robot information and robot news

Sale - Tekno the Robotic Puppy

2011-03-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

Want to buy Robot Puppy, now robokids product have sale a product robotic puppy silver

Product Details :

Product Dimensions: 7 x 12.8 x 13 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
ASIN: B000F6RWT6
Item model number: 19363
Our recommended age: 36 months - 8 years
Manufacturer recommended age: 3 years and up
Batteries: 4 AA batteries required. (included)

Product Description
The next time your child asks you for a dog, you'll want to say yes. Because unlike real puppies, the Tekno robotic puppy isn't a lot of work -- he's just a lot of fun. He walks forward, backward, right, left, and expresses emotions through color-changing eyes and puppy whimpers. Just like any young pup, Tekno is perfectly content to chomp on his bone and play fetch with his ball. With the included wireless translator, you'll always know exactly what this pooch is thinking and eventually he says several English phrases. He also impresses his audience with a wide selection of tricks, such as dance, speak, sing, and more. Children ages three through eight will be delighted as they learn how to program and work this amazing robotic toy.

other info about robot puppy

Robot Arm on How it's Made

2011-03-19T01:42:00.000-07:00

This is a clip from How it's Made showing the assembly of a simple robot arm.

A robotic arm is a robotic manipulator, usually programmable, with similar functions to a human arm. The links of such a manipulator are connected by joints allowing either rotational motion (such as in an articulated robot) or translational (linear) displacement.[1][2] The links of the manipulator can be considered to form a kinematic chain. The business end of the kinematic chain of the manipulator is called the end effector and it is analogous to the human hand. The end effector can be designed to perform any desired task such as welding, gripping, spinning etc., depending on the application. For example robot arms in automotive assembly lines perform a variety of tasks such as welding and parts rotation and placement during assembly.(wikipedia)

Robot manipulation of arm

2011-03-18T04:36:00.000-07:00

Robot manipulation of arms paralyzed by stroke, in conjunction with standard rehabilitation therapies, can improve arm and shoulder mobility. So says a new study that followed 60 stroke victims in six rehabilitation centers in Japan presented at the America Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2011.

Study lead author Kayoko Takahashi, ScD., O.T.R. said that robots can carry out repetitive movements time after time exactly, unlike human physical therapists. Improvements were measured against patients working through a standard self-training program for paralyzed patients. “Combining robotic exercise with regular rehabilitation may be the key to successful intervention,” said Takahashi. Therapists could focus on helping patients master daily activities while the robot performs the repetitive training.

Patients receiving robot therapy showed improvement on the Fugl-Meyer flexor synergy score, reflecting recovery of voluntary arm movement, and the Fugl-Meyer shoulder/elbow/forearm score. The average patient age was 65. Patients with severe hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body) were more likely to benefit from robotic therapy, based on initial mobility scores. Those patients are unable to correctly perform self-training programs because their arms have only reflex or minor voluntary movement.

The study was partially funded by Teijin Pharma Limited.

source : http://www.roboticstrends.com/service_healthcare/article/robot_therapy_improves_arm_and_shoulder_mobility_after_stroke

controll puppy robot with nokia internet tablet

2010-01-21T03:03:00.000-08:00

Mobile Rules! is the world’s leading annual competition initiated by Nokia which looks for innovative mobile technology.
In the Nokia Lounge, there were presentations of many great and innovative projects, among them a simply unbelievably impressive work.

Somebody created an application for a Nokia Internet Table which is based on Linux that is able to control a puppy robot. It looks very very cool, you must have a look at the video.
It would have been even better with a Nokia N95 controlling the robot using an application which utilizes its accelerometer to control the puppy robot through movements.
After a little research, I have found that it should be this project. The software is running on the old N770, anway a great thing. Follow the link to learn more about the project.

Nokia Internet Tablets are as I said not based on the Symbian platform, but they are anway part of Nokia’s Nseries and apart from that it’s a very impressive example for a further step of mobile technology progress.

The Robotic Puppy - tekno -

2010-01-17T07:20:00.000-08:00

Tekno is an authentic robot friend who does everything a puppy can do.. and more. He walks, barks, talks and even cries. With your help, he can also learn to perform amazing trick! Thanks to his artifical intelligence program (and a few barks, whines and pants), Tekno will let you know how he's feeling and provide feedback on the care you provide. Tekno knows how long it's been since you've fed him and he's quick to remind you when he's in need of some playtime.

