Some people may find quadruped robots, which look sort of like a headless dog, cute, but many find them more than a little creepy. If you're among those who find the robot creepy when shuffling around the environment, the new weaponized robot from Sword Defense Systems won't help you sleep any better at night. The platform is a Ghost Robotics robot fitted with a sniper rifle, called the Vision 60.
Researchers from Caltech have built a new bipedal robot that leverages a new type of locomotion, making it nimble and capable of completing complex movements. The robot is called LEONARDO, which stands for LEgs ONboARD drOne, but the team calls it LEO. Their robot can perform movements that some humans have difficulty with, including walking on a slackline, hopping, and riding a skateboard.
MIT has developed a new robot that is designed to help users find misplaced items. The robot is called RFusion, and it's comprised of a robotic arm fitted with a camera and radiofrequency antenna attached to its gripping mechanism. The design combines signals from the RF antenna with visual input from the camera attached to the gripping mechanism.
Dyson has a robot vacuum they'll likely release this year to roll up on Roomba. Appearing in an FCC filing this week, the Roomba robot vacuum shows a collection of features that make this device seem at least as powerful as the previously-released (internationally, anyway), Dyson 360 Heurist. This new device sports a shocking blue (as all good Dyson vacuums should) and assurance that it works with a brand new Dyson Hyperdymium motor.
![Amazon Astro robot leak alleges big privacy and durability concerns [Update]](https://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/amazon-astro-robot-leak-details-security-privacy-1280x720.jpg)
Only hours after Amazon took the wraps off its pricey Astro robot comes a damning report that alleges numerous privacy, navigation, and durability concerns related to the product. Multiple sources who allegedly worked as developers on the Astro project made serious claims about the product, with one going so far as to call the robot "terrible."
Amazon has unveiled its first robot, Amazon Astro, combining Alexa on a motorized platform that can roam around the home. Astro has a pop-up periscope camera on top, a moving screen on the front, and a cutesy expression to make it more appealing to families.
Researchers at Cornell University have created tiny robots the size of cells that are powered and steered using ultrasound waves. The movement of the tiny robots was inspired by how bacteria and sperm move. Researchers believe the tiny robots could eventually become a new tool for delivering drugs directly to affected cells and tissues.
Boston Dynamic's first "BigDog" robot may have been the stuff of robotic nightmares, but its smaller Spot has received mixed feedback both from people and companies. The quadruped's more streamlined appearance still doesn't easily remind one of a dog (or any living creature for that matter), but it has become more approachable and a teeny bit more affordable to the point that companies, hospitals, and even governments have put it to some use. The latest to join that list of clientele is the Hyundai Motor Group, employing Spot as a late-night safety officer.
A Chinese automotive manufacturer called Xpeng Motors recently gave a look at a future mobility device aimed at kids. The company plans to launch a robotic four-leg robotic unicorn that it believes will become the first smart vehicle for use by children. Xpeng Robotics designed the robot called Little White Dragon.
Police in Singapore have announced that, for the first time, they will conduct a trial that will see robots patrolling the streets augmenting police officers. The robot, called Xavier, is part of a project that involves five public agencies in Singapore, including HDX, National Environment Agency, Land Transport Authority, Singapore Food Agency, and Housing & Development Board. Xavier will patrol the streets during a three-week trial launching on September 5.
Segway may be best known for its balancing scooters, but its latest wheeled product is happy on the ground where it can focus on keeping the lawn trimmed. The Segway Navimow is the company's first robotic lawnmower and, while it may not be the first option in the space, it does promise a much easier setup with no need for a perimeter wire.
When most people think of shrimp, they think of yummy seafood and very small creatures. You might not expect a small shrimp to pack a very powerful punch. However, the mantis shrimp has the strongest punch of any animal on the planet.