, is now remotely attending his freshman classes via a VGO robot, which allows him to interact with his teachers and fellow students from the comfort of his own home. All the teen has to do is log on from his laptop, turn on his webcam, and use the 'bot's video conferencing system to sit in on classes. As soon as the bell rings, Baty can wheel his four-foot robot to his next class, using a remote control system.

Continue reading Texas Teen Uses Robot to Remotely Attend High School Classes

SwitchedTexas Teen Uses Robot to Remotely Attend High School Classes originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classeshigh schoolHighSchoollyndon batyLyndonBatyrobotRobotsschoolsickstudentsteachersteenstexastopvgovgo communicationsvgo+robotVgoCommunicationsvgorobotWebCamFri, 04 Feb 2011 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Swedish Street Artist Constructs Rainbow-Painting Robot]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/02/03/akay-robo-rainbow/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/03/akay-robo-rainbow/http://www.switched.com/2011/02/03/akay-robo-rainbow/#comments
Geeks, tinkerers and amateur engineers obviously love Rube Goldberg devices, those overly complicated, ridiculous contraptions that accomplish mundane, everyday tasks. Akay, a Swedish street artist, has assembled one impressively complex technical apparatus that both defiles and brightens the urban landscape with a single and (seemingly) simple swoosh.

Using a bicycle and a diverse array of components, Akay constructed a mobile "Instrument of Mass Destruction," or, as he has called it, the 'Robo-Rainbow.' The mobile, self-powered graffiti-bot employs a swinging arm -- with spray paint cans attached -- to produce a symmetrical rainbow arc. Some observers don't appreciate the aesthetic value of street art, but there's at least one guy who must certainly be enthralled with this device. Although, he might just scoff -- since it does produce a mere single spectrum.

SwitchedSwedish Street Artist Constructs Rainbow-Painting Robot originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akayartdiygoldbergcontraptionsgraffitirobotsRubeGoldbergMachinestreet artStreetArttopThu, 03 Feb 2011 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Kuka the Dancing Robot Translates Music Into Art, With a Blow Torch]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/27/kuka-dancing-robot-sculpts-wax/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/27/kuka-dancing-robot-sculpts-wax/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/27/kuka-dancing-robot-sculpts-wax/#comments A dancing robot in Germany is providing an entirely new, and high-tech, meaning to the ol' musical phrase "spinning wax." Created by designer Hermann August Weizenegger and composer Michalj Kekenj for Berlin's Made art studio, the Kuka robo-dancer possesses unprecedented moves and skills. According to Wired, "the robot is programmed to process and interpret Kekenj's musical compositions -- which he plays on the violin -- into digital data." Equipped with a rotating drill bit, a blowtorch and other armaments, Kuka then carefully sculpts a physical representation of that digital musical data from a block of wax. (Check out a video of Kuka after the break.) And, for the heavy metal art fans, Weizenegger and Kekenj apparently hope to cast their favorite pieces in bronze.

Continue reading Kuka the Dancing Robot Translates Music Into Art, With a Blow Torch

SwitchedKuka the Dancing Robot Translates Music Into Art, With a Blow Torch originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artDancingRobotDancingRobotskukaRobotArtrobotstopThu, 27 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Guess What? Camel-Riding Robots Are Armed With Stun Guns]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/22/guess-what-camel-riding-robots-are-armed-with-stun-guns/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/22/guess-what-camel-riding-robots-are-armed-with-stun-guns/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/22/guess-what-camel-riding-robots-are-armed-with-stun-guns/#commentscamel Here are a couple factoids for you to munch on this Friday. Last February, the world's most expensive camel sold for £1.6 million, or about $2.5 million. This camel was an international racing camel, and, yes, that exists. If the fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled world of camel racing doesn't excite you, the absurd wealth of the socialite Arab participants (or at least the brightly colored nose cozies the camels wear) certainly will. And, like any enterprise involving high-stakes dromedaries, camel racing has a seedy dark underbelly. At one time, wealthy racers corralled young boys, some as young as 6-years old and intentionally kept underweight, to ride their camels. The United Arab Emirates decided to ban the use of underaged jockeys in 2005, replacing them with camel-riding robots. Yet even the robots are problematic; it appears that an underground cartel has been equipping the little 'bots with stun guns, allowing them to zap camels as they ride.