Tekno is programmed to respond just like ant 8-week-old puppy. His state-of-the-art sensors allow him to see and hear everything around him, including you and your voice. Tekno's sensors also enable his powerful computer brain to know when it's getting dark, if your house lights suddenly turn on or if a friend is knocking on your door. Made by Manley Toy Quest

Mini robot

2010-01-17T02:12:00.000-08:00

wow... this a mini robot
MINI-ROBOT RESEARCH — Sandia National Laboratories researcher Doug Adkins takes a close-up view of the mini-robots he and Ed Heller are developing. At 1/4 cubic inch and weighing less than an ounce, they are possibly the smallest autonomous untethered robots ever created.
“This could be the robot of the future,” says Ed Heller, one of the project’s researchers. “It may eventually be capable of performing difficult tasks that are done with much larger robots today — such as locating and disabling land mines or detecting chemical and biological weapons.”

roxxxy, robotic girlfriend

2010-01-15T19:23:00.000-08:00

about roxxxy from wikipedia, Roxxxy is the world's first sex robot. The robot is built by the New Jersey-based company TrueCompanion. Its engineer is Douglas Hines, founder and president of the company, who worked as an artificial intelligence engineer at the Bell Labs before he founded TrueCompanion. Development of Roxxxy is said to have cost between $500,000 and $1 million, and taken approximately 2½ years. The robot is also described as the "world's first life-size robotic girlfriend".

Roxxxy made its public debut at the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo (AEE) in Las Vegas in January 9, 2010. The gynoid stands 5 ft. 7-inch tall and weighs 120-pound (or 170 cm, 54 kg). It has flesh-like synthetic skin and an artificial intelligence engine programmed to learn the owner's likes and dislikes. The artificial intelligence personality software were given emphasise during development of the robot. An articulated skeleton allows Roxxxy to be positioned like a human being and to replicate human movements, but the doll can't move its limbs independently. A mechanical heart installed in the robot powers an internal liquid cooling system. The Roxxxy prototype is claimed to have been modeled after a college-aged Caucasian fine arts student. Roxxxy is offered for purchase with the buyer's choice of five different personalities — outgoing Wild Wendy, reserved and shy Frigid Farrah, a young naive personality, Mature Martha, and adventurous S&M Susan. She is also able to talk about sports and cars. According to the website of the company, Roxxxy is not limited to sexual uses and "can carry on a discussion and expresses her love to you and be your loving friend. She can talk to you, listen to you and feel your touch." [1] Other features include touch sensors that give Roxxxy the ability to sense when it is being moved, and a program that allows it to converse with the owner via an internal loudspeaker. The robot's vocabulary may be updated with the help of a laptop (connected to the back by cables) and the Internet.

Customers can ask TrueCompanion to customize the Roxxxy according to personal preferences, such as hair color, eye color, skin color, breast size and other features. Roxxxy is priced at $7,000 to $9,000 plus a separate subscription fee, and is currently offered for sale in the United States and Europe with plans for eventual global availability.

roxxxy - first robot sex in the worlds

2010-01-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

you know about robot sex, yeahh.. this a roxxxy first robot sex in world, This doll has an artificial intelligence engine programmed to learn your likes and dislikes. She can listen, feel, and speak to her owner.

roxxxy featured is

Roxxxy TrueCompanion is anatomically consistent with a human
She can hear you, speak to you, feel your touch, carry on a conversation, and have an orgasm
Artificial intelligence engine lets Roxxxy learn your likes and dislikes
Comes preloaded with 5 separate girlfriend personalities, including:
Frigid Farrah (reserved and shy)
Wild Wendy (outgoing and adventurous)
S&M Susan (“ready to provide your pain/pleasure fantasies”)
Young (“she is oh so young (barely 18) and waiting for you to teach her”)
Mature Martha (“she is very experienced and would like to teach you”)
You can design your own personality profiles and share them online

The doll features "girlfriend personalities," including Frigid Farrah, Wild Wendy, Mature Martha, and more. Users can also built custom profiles online and swap them with friends. The doll goes on sale next week for for $7,000 - $9,000 plus a subscription fee, which is "comparable to a cell plan," according to Roxxxy's creator, Douglas Hines.

