SlashGear for iPad and iPhone
RSS Feed

‘Robotics’ Stories

iRobot to unveil new cleaning robots at CES 2013

, Jan 4th 2013 Discuss [0]

Out of the many head-turners that will show up at the pool this summer, one new gadget will certainly catch the eye of any geek getting his tan on. iRobot will be unveiling the Mirra 530 pool-cleaning robot at CES next week, along with the Looj 330 gutter-cleaning robot, both of which provide the same great robot-cleaning technology from the makers who brought you Roomba. Read The Full Story

DARPA’s robotic mule can carry 400 pounds of cargo

, Dec 20th 2012 Discuss [0]

DARPA has worked on some pretty insane four-legged robotic creatures in the past, but this time they're looking for ways that they can help out the US military on the battlefield. The organizations most recent project is a four-legged robotic mule that can carry up to 400 pounds of cargo to literally take the weight of the shoulders of the military. Read The Full Story

Quadriplegic uses mind-controlled robotic arm to eat chocolate bar

, Dec 17th 2012 Discuss [0]

Jan Scheuermann, a 36-year-old mom of two, was diagnosed with spinocerebellar degeneration after slowing losing the ability to move her limbs. Now, more than a decade after becoming a quadriplegic, Ms. Scheuermann was able to feed herself a piece of chocolate via a robotic arm that she controlled with her mind. In doing so, she proclaimed, "One small nibble for a woman, one giant bite for [brain-computer interface technology]." Read The Full Story

Robotic wheelchair concept provides leg-like movements, climbs stairs

, Oct 15th 2012 Discuss [0]

Considering how much of an asset wheelchairs can be for the physically disabled, they still have some pretty substantial limitations -- the biggest being the inability to climb stairs. Most public places have elevators, but sadly they're not available everywhere. A new wheelchair concept, however, has the ability to climb stairs and perform other leg-like movements. Read The Full Story

NEC boosts people-spotting tech for robots and CCTV

, Sep 5th 2012 Discuss [0]

Tomorrow's robots and security systems could be able to face-recognize three times as many people using a fraction of the processing power, according to NEC. The company's new large-scale image processing tech can track and identify faces and clothing - as well as potentially suspicious behavior - for three times the number of people in-frame simultaneously, compared to existing systems, a potential boon not only to security installations in airports and shopping centers, but for your friendly home robot. Read The Full Story

iRobot Scooba 390 and 290 hands-on

, Aug 31st 2012 Discuss [0]

This week we've had the chance to catch up with the folks at iRobot who have let us in on several new robotic cleaning machines in their Scooba and Roomba lineups. In our interview with the group we started out with the iRobot Scooba 390, a device that works with a four-stage cleaning process for a scrub-tastic cleaning of your large flat floor - toss out your mops! We had a peek at the iRobot Scooba 290 next, made much tinier to make with the small bathroom cleaning - gotta get behind those porcelain thrones, after all. Read The Full Story

MIT robot plane deletes the pilot

, Aug 11th 2012 Discuss [0]

When the robots come for you, at least they won't scratch the walls. MIT research into autonomous flight has delivered a robotic plane that can thread its way, at speed, through enclosed and indoor conditions, without requiring preconfigured flight plans or GPS navigation. The plane has significantly longer flight time than autonomous helicopters, though introduced a fair few problems of its own. Read The Full Story

Earthworm robot developed at MIT for tiny science missions

, Aug 10th 2012 Discuss [0]

Designers at MIT have created an autonomous robot with the ability to inch forth like an earthworm while it remains impervious to most bashes, drops, and rough terrain. It's called "Meshworm", and Sangbae Kim, the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, notes that it's a new step towards squeezing through tight spaces and navigating rough terrain in the future. Will we see a robot earthworm plodding around Mars the next time we head out? We shall see! Read The Full Story

Roomba makers iRobot trialling RP-VITA medical robot

, Jul 24th 2012 Discuss [0]

iRobot, the creators of the popular Roomba cleaning robot, have created a medical assistant dubbed RP-VITA (Remote Presence Virtual + Independent Telemedicine Assistant) aimed at being used in hospitals. RP-VITA is the result of a $6 million investment in InTouch, with the robot able to navigate hospitals using a myriad of sensors, such as sonar, a laser range finder, and two cameras. The robot is also able to intelligently create a map of the designated hospital, although it’s primarily navigated using a joystick by a remote doctor. Read The Full Story

NASA Robonaut 2 Simulator stack now available for public download

, Jul 16th 2012 Discuss [0]

The real Robonaut 2 may be up in the International Space Station helping astronauts with day-to-day activities, but now NASA is giving you the chance to have your own Robonaut 2 to experiment with (in a manner of speaking). NASA recently released the Robonaut 2 Simulator stack through ROS (Robot Operating System) and is inviting those with the know-how to download the stack and see what they can get the virtual Robonaut 2 to do. Read The Full Story

Scientists develop most advanced robotic legs yet

, Jul 6th 2012 Discuss [0]

Scientists from the University of Arizona have developed the most accurate robotic replication of human legs that take it beyond just human-like movement. The robot, which can walk just like a human, will be able to help them understand how human babies start learning how to walk and how to better treat spinal related injuries. Read The Full Story

DARPA kickstarts research into robot Viagra

, Jul 3rd 2012 Discuss [0]

Researchers at DARPA are working on robots with hugely increased power efficiency, chasing human-style actuation that would prolong battery life and significantly extend robotic runtime. The M3 Actuation program has set an ambitious 2,000-percent increase in power-transmission and application in robots, improving performance not only in areas like search & rescue and drones, but advanced prosthetic limbs and other fields. Read The Full Story
Pages: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next