Continue reading Guess What? Camel-Riding Robots Are Armed With Stun Guns

SwitchedGuess What? Camel-Riding Robots Are Armed With Stun Guns originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AnimalCrueltyanimalscamelCamelRacingcreepyrobotRobotApocalypsetopuaeUnitedArabEmiratesweirdSat, 22 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA['GhostBot' Swims Vertically, Mimicking Movements of Knifefish]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/20/knifefish-ghostbot-swims-vertically/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/20/knifefish-ghostbot-swims-vertically/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/20/knifefish-ghostbot-swims-vertically/#commentsRobot mimics knifefish movements. Researchers at Northwestern University have created a robot that mimics the movements of a knifefish, a creature that deftly swishes its lone fin in a ribbon-like motion to swim vertically. According to Fast Company, professor Malcolm MacIver noticed the curious way in which a knifefish he had in his aquarium tank would shoot upward. After studying the fish, MacIver and his colleagues discovered that it used different fin movements to swim in different directions. To move horizontally, the fish moves either the front or the back of its fin, independently of each other, one way or the other. But to move vertically, the researchers discovered, the knifefish simultaneously moves the front and back of its fin, creating two waves of force that meet in the middle to propel the fish vertically.

Of course, MacIver and his team didn't want to just learn about the fish and how it moved; they wanted to replicate what the fish can do underwater. So, the researchers spent $200,000 designing a knifefish robot, dubbed GhostBot. The underwater 'bot has 32 independently moving parts that wiggle its ribbon fin, and replicate the movements of a real knifefish. One day, the agile GhostBot could be used for rescue operations, studying coral reefs, or -- God forbid that it's ever needed -- repairing a damaged underwater oil well. Check out a video of the GhostBot after the break.

Continue reading 'GhostBot' Swims Vertically, Mimicking Movements of Knifefish

Switched'GhostBot' Swims Vertically, Mimicking Movements of Knifefish originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biomimicryfishknifefishNorthwesternUniversityresearchrobotRobotsswimmingtopThu, 20 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Quadrocopters Work Together to Build, Rather Than Destroy]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/16/quadrocopters-work-together-to-build-rather-than-destroy/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/16/quadrocopters-work-together-to-build-rather-than-destroy/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/16/quadrocopters-work-together-to-build-rather-than-destroy/#commentsA Quadrocopter Builds The truce with the quadrocopters continues. After offering an olive branch in the form of holiday melodies, the four-rotored autonomous vehicles are shifting their efforts from intimidating displays of aerial agility to feats of carefully choreographed construction. Check out the video, after the break, of a tower being built by a team of quadrocopters in the GRASP Lab at the University of Pennsylvania.

Continue reading Quadrocopters Work Together to Build, Rather Than Destroy

SwitchedQuadrocopters Work Together to Build, Rather Than Destroy originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>constructiongrasp labGraspLabquadrocopterrobotstopUniversityOfPennsylvaniaSun, 16 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's HOM-BOT Is Roomba on 'Roids, Texting You and Feeding Fido]]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/11/lgs-hom-bot-is-roomba-on-roids-texting-you-and-feeding-fido/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/11/lgs-hom-bot-is-roomba-on-roids-texting-you-and-feeding-fido/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/11/lgs-hom-bot-is-roomba-on-roids-texting-you-and-feeding-fido/#commentsCrushed by the lines at Lady Gaga, we stumbled aimlessly around the convention center until we noticed a group of people crowding around a small, seemingly empty stage. Was it an invisible Pico projection? A telepathic social networking demonstration? No, it was the massive, fluorescent LG booth, and the object of attraction was a small, circular vacuum cleaner with tiny spinning brushes. We bent low to hear it, and the robo-cleaner was nearly silent. With two cameras (one for corner detection and the other for locating obstacles), the disc-like robot also uses infrared and ultrasonic waves to scan the space in front of it. The disc-like cleaner was agile, politely maneuvering its way around whatever we threw at it, be it a foot or a giant hobo bag. LG is touting its simple, removable emptying mechanism and sturdy design. The Web-connected robo-maid is Wi-Fi-enabled, meaning it can send a trajectory of its path to any browser (and you can text it to do some extra cleaning, say, if you have guests coming over). Oh, and to make you totally obsolete, the thing can feed your pets with an automatic food dispenser. Thus, the robot-animal bond is successfully forged. Hug your Roomba for us on its way out.