Douglas Hines, the inventor says that the main purpose of making these robots is to make the doll has become someone who can talk diajakin by the owner and have a match with

BIOLOID Robotic Kit

2010-01-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

The BIOLOID from ROBOTIS are kits geared towards students at any level in robotic education, whether you want to learn the basics or you are taking a college course in robotic engineering. These kits are made up of cleverly designed interchangeable block-shaped parts and with these parts you can build robots in a variety of ways, such as humanoids, spiders, puppies, probes, turtles, dino, etc. All the kits come with BIOLOID Software which have behavioral and motion editor programming.

The different kits available are beginner where a 4 DOF (Degree of Freedom) robot can be built into a few basic shapes. This robot has simple motion and can avoid objects with its optical sensors. It can also be easily upgraded once you get the hang of robot building.

With the comprehensive kit, which is the next step up, you can build an 18 DOF robot. This kit contains the basics like the beginner kit but also has 12 additional robot examples. In the expert kit, you can build up to 26 different robots and it also includes a wireless camera, wireless communication module, and C level language example. In recent months we’ve seen life size androids, animal robots, fighting robots and everything in-between, it’s nice to see education as the main theme again.

Cooperative Soccer Playing Robots Compete

2009-09-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

During the competition Stuttgart's robots had to make their way against 13 other teams from eight countries, among them the current world champion Cambada (Portugal). Besides the teams from Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, and Austria, teams from China, Japan, and Iran competed against each other.
The 1.RFC Stuttgart includes staff of two Institutes, namely the department of Image Understanding (Head: Prof. Levi) of the Institute of Parallel and Distributed Systems and the Institute of Technical Optics (Head: Prof. Osten), achieved also the 2nd place at the so-called "technical challenge" and a further 1st place at the "scientific challenge".
After the final match of the competition, the middle-size league robots of the 1. RFC Stuttgart - the new world champion - had to play against the human officials of the RoboCup federation. It turned out, that hereby the robots were the inferior team. Clearly the RoboCup community has still to bridge a vast distance to reach their final goal to let a humanoid robot team play against the human world champion by the year 2050.
The success tells its own tale but one might wonder which scientific interest is behind the RoboCup competitions. Preconditions for the successful participation at these competitions are extensive efforts in current research topics of computer science such as real-time image processing and architectures, cooperative robotics and distributed planning. Possible application scenarios of these research activities reach from autonomous vehicles, cooperative manufacturing robotics, service robotics to the point of planetary or deep-sea exploration by autonomous robotic systems. In this context autonomous means that no or only a limited human intervention is necessary. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090706141004.htm)

MobileRobots Outdoor Guidance System Advances Autonomous Robotics

2008-08-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

Most outdoor robots are hand-driven – even in Space – but outdoor autonomy out-of-the-box is the latest barrier-breaking option from MobileRobots Inc. Using a map made by Seekur and the MOGS software, the robot can handle surveillance and delivery chores on its own. MOGS finds Seekur a path around the grounds, and guides it to avoid obstacles along the way. Operators can watch onscreen as the robot plans a path and dynamically avoids obstacles as it travels to each goal.

MOGS is for use by both robot research and commercial developers. The MOGS display GUI lets users demo and test their robot programs quickly. It also provides foundation driving skills for the robot, so robot software developers can focus on the research or application at hand. MOGS is compatible with Seekur, P3-AT, PowerBot and PatrolBot robots.

Universal Robots : the history and workings of robotics

2007-05-14T16:18:00.001-07:00

If you think robots are mainly the stuff of space movies, think again. Right now, all over the world, robots are on the move. They’re painting cars at Ford plants, assembling Milano cookies for Pepperidge Farms, walking into live volcanoes, driving trains in Paris, and defusing bombs in Northern Ireland. As they grow tougher, nimbler, and smarter, today’s robots are doing more and more things we can’t –or don’t want to–do.

Robots have been with us for less than 50 years, but the idea of inanimate creations to do our bidding is much, much older. The ancient Greek poet Homer described maidens of gold, metallic helpers for the Hephaistos, the Greek god of the forge. The golems of medieval Jewish legend were robot-like servants made of clay, brought to life by a spoken charm. Leonardo da Vinci drew plans for a mechanical man in 1495.

