Robotics - SlashGear

Posts Tagged ‘Robotics’

Giger DIY $10k walking robot [Video]

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Nov 4th 2009 1 Comment

giger robot 1 263x350 custom Over at Let’s Make Robots! Tyberius is showing off Giger, his two-foot tall DIY humanoid ‘bot. A roughly 100 hour project so far, Giger runs embedded Linux and has both an integrated camera and WiFi, and apparently cost around $10,000 to build.

Now that might sound like an awful lot – probably because it is an awful lot – but you can blame the pro-quality servos. Tyberius used Dynamixels RX-64 and RX-28 units, which come in at $300 and $200 each, respectively; however unlike cheap servos they put out a whopping 1,000 ounces per inch of torque.

We’re not sure what we like most about Giger: his classic Cylon-style eye, mean looking pincers, or how easily he segues from a butch fighting stance to a reasonably camp wave. Tyberius’ next job is tightening up the dynamic balancing and getting the walking gait more natural; right now Giger looks a little drunk.

Video demo after the cut

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Robo Garage Ropid running, jumping ‘bot [Video]

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Oct 28th 2009 No Comments

Japanese robot manufacturer Robo Garage have been demonstrating their latest ‘bot, and what distinguishes the endearing 38cm tall Ropid is its ability to not only run but jump 8cm into the air. Ropid is intended to demonstrate a new leg design, which uses a double-jointed “linkage belt” – each point of which can be independently locked for stability in different movements – paired with four gyro-sensors.

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Pleo robo-dino back on sale for $349

By Chris Davies on Monday, Oct 26th 2009 No Comments

Endearing robo-dino Pleo may have faced a second round of extinction earlier this year, but the autonomous robot has weathered the storm and gone on sale again this week. PleoWorld are offering the dinosaur for $349, with shipping to the US, Canada and the UK, together with those all-important accessories such as replacement battery packs and chargers.

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WowWee RoboRover gets reviewed: cheap & cheerful [Video]

By Chris Davies on Friday, Oct 16th 2009 No Comments

While we’d love to say this is SlashGear’s new intern, in actual fact it’s a shot from the first review we’ve seen of WowWee’s RoboRover. Announced at the tail-end of September, the RoboRover is WowWee’s first robot to use tank-track style locomotion and, according to RoboCommunity member GWJax, they – together with the IR-based obstacle avoidance system – do a pretty decent job.

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MIT create autonomous intelligent robot helicopter [Video]

By Chris Davies on Thursday, Oct 15th 2009 2 Comments

Obviously blind to the threat of robotic attack from the skies, MIT have developed an indoor helicopter that can not only automatically hover but intelligently navigate through a changing environment. The quad-rotor ‘copter has a laser-scanner and dual-camera array, which can build up a real-time map of its environment and identify small openings such as windows.

indoor autonomous helicopter

Video demo after the cut

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Activelink Power Loader exoskeleton with force-feedback [Video]

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Sep 30th 2009 No Comments

Perfect for the Sigourney Weaver cosplayers among you, Activelink have unveiled their “Power Loader” exoskeleton. The Japanese Panasonic subsidiary’s “dual-arm power amplification robot” has a full 18 electromagnetic motors which will allow the user to lift 100kg (220lbs) even while wearing a shirt and tie.

activelink exoskeleton suit

Video demo after the cut

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WowWee Roborover and Joebot robots revealed

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Sep 30th 2009 No Comments

Earlier this month we were lamenting the dearth of consumer robotics in 2009, and it seems someone at WowWee has heard our cries. The company has released preview information of two upcoming ‘bots, the WowWee Roborover (left) and the WowWee Joebot (right), both with remote-control functionality as well as autonomous modes.

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OmniZero.9 robot storms to success in Japanese contest [Video]

By Chris Davies on Monday, Sep 28th 2009 No Comments

While at first glance the OmniZero.9 looks as though it’s rocking the robot equivalent of Joan Collins shoulder-pads, in actual fact they’re the ‘bot’s secret weapon for speedy transport. Capable of transforming from a walking upright robot to a wheeled truck, the OmniZero.9 can also lift and carry a person (as you can see in the video after the cut).

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Video demo after the cut

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Vstone launch Robovi-nano entry level ‘bot [Video]

By Lynnsie Nguyen on Wednesday, Sep 23rd 2009 No Comments

Compared to 2008, we’ve had something of a dry spell this year when it comes to consumer robotics. Japanese firm Vstone aren’t exactly attempting to remedy this – their target is the prosumer or education market – but we’re still embracing their Robovie-nano ‘bot with open arms.

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Video demo after the cut

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KDDI iida Polaris robot concept [Video]

By Chris Davies on Wednesday, Sep 9th 2009 No Comments

Firmly convincing us that the Japanese get not only the best toys but the best concepts too, this collaboration between carrier KDDI and Flower Robotics – the iida Polaris – has just drooling with envy. Currently just a prototype – with “commercialization yet to be determined” – the iida Polaris has at its core a touchscreen cellphone which docks into a mobile robot “suit”.

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