Continue reading LG's HOM-BOT Is Roomba on 'Roids, Texting You and Feeding Fido

SwitchedLG's HOM-BOT Is Roomba on 'Roids, Texting You and Feeding Fido originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ces2011hom-bothombotLGlg hom-botLgHom-botLgHombotroboticsRoboticVacuumCleanerrobotsroombatopvacuumTue, 11 Jan 2011 09:50:00 EST<![CDATA[iRobot Unveils Tiny Scooba 'Smart Mop']]>http://www.switched.com/2011/01/03/irobot-tiny-scooba-230-smart-mop/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/03/irobot-tiny-scooba-230-smart-mop/http://www.switched.com/2011/01/03/irobot-tiny-scooba-230-smart-mop/#comments iRobot just unveiled an updated model of its autonomous, floor-washing robot, Scooba, which, at just 6.5-inches across, is half the width of its predecessor. The 3.5-inch-tall Scooba 230 will launch this spring and cost $299. The pint-sized bot comes with all the bells and whistles of most other smart mops -- sensors that make sure it doesn't roll down stairs and bumpers that protect your walls. But the Scooba 230, which works on all tile and wood floors, also boasts a new dual cleaning bladder system inside its hull, rather than standard cleaning tanks. One bladder deflates, emptying water and cleaning solution onto the floor, while the other bladder inflates, storing dirty water that Scooba has picked up. It remains to be seen if cats will be able to climb on the smaller top for the requisite YouTube videos.

Gallery: Scooba 230

Continue reading iRobot Unveils Tiny Scooba 'Smart Mop'

SwitchediRobot Unveils Tiny Scooba 'Smart Mop' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cleaninghomehouseholdirobotrobotRobotsscoobascooba 230Scooba230topMon, 03 Jan 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Robots Now Teach English in South Korean Schools]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/29/robots-teach-english-in-south-korean-schools/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/29/robots-teach-english-in-south-korean-schools/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/29/robots-teach-english-in-south-korean-schools/#commentssouth korean robot We always thought intimate, human-to-human interaction was a crucial element to learning any foreign language. But officials in the South Korean city of Daegu apparently think that human-to-robot interaction can be just as effective.

On Monday, the city unleashed an army of 29 robot English teachers, designed by the Korea Institute of Science of Technology. The 'bots conducted classes across 21 elementary schools, as part of a pilot program designed to experiment with cheaper educational practices, while stimulating the country's robotics industry.

Continue reading Robots Now Teach English in South Korean Schools

SwitchedRobots Now Teach English in South Korean Schools originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AvatareducationEnglishlanguageRobotsschoolSouthKoreateacherstopWed, 29 Dec 2010 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Quadrocopter Doles Out Tunes Instead of Death for the Holidays]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/23/quadrocopter-plays-christmas-tunes/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/23/quadrocopter-plays-christmas-tunes/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/23/quadrocopter-plays-christmas-tunes/#commentsQuadrocopter Plays 'Jingle Bells' Even a machine created to dole out destruction can't help but get in the holiday spirit. Finding the first use of a quadrocopter that doesn't have us shaking in fear, the crew at the Flying Machine Arena have trained one of these four-rotor beasts to peck out 'Jingle Bells' on a keyboard. We assume that this signals a temporary truce. (But, once 2011 hits, all bets are off.)

Continue reading Quadrocopter Doles Out Tunes Instead of Death for the Holidays

SwitchedQuadrocopter Doles Out Tunes Instead of Death for the Holidays originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flying machine arenaFlyingMachineArenaholidaysjingle bellsJingleBellsquadcopterquadrocopterrobotstopThu, 23 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stumbles Prevent Robo-Sprinter From Spreading Abject 'Terminator' Terror]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/15/ryuma-niiyama-athlete-running-robot/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/15/ryuma-niiyama-athlete-running-robot/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/15/ryuma-niiyama-athlete-running-robot/#comments The T-1000 shape-shifter robot in 'Terminator 2' serves as a terrifying upgrade over its Arnold predecessor. But, that intimidation doesn't arise from its morphing capabilities, because the robot truly horrifies us when it breaks into -- with those disturbing swinging arms -- an emotionless, unflinching sprint. Well, finally, an engineer has decided real robots should possess those same stupefying skills.