But real robots wouldn’t become possible until the 1950’s and 60’s, with the invention of transistors and integrated circuits. Compact, reliable electronics and a growing computer industry added brains to the brawn of already existing machines. In 1959, researchers demonstrated the possibility of robotic manufacturing when they unveiled a computer-controlled milling machine. Its first product: ashtrays.

Public fascination with robotics peaked in the early 1980’s, spurred in part by movies like Star Wars, which featured robots C3-PO and R2-D2 as helpful sidekicks to the their human masters. But interest sagged in a few short years as people discovered that getting robots to do things that we think of as easy–like moving across a cluttered room–is surprisingly difficult.

Today, robots are enjoying a resurgence. As computer processors are getting faster and cheaper, robots can afford to get smarter. Meanwhile, researchers are working on ways to help robots move and "think" more efficiently. Although most robots in use today are designed for specific tasks, the goal is to someday make universal robots, robots that are flexible enough to do just about anything a human does–and more.

reference:http://www.thetech.org

Universal Robots : the history and workings of robotics

2007-05-14T16:18:00.000-07:00

reference:http://www.thetech.org

Disembodied robotic arm clambers round home

2007-05-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

A prototype disembodied robotic arm designed to clamber around the home was unveiled in the UK on Thursday.

The metre long arm, called Flexibot, is capable of docking to a wheelchair or a wall and can help disabled people feed themselves. It can also enable users to brush their teeth or shave, and even help with putting on make-up, says its designer Mike Topping, of Staffordshire University's Centre for Rehabilitation Robotics. The 2.3 million Euro project is backed by the European Commission.

The next stage is to use the arms to develop a fully robotic kitchen. "The aim is to enable someone with no arm movement to prepare, cook and serve a three course meal," says Topping.

He got the idea for Flexibot after thinking about ways to extend the capabilities of an existing wheelchair feeding arm called Handy 1. Topping wanted an arm that could detach itself from the chair to perform functions beyond its normal reach.

"It has great potential for aiding people in their own homes," says Terry Coddington, a consultant at the West Midland Rehabilitation Centre, in Birmingham, UK. This is important because it gives a strong sense of empowerment by reducing users' dependence on carers.

Flip flop

Unlike most other mobile robots, Flexibot gets about by flipping end over end from one docking station to the next. The docking points serve the dual purpose of both supporting and powering the droid.

Each arm weighs about 11 kilograms and its five motors making it capable of carrying up to four kilograms. The docking station uses a simple bayonet fitting, much like a light bulb, says Gunnar Bolmsjö, a mechanical engineer at Lund University, in Sweden, who designed it.

This mechanism also allows the robot to attach household devices, such as electric toothbrushes, to either of its ends. In April, the team will add fold-out robotic grippers, which will mean the arm can grasp any object, not just those specially adapted for use.

At the moment the robot has no sensors and navigates simply by logging how far it has already moved. This approach allows an accuracy of one tenth of a millimetre, say the team. Users control the arm either by blowing down a straw or pressing a single button.

Flexibot could also be useful in offices, says Bolmsjö, e.g. replenishing other machines like photocopiers or coffee machines.

Reference: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4767

MiniMechadon Robots

2007-05-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

MiniMechadon was designed/constructed from Nov '02 to Dec '03. Currently, the mechanics and electrical hardware are complete. I have written some test code to exercise the servos and demonstrate the flexibility of the robot and for basic walking.

The main goal of the project is to experiment with learning algorithms that will allow the robot to learn how to walk, rather than programming it to do so. The physical design is intended to be a simpler version of my Mechadon robot (12 DOF). While simpler than Mechadon, I feel there is still enough complexity to make the problem interesting while not being overly elaborate. My hope is that the techniques developed with MiniMechadon can be extended to more complex robots such as Mechadon.

There are 4 DOF, each powered by a high speed nano servo (Tower Hobbies TS-5). These servos are rated at 20.8 oz-in of torque at 6.0V and only weigh 0.34oz. The final weight of the robot is about 12oz. The sensor array consists of 4 touch sensors on the bottom of each foot, Left and right IR obstacle detection, and 4 CdS photo detectors located on all four sides of the robot. The heart of the control system is a Microchip PIC16F819 micro-controller and a separate 8 channel A-D converter. I originally designed the control system using a PIC16F84, but I later switched to the PIC16F819 so I could use the Microchip ICD2 in-circuit debugger/programmer. The PIC16F819 is pin compatible with the PIC16F84, but has more peripheral options like a built-in 10-bit 5-channel A-D converter. The ICD2 has worked great (unlike the original ICD) and I would definitely recommend it.

