load of tosh : Robotics

Shape-shifting robot shows off its moves

Tosh Meston — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 07:33:00 GMT

Here's an interesting modular robot made up of individual cells that combine into basically arbitrary and distinctly molecular-looking shapes, except you know -- each cell is about the size of a softball.

via New Scientist:

A shape-shifting robot comprised of many independently moving components has been demonstrated walking, rolling and slithering for the first time.

The prototype robot - called ATRON - demonstrated its various metamorphoses in Tokyo on Wednesday. For example, reconfiguring its many individual modules allows the robot to change its mode of locomotion on command.

"We can envision it being used to inspect hazardous environments or in space exploration where they could replace devices such as the Mars rovers," says Henrik Hautop Lund, who leads the research project at the Maersk Institute in Denmark.

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996683

Red Whittaker Visits Microsoft

Tosh Meston — Tue, 17 Aug 2004 06:13:00 GMT

Dr. William "Red" Whittaker of CMU visited the research room at Microsoft today to talk a bit about Sandstorm, the robotic Humvee, and the Grand Challenge. In robotics, there are of two schools of thought in making mobile robots. There's a top down approach, which is based on building the best maps of the terrain in relation to the robot's position. This implies the more computing power, the better. The more sensors, the better. At the other end, there's a more reactive model where the robot simply senses and reacts and knows nothing about the environment, except what it is currently in contact with. Red's team is decidedly in the former camp with Sandstorm using GPS, Radar, Lidar and Stereo-optical sensors to plan its movements. A friend of mine who attended CMU mentioned that Red as a professor seemed a very imposing and intimidating figure -- that "when you're in a room with Red, there's no question who is in control". I thought this was interesting given the philiosophy of robotics he's known for and had to see for myself. You know, it's kind of true...

A couple other notes: Red mentioned that Sandstorm was his 67th robot project. He also said it's amazing what his team accomplished given a few sponsors and a "children's crusade" of programmers. Too funny.

Good luck next year, Red Team.

Command Line Pizzer, Dyson Autonomous Vacuums, Real Nanobots and Vintage Lego

Tosh Meston — Sat, 08 May 2004 06:19:00 GMT

Here's a couple things from my browser history over the week...

Slashdot reports a command util to order Domino's. It's nerd-tastic!
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/05/07/138238.shtml?tid=130&tid=133&tid=185&tid=186&tid=190

Look out Roomba, Dyson's got an autonomous vacuum on the way.
http://www.dyson.co.uk/range/feature_frame.asp?model=DC06

A Nanobot with DNA for Legs Walks
http://robots.engadget.com/entry/7821584493861350

Buy and Sell Vintage Lego
http://www.bricklink.com/

BBC News on Robot Culture at the Robolympics

Tosh Meston — Fri, 26 Mar 2004 03:29:00 GMT

The competitions seemed to break down along cultural lines. The Japanese robots reigned supreme when it came to sumo-wrestling, while the European teams showed off their skills on the football pitch.

As for the American machines, they specialised in demolishing the living hell out of each other in one-on-one robot combat.

Robolympics.net

DARPA Robot Challenge Ends with No Winner

Tosh Meston — Sat, 13 Mar 2004 20:11:00 GMT

Seems the LA-Vegas autonomous robot race ended today with no one claiming the $1 million prize. Only two of the entries were able to make it to the seven mile mark of the roughly one hundred and fifty mile course. The favored CMU “Red team” apparently was able to travel the farthest in the shortest amount of time -- making the 7 miles in about 8.5 hours. Here are the results. http://www.grandchallenge.org/statusboard/

DARPA Grand Challenge Robot Race

Tosh Meston — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 23:36:00 GMT

Bruce's post reminds me that the start of the DARPA Grand Challenge autonomous robot race from LA to Vegas is today. Wired had an article this month on the race and the various buggies and cycles that will attempt the challenge. I am also pleased to see a weblog from the favorite CMU team complete with pictures of their autonomous Humvee, Sandstorm, which had recently rolled in test runs. Seems Sandstorm has been repaired in time and will be able to compete.

Asimo in the news

Tosh Meston — Fri, 22 Aug 2003 20:06:00 GMT

Honda robot Asimo, the diplomat.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=757&e=1&u=/nm/20030822/od_nm/robot_dc

Robota

Tosh Meston — Sun, 17 Aug 2003 19:37:00 GMT

I came across Robota by way of Slashdot today Robota is an “film book” by Doug Chiang, the Concept Art Director of the Star Wars prequels, telling another story human enslavement by machines and the glorious rebellion. He has two trailers for it. Must be the first time I have seen trailers for a book. Looks cool, but those robots look too similar to battle-droids to me. Evidentally, Orson Scott Card is collaborating with him, but I am not sure to what extent.