Thought you would like this video of a robot (bi-ped) riding a bike:
From: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/hobby-robot-rides-a-bike-the-oldfashioned-way
From Boston Dynamics, the people who brought you “Big Dog”, comes a new robot called PETMAN.
For more info on this robot: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/humanoids/stunning-video-of-boston-dynamics-petman-humanoid
On Oct 22, 19 Scouts from Farmington Presbyterian Church, Troop 368 came to the University of Memphis for a Robotics Merit Badge Day!
Robotics Merit Badge, just added to by Boy Scouts of America this year, has scouts learn about various aspects of robotics as well as requires them to build and program their own robot.
For more information on Robotics Merit Badge click HERE
The event was set up by the Department of Engineering Technology at the University of Memphis and the University of Memphis Student Chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE).
Last week, Aldebaran Robotics was at the University of Memphis at the FedEx Institute demonstrating their NAO Robot. I found out about it because one of my students went there to eat lunch and saw it. I wish I would have known earlier to let everyone know he was coming, because it is an impressive little robot.
A humanoid robot about 2 foot high, 25 Degrees of freedom (ie joint movements), 2 cameras and a bunch of other sensors. It is programmable via a graphical programming language, a text based language, or by just manually moving the robot (and it will mimic those moves).
For the $6,000 -> $9,000 price tag, it was very impressive considering that only a few years ago similar robots would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. I particularly enjoyed its dancing:
Currently the robot is only being sold to educational institutions, but I think that they are getting it out there to researchers to help develop routines and programs and hopefully they will open it up to the consumer market in the future.
Also they just opened an office here in the US.
For more info visit their website at: http://users.aldebaran-robotics.com/index.php
From: http://technabob.com/blog/2011/09/30/omni-crawler-crawling-robot/
Sep 30, 2011
At the recently concluded Innovation Japan 2011, a group of researchers from the robot-obsessed, ever-innovative Osaka University in Japan presented the Omni-Ball, a ball-shaped wheel that can move in all directions. They then used the Omni-Ball to create the Omni-Crawler, a small vehicle that – yep, you catch on quick – easily move in all directions.
We can look at the Omni-Ball as an improved version of the swivel caster (the wheels that are usually attached to the bottom of shopping carts and office chairs). Compared to casters, which have multiple parts, the Omni-Ball is much simpler. It’s made up of two matching hemispheres attached to either side of an axle. The hemispheres can move independently or together as a sphere. Attach the Omni-Ball to a vehicle and you get the Omni-Crawler. Attach it to a gripper and you get the Omni-Gripper. Dip it in gel and… nah I don’t think that’ll work. Watch the video to learn more about the Omni-thingies:
It reminds me of the treads on this LEGO tank, but the Omni-Ball will probably make for a much smoother ride. As YouTuber TheExWarrior commented, it would be awesome if all cars had Omni-Balls instead of wheels because it’ll make parking much easier. It’ll also make driving – crawling? – a lot more fun.
Just got a ROVIO mobile webcam from WowWEE robotics. They are being discontinued, so they are very cheep right now. Think Geek has them on sale for $129.99 (down from $229.99).
I was warned that the robot is being discontinued due to the fact that the software (and internet interface) is not 100% compatible with WIN7…..but for for what I want to use it for, it should be fine (I also found an android app for it which is great).
Here is a video demo (WowWee’s not mine):
I will be adding this bot to my collection for demonstrations on robotics.
I will do a full review when I get the battery charged….but one note….it was supposed to come with a CD, but didn’t (but it was available online – so no problem).
Last night, Dr. Shibata the inventor of the “Most Therapeutic Robot” (Guinness World Record Book) gave a talk on “Disaster Recovery in Japan: Project PARO”.
Paro is a robot seal that is used in around the world for therapy in nursing homes and hospitals.
I will admit, when I got a chance to interact with this robot, I was amazed how quickly I was drawn in to interact with it. Even during Dr. Shibata’s talk, PARO was left on and was stealing the show when it called out. Even Dr. Shibata could not help, but to look over at PARO when PADO called. I can diffidently see why it has been on the TV so many times, in the papers and such. I was not alone. I saw one woman pick it up for pictures and she would not give it up! The videos shown during the talk (and on the website http://parorobots.com/) show the therapeutic power of PADO, so diffidently look at those (here).
If you recall, this talk was originally scheduled back in may but was canceled due to weather. But I am glad he came back.
Currently Dr Shibata and PADO are working with the Earthquake and Tsunami Relief efforts in Japan. The the Japan-America Society of Tennessee (JAST) has established the “Tennessee Tomodachi Fund” for Earthquake and Tsunami Relief. Part of that effort is raise money to get PADOs to more shelters and relief centers in Japan. For more info on this effort contact:
Japan-America Society of Tennessee
(615) 663-6060 or jastninfo@jastn.com
Yesterday at the Teaching and Learning Academy, an informational meeting was held for those interested in forming teams (see photo). The turnout for the meeting was FANTASTIC (thanks for everyone who turned out)!
At the meeting, the 1st FLL contest in Memphis was announced. Although details are still being worked out, the date for the competition is tentatively set for Saturday Dec 3, 2011.
For those interested in forming a team, please contact Frank Niedzwiedz at FrankN@rnsystemsdesign.com. FLL is for youth aged 9-14 years of age. Any one can form a team (schools, civic groups, boy scouts, girl scouts, 4H, home school associations etc).
For more information on the competition see http://www.firstlegoleague.org/
From: New York Times
By JEREMY PEARCE
Published: August 15, 2011
George C. Devol, a largely self-taught inventor who drew from science fiction to help develop Unimate, the revolutionary mechanical arm that became a prototype for robots now widely used on automobile assembly lines and in other industries, died on Thursday at his home in Wilton, Conn. He was 99.
George C. Devol, right, and Joseph F. Engelberger are served by a mechanical arm they developed.
The Unimate mechanical arm.
His death was confirmed by his son Robert.
In the early 1950s, before the advent of industrial robotics, Mr. Devol (pronounced de-VAHL) built on his own work in electrical engineering and machine controls to design a mechanical arm that could be programmed to repeat precise tasks, like grasping and lifting.
He applied for a patent in 1954 and explained the concept to a fellow engineer, Joseph F. Engelberger, at a cocktail party where they discussed their favorite science fiction writers. Mr. Engelberger listened with interest and immediately seized on the significance of the new technology.
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If you are interested in starting a FIRST Lego League Team in Memphis, MCS along with US First will be holding a FIRST LEGO League Interest Meeting on Thursday, August 25 from 3:30 pm.- 5:00 pm at the Teaching and Learning Academy, 2485 Union Avenue. The meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Room, downstairs. You will have the opportunity to speak with local and state leaders that work with Lego Teams as well as sign up your team, if you wish. For the first time a state Lego Competition will be held here in Memphis, in the month of December. The Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers is sponsoring the event. This will be an annual event. Teams only have 8 weeks to build their robots and get ready for competition. Please visit the US FIRST website for more information.