Most of the construction of the robot is brass tubing soldered together with a small pencil torch. The wiring on the legs was run through the tubing so it is not visible. The brass tubing is also used for the bearings in the leg joints. The white plastic pieces were machined from UHMW (a plastic similar to nylon). To be different, I made the circuit board for the control system into a 3-D shape out of 9 separate panels to give the robot a unique look (intended to be a streamlined version of the AT-ST walkers from the Star Wars movies). This was also my first attempt at a homemade surface mount double-sided PCB. The IC's are SOIC packages and the resistors and capacitors are 1206 size packages. It was really no harder to make than a through-hole PCB. I used a product called "Press-n-Peel Blue" to make the boards and I tin plated them with "Tinnit" so they don't corrode. It was interesting to do a PCB layout for a 3-D shape. It gives flexibility that you don't have with a typical flat PCB. I'm currently designing another robot and plan to try some smaller IC packages and to use 0805 resistors and capacitors. Stay tuned for the results. source

Ritorno Robots

2007-05-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

Ritorno was designed to attend the same contest I designed Andata for. It is based on the architecture that Keith Kotay in his Robo-Rats Locomotion page called pivot drive.
The vehicle has a small platform in its center. When this platform is raised, the wheels touch the ground and the vehicle can proceed. In this configuration the vehicle has no turning ability at all; on the contrary, it has been designed to go as straight as possible.
To change direction, the vehicle lowers the platform and lifts itself a bit so as the wheels don't touch the ground anymore. At this point, the platform rotates, actually making the robot change the direction toward which it is pointed.
When the desired direction is reached, the platform is raised again and the vehicle can resume its motion.
Here you can see the complete turning sequence. Initially, the platform is raised and the main wheels touch the ground.
When the time to turn comes, the robot stops and lift itself using two large pneumatic cylinders that connect the platform to the body. Notice that the two small wheels attached to the base of the platform cannot rotate; they have the purpose to increase the friction of the platform on the ground.

With the main wheel lifted, the platform turns in respect of the body of the vehicle, acutally making the vehicle itself change its direction.
The rotation of the platform continues until the vehicle reaches the desired direction. For this specific contest, the platform was designed to turn precisely 180°
A bottom view reveals some details of the platform, and the turntable it is attached to.
The main drivetrain is rather simple. In this picture you see also the light sensor used to measure the travelled distance in conjunction with a black&white rotating disc. The short axle pointing downward is the reference point used to measure the distance from the starting/arrival point.
Front view. The supply of air is provided by two air tanks, loaded manually before each run of the robot. They provide enough air for the single lift-lower cycle required to turn the robot 180°.
Removing the central platform, the chassis reveals its simplicity. The front side mounts the drive motor and the touch sensor to detect the wall. The rear side mounts a simple motorized valve switch to operate the pneumatic cylinders. Side view of the platform, taken apart from the robot. The most critical point of this assembly is the high torque needed to turn the robot when its entire weight acts on the turntable. The friction is so high I had to adopt a 144:1 ratio to make the motor able to rotate the robot.
Top view of the platform. There's a gearbox inside, which helps in reaching the high reduction rate mentioned above. The axle coming out of the 24t gear inside the gearbox is connected to an 8t gear, engaged to the inner geared side of the turntable. source

Andata Robots

2007-05-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

Andata Details
I designed this robot for a navigation contest which took place during the 9th Italian Legofest. Each robot had to start from a given point, go straight for a short distance until touching a wall, turn itself 180° and go back more precisely as possible to the starting point. The rules were very detailed, but the major points were that rotation sensors were forbidden and that the robot had to actually turn, it couldn't simply reverse its motion. The initial distance from the starting point to the wall was 1m, and we performed five rounds with increasing distances, adding 1m at each new round up to a final distance of 5m.

"Andata" is the first of the two robots I prepared for the contest. Though it did not win the contest, it performed very well, reaching the final round and proving itself always very precise and very reliable. On the maximum distance of 5m, after the round trip it was no more than 4-5cm far from the reference point.