MIT scientist Ryuma Niiyama is developing a running robot, simply named 'Athlete,' that employs seven complex muscle systems. The artificial muscles, which mimic human sets like the gluteus maximus and the hamstring, power prosthetic blades similar to those utilized by amputee athletes. Embedded sensors and inertial measurement units monitor the bot's orientation, so that it -- conceivably -- can maintain a steady, sickening sprint.

Continue reading Stumbles Prevent Robo-Sprinter From Spreading Abject 'Terminator' Terror

SwitchedStumbles Prevent Robo-Sprinter From Spreading Abject 'Terminator' Terror originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aiArtificialLimbsprostheticrobotrobotstopWed, 15 Dec 2010 10:40:00 EST<![CDATA[EyeWriter Teams Up With Robotagger to Print Kids' Ocular Artwork]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/13/eyewriter-teams-up-with-robotagger-to-print-kids-ocular-artwork/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/13/eyewriter-teams-up-with-robotagger-to-print-kids-ocular-artwork/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/13/eyewriter-teams-up-with-robotagger-to-print-kids-ocular-artwork/#commentseyewriter 2.0 and robotagger
 The EyeWriter was originally designed for graffiti artist Tony Quan, who was diagnosed with paralyzing ALS in 2003. Aiming cameras at the user's eyeballs, the apparatus tracks the user's eye movements, thereby allowing him to draw. Some lucky little ones got the chance to try out EyeWriter at the recent Cinekid festival. There, the EyeWriter 2.0 was hooked up to the RoboTagger printing 'bot, which drew the kids' creations with its bright orange arm. Video after the break.

Continue reading EyeWriter Teams Up With Robotagger to Print Kids' Ocular Artwork

SwitchedEyeWriter Teams Up With Robotagger to Print Kids' Ocular Artwork originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CinekidFestivaldesigneyewriterrobotaggerrobotstopMon, 13 Dec 2010 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[The HAMDAS-R: You Should Let This Robot Debone Your Ham]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/06/hamdas-r-let-this-robot-debone-your-ham/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/06/hamdas-r-let-this-robot-debone-your-ham/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/06/hamdas-r-let-this-robot-debone-your-ham/#commentsham boning robot Despite all of our carping and kvetching about the coming robot apocalypse, some robots simply need to be given knives -- like this Japanese ham boning robot. Listen: 'tis the season for pernil, pulled pork never goes out of style, and we've lately been craving some salty country ham. (None of that pressed pink "ham product" for us, thanks.) But should we run the risk of slicing off a digit? Have you amateur cooks ever tried to bone out a pork leg and/or shoulder? We're fans of slow food and doing the tricky business by ourselves, but that is one tough piece of critter to break down.

Leave it to the 'bots, we say. But we wonder what tech cooking maestro Dave Arnold would think. (We hear he's something of an authority on hams.) Watch many hams get deftly torn asunder by the cold, calculating arm of a robot in the video after the break.

Continue reading The HAMDAS-R: You Should Let This Robot Debone Your Ham

SwitchedThe HAMDAS-R: You Should Let This Robot Debone Your Ham originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cookingDaveArnoldfoodhamhamdas-rHighTechCookingrobotrobotstopMon, 06 Dec 2010 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Denver Police Detonate Toy Robot That Could've Easily Been a Terrorist]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/03/denver-police-robot-coors-field-traffic/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/03/denver-police-robot-coors-field-traffic/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/03/denver-police-robot-coors-field-traffic/#commentsdenver robotYesterday, Denver police found themselves in the middle of a lengthy standoff with a robot that had threatened to blow up Coors Field. Fortunately for all of humanity, the white, eight-inch 'bot was just a toy. Unfortunately for the 'bot, though, police had no choice but to put it out of its misery.

