Most of us who are familiar with the iRobot name probably know the company for its line of robotic vacuum cleaners. The little vacuum cleaners are pretty cool and not too long ago some people grafted a robot arm on to one of the iRobot devices to allow it to pick things up from the floor. iRobot also makes several other robots that are aimed at more serious uses for the military and law enforcement.
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‘robots’ Stories
iRobot delivers 3,000th PackBot tactical mobile robot
Wild Planet Spy Video TRAKR R/C programmable robot packs kid-friendly app store
There's been some talk recently of the Big Trak re-release, but if you're looking for a truly modern reinterpretation of the programable robot then Wild Planet's new Spy Video TRAKR may better fit the bill. The remote-control 'bot comes with a child-friendly PC-based programming system, which allows users to create custom routines and load them onto the TRAKR. As for the robot itself, it uses 2.4GHz wireless and has an integrated camera, speaker and microphone, and comes preloaded with motion-sensing and night-vision apps.
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Android LEGO Mindstorms R/C app gets video demo
We love a bit of Android, we love LEGO and we love remote-control gadgets, so the Emea Android team's app to remotely-control Mindstorms robots from an HTC Hero ticks all the right boxes. The project uses the Hero's accelerometer to direct the Mindstorms 'bot, taking advantage of the existing Bluetooth adapter in the LEGO kit's "brain".
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Plen Android-controlled robot [Video]
When you're an android that's remotely controlled by Android, the puns practically write themselves; happily Plen, the dapper little chap shown here, isn't quite at that level, as we'd all be out of jobs. Instead, he can be remotely-controlled via a Bluetooth connection with your Android smartphone, walking, dancing and skating.
Video demo after the cut
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Omnitread Robot: Awesome!
I'm not sure if you have ever woken up in the morning at thought to yourself "I'm going to make a robot that looks like a tapeworm", I know I sure haven't. Just because we haven't had these visions doesn't mean someone else hasn't, and in fact they have: researchers at Michigan State University have developed a robotic caterpillar called OmniTread, which can climb, slither and squeeze through almost any obstacle. Just like the humming bird robot we covered earlier this week, this bot also has search and rescue in mind.
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Hummingbird bot could fight crime or save lives
Years ago if you were to tell a friend about micro humming bird bots I am quite certain you would be written off as a sci fi geek with an over active imagination. And perhaps that imagion is what spurred the research which led to the development of a tiny robotic hummingbird. At 4 inches long this micro air vehicle or MAV can be in the air for up to 6 minutes while beating its four tiny wings at an astonishing 30 times per second. Which is in the same range as a real hummingbird!
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ASUS EeeBot Android-based educational robot in development
ASUS' Eee range continues to proliferate, and the next addition to the line-up could be robotics. The company is involved in a scheme partly funded by the Taiwanese government that aims to promote Android, and will produce a so-called EeeBot affordable robot intended for children and families. ASUS will develop "content and services" surrounding the robot, which will apparently subsidize the initial hardware costs; that presumably means advertizing or a monthly subscription fee.
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E Ink remote control for Rovio demo’d [Video]
The image isn't especially clear, we know, but you're looking at a WowWee Rovio robot webcam being remotely operated by a flexible E Ink controller. It's the handiwork of the ASU Flexible Display Center, who took E Ink's AM300 development kit and used it for two-way communication with the Rovio. Not only can the robot be navigated, its camera feed is shown on the E Ink panel.
Video demo after the cut
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LG RoboKing and Neato XV-11 robo-vacuums take on Roomba
It's obviously the day for robotic vacuum cleaners, because along come two new models hoping to suck the crown from the Roomba's head. On the left is the LG RoboKing while on the right is the Neato XV-11; both promise better navigation technology, with the RoboKing packing twin cameras to map out the area, while the XV-11 uses 360-degree laser mapping to build up a picture of what's surrounding it.
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Project 413 makes xkcd robot hamster a reality [Video]
When it comes to brilliantly awesome DIY projects, building a real-life version of xkcd's robot hamster rates pretty highly in our book. That's just what Stuart Donnan and Jacob Nieman of Georgia Tech have done with their Project 413, however, taking an eBox nettop, giving it omni-directional wheels and mounting it inside a ferret ball (hamsters are pretty small).
Video demo after the cut
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WowWee Joebot gets unboxed, video demo
Fancy a sneak preview of what Christmas morning might be like for various tweenage kids expecting a new WowWee robot this holiday season? RoboCommunity's appropriately-named Rudolph has picked up the company's second new 'bot, the Joebot, and has shared an unboxing photoset together with some hands-on feedback.
Video demo after the cut
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Rovio mod adds remote-control over home appliances
We know this looks like a plastic trashcan full of junk electronics, but it's actually the inside of WowWee's Rovio robot webcam just after he's been given a remote-control mod. Obviously blind to the dangers of granting your robot power over high-voltage appliances, RoboCommunity member Thel has hacked together a system whereby he can switch devices on and off at the mains using Rovio.
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