It can be considered a differential drive, though of a special kind. There is only one drive motor, which powers the right wheel. When the robot is required to go straight, a simple mechanism keeps the left wheel coupled to the right one, so they travel at exactly the same speed. This solution makes the robot go perfectly straight.
When the robot needs to turn, a group of pneumatic cylinders disengages the mechanical coupling, and at the same time brakes the left wheel. Doing so, the robot can turn pivoting around its locked left wheel.

For the contest, the robot needed only a limited supply of compressed air, so I adopted the solution of pre-loading the tank with a manual pump.

The long red axle protruding from the front of the robot has the purpose to close a touch sensor when the robot hits the wall.

In this picture you can notice the simple motorized valve switch at the back of the robot, and the braking system for the left wheel. When the pneumatic cylinder pushes the gear rack agains the 24t gear, the wheel gets locked.

With the RCX removed, you can see some of the gearings, and the touch sensor activated by the red axle. source

Beep-Beep Robot

2007-05-09T16:04:00.000-07:00

Beep-Beep
I designed this robot for a race organized by the Italian Lego User Group. In this race, called Grand P-RIS, two robots run on a gray track delimited by a white border on one side and a black one on other side. The rules forbid following one of the borders, which the robot can use only to correct its direction. The rules also say that only the sensors and motors included in the original RIS kit are allowed, though there's no limitation for other Lego parts.

Actually there's not much to say about this robot, which is a simple differential drive. There is a front caster (not visible in the picture, a light sensor shielded to limit interference from ambient light, and two bumpers to detect collisions against the opponent. source

Robot Rabbit

2007-05-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

These images of Elmer Fudd's Acme "WOBOTIC PEST CONTWOLLER with EWECTRONIC BWAIN" were contributed to us by Brad White of Edmonton, Canada. They are from the 1953 Warner Bros. Bugs Bunny cartoon called, ROBOT RABBIT, which was directed by I. Freleng and written by Warren Foster

Jerry Beck and Will Friedwald, authors of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Brothers Cartoons, 1989, describe this particular cartoon:
"Farmer Fudd, peeved at carrot-thief Bugs, who not only has the temerity to loot his carrot patch but intrudes on his vocalizing, becomes more incensed when the business-as-usual Bunny fools him into thinking he's kicked the bucket. "This is the wast stwa, wabbit!" Fudd says, phoning the ACME Pest Control service for their "ewectwonic pest controller with a wobot bwain," which Fudd programs with an illustration of the pest in question, commanding it, "Go get that wong-eared wascal, Mr. Wobot!" When Bugs realizes the "fugitive from a Stanley Steamer" is going to cause him "no end of trouble" (it actually lands a mechanical punch on the rabbit and extracts him from his underground sanctuary), Bugs gets the "cigarette machine" to rust by chasing it under Fudd's rotating water sprinkler. He then unveils his latest drag variation, an antique stove, with lipstick and bucket-head turning him into a robotess, exciting the male of the species, who presents him with a box of assorted nuts (metal ones) whilst Bugs throws a monkey wrench into his machinery. Finally, Bugs gets "old tin pants" to chase him through a piled-river on a construction site. Fudd wonders aloud how his robot is making out and Bugs answers his questions with a bucket of bolts. "You know, someday these scientists are gonna invent something that will outsmart a rabbit." " source

Mini Robots

2007-05-07T16:14:00.000-07:00

What may be world’s smallest mini-robot being developed at Sandia

Can ‘turn on a dime and park on a nickel’

MINI-ROBOT RESEARCH — Sandia National Laboratories researcher Doug Adkins takes a close-up view of the mini-robots he and Ed Heller are developing. At 1/4 cubic inch and weighing less than an ounce, they are possibly the smallest autonomous untethered robots ever created. (Photo by Randy Montoya)
Download 300dpi JPEG image, ‘micro_robots.jpg’, 1.7MB (Media are welcome to download/publish this image with related news stories.)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — What may be the world’s smallest robot — it “turns on a dime and parks on a nickel” — is being developed by researchers at the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories.

At 1/4 cubic inch and weighing less than an ounce, it is possibly the smallest autonomous untethered robot ever created. Powered by three watch batteries, it rides on track wheels and consists of an 8K ROM processor, temperature sensor, and two motors that drive the wheels. Enhancements being considered include a miniature camera, microphone, communication device, and chemical micro-sensor.