A citizen first noticed the robot yesterday afternoon, and immediately notified local police. Officers quickly closed off the streets within the vicinity, and wouldn't allow anyone to come within 100 yards of the 'bot, which was mysteriously cemented into the ground near the baseball stadium. With rush-hour traffic quickly piling up, police called in a bomb squad to investigate the stoic toy. They even sent in their own robot to talk the miniature 'bot out of doing anything crazy, but authorities still couldn't figure out whether or not it was a bomb. Therefore, they decided to "render it safe" by blowing it up.

Continue reading Denver Police Detonate Toy Robot That Could've Easily Been a Terrorist

SwitchedDenver Police Detonate Toy Robot That Could've Easily Been a Terrorist originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bombCoorsFielddenverpoliceRobotssecurityterrorismtoptoysTrafficFri, 03 Dec 2010 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[WheeMe Bot Gives Massages, Makes Us Feel Dirty]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/12/03/wheeme-robot-massage-dreambots/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/03/wheeme-robot-massage-dreambots/http://www.switched.com/2010/12/03/wheeme-robot-massage-dreambots/#commentsWheeMe This is either an awkward, creepy peace offering from the robot community, or yet another attempt to lull us into complacency before the impending revolution. Either way, the WheeMe makes us a tad uneasy. It's a massaging robot that rolls around your back like a tiny, pleasure-giving Roomba. The tooth-wheeled 'bot is set to launch at this year's CES, but its creators at DreamBots have already taken it to the streets for some public demonstrations. (You can check out the stiffly acted and slightly unsettling videos after the break.) What makes the WheeMe work is the tilt-sensor inside, which keeps it from falling off of you as it rolls around, "providing a delightful sense of bodily pleasure." In our humble opinion, DreamBot might want to tone down the creep factor in their press materials.

Continue reading WheeMe Bot Gives Massages, Makes Us Feel Dirty

SwitchedWheeMe Bot Gives Massages, Makes Us Feel Dirty originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dreambotsmassagerobotstopweirdwheemeFri, 03 Dec 2010 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chinese Students Throw a Rockin' Robot Extravaganza]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/11/20/chinese-students-throw-robot-dance-party/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/20/chinese-students-throw-robot-dance-party/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/20/chinese-students-throw-robot-dance-party/#commentsrobot dance China might not openly celebrate certain forms of technological freedom, but the nation certainly knows how to throw a free-wheeling, frivolous tech fiesta. This week, China's Zhejiang Province hosted a monumental robot contest, which pitted 115 different teams and their diverse crews of 'bots against one another.

The teams represented 50 different schools, and the budding engineers reportedly provided an incredible array of clever creations, including basketball-bots and "intelligent trash cans." Most impressive, though, was the noble youngsters' update of a tired dance trend. It may be pretty (no, extremely) annoying when humans bust out "the robot" dance, but those moves are definitely still entertaining when performed by actual robots -- particularly if it's a coordinated electric robo-slide. Now, we just need to find the video.

SwitchedChinese Students Throw a Rockin' Robot Extravaganza originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinacompetitionDancingRobotseducationkidsrobotRobotCompetitionschooltopZhejiangProvinceSat, 20 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[George the Robot Finds Home, and Renewed Fame, After 50 Years]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/11/18/george-robot-british-returns-home-tony-sale/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/18/george-robot-british-returns-home-tony-sale/http://www.switched.com/2010/11/18/george-robot-british-returns-home-tony-sale/#commentsgeorge the robot
 Robot caregivers provide numerous benefits for the elderly. But, what happens when the robots themselves grow old, approach obsolescence and fade from memory? Some forlorn 'bots are, perhaps, left to aimlessly wander the streets, while others retire in dusty, forgotten warehouses. One 50-year-old British 'bot, though, is actually experiencing a comeback of epic proportions.

Tech maestro Tony Sale began assembling robots when he was 12 years old, and he eventually crafted his masterpiece, George, from the remnants of crashed military plane. The media and the public immediately fawned over George and his futuristic capabilities, but -- as with so many other fleeting stars -- the excitement waned and George found himself relegated to a storage shed.

Continue reading George the Robot Finds Home, and Renewed Fame, After 50 Years

SwitchedGeorge the Robot Finds Home, and Renewed Fame, After 50 Years originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>robotrobotstony saleTonySaletopvintageWallace and GromitWallaceAndGromitThu, 18 Nov 2010 07:30:00 EST