“This could be the robot of the future,” says Ed Heller, one of the project’s researchers. “It may eventually be capable of performing difficult tasks that are done with much larger robots today — such as locating and disabling land mines or detecting chemical and biological weapons.”

He says it could, for example, scramble through pipes or prowl around buildings looking for chemical plumes or human movement. The robots may be capable of relaying information to a manned station and communicating with each other. They will be able to work together in swarms, like insects. The miniature robots will be able to go into locations too small for their larger relatives.

The mini-robot has already maneuvered its way through a field of dimes and nickels and travels at about 20 inches a minute. It can sit easily on a nickel.

The newest robot miniaturization research supports Laboratories Directed Research and Development (LDRD) work started in Sandia’s Intelligent Systems Sensors & Controls Department. In 1996 the department unveiled a Mini Autonomous Robot Vehicle (MARV), a one-cubic-inch robot that contained all the necessary power, sensors, computers, and controls on board. It was made primarily from commercial parts using conventional machining techniques. Over the next several years the department improved the original MARV. The robots’ bodies were made of printed circuit boards, and each had an obstacle detector sensor, radio, temperature sensor, and batteries. At 1.6 x 0.75 x 0.71 inches, they were still larger than was desirable.

Sandia roboticist Ray Byrne, who was involved in the LDRD efforts, says about three years ago Intelligent Systems and Robotics Center teamed with Sandia’s Sensor Technologies Department to further miniaturize the robots. They sought out the department’s help because of its expertise in building sensors and other devices on miniature scales.

By trying new techniques at packaging electronics, wheel design, and body material, the new team of researchers shrunk the robots to 1/4 cubic inch.

Heller, who developed the device’s microelectronics, says one significant innovation that permitted the shrinkage was the use of commercially available unpackaged electronics parts.

“Previous small robots consisted of packaged electronic parts that were more bulky and took up valuable space. By eliminating the packaging and using electronic components in die form, we reduced the size of the robots electronics considerably,” Heller says. “This was a first major step.”

The unpackaged parts are assembled onto a simple multi-chip module on a glass substrate. The assembly was done at Sandia’s Compound Semiconductor Research Laboratory.

Doug Adkins, who developed the mechanical design for the new mini-robot, says the researchers further reduced its size by using a new rapid prototyping technique to form the device’s body. Called stereolithography, the material-building method lays down a very thin polymer deposit that is cured by a laser. The material, which “grows” as each layer is added, is lightweight, strong, and can be formed in complex shapes. The robot bodies have cavities for the batteries, the electronics-embedded glass substrate, axles, tiny motors, switches, and other parts.

MINI-ROBOT “turns on a dime and parks on a nickel.”
Download 300dpi JPEG image, ‘microrobot2.jpg’, 332K

Adkins also redesigned the wheel structure of the device. Earlier models had standard wheels. However, the mobility was limited due to the small size of the wheels.

“I thought of how tanks with their track wheels can maneuver over many large objects and realized the mini-robots could benefit from the same type of wheels,” Adkins says. With the addition of tracks, the robot can now move easily on carpet.

The ultimate size of the miniature robots is primarily limited by the size of the power source — the three watch batteries. The body must be large enough to hold batteries to support power requirements of the robot.

“Batteries — both the physical size and battery life — have been one of our biggest issues,” Heller says. “The batteries need to run longer and be smaller.”

Over the next few years, with additional help from other Sandia groups, Heller and Adkins expect to add to the mini-robots either infrared or radio wireless two-way communication capability, as well as miniature video cameras, microphones, and chemical micro-sensors.

Source : Sandia National Laboratories

Lightseeker

2007-05-07T04:03:00.000-07:00

This robot is built from the Robotics Invention System, requiring an extra micromotor and a position sensor. The robot swings the lightsensor back and forth to constantly determine the direction from which most light comes, and adapts the direction in which the robot moves to that. The design is based on Acrobot 2, but with quite some changes.

Tekno the Newborn Puppy Operating Manual

2007-05-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

The Institute of Robotic Technology has created a new friend for the Original Tekno Robotic
Puppy. It’s a newborn pup -- and he has new tricks and talents! Thanks to his artificial intelligence program, (and a few barks, whines, and pants!) Tekno Newborn will let you know how he’s feeling and provide feedback on the care and attention you provide. Tekno Newborn knows how long it’s been since he’s been fed or how long it’s been since you’ve played with him. With his state-of-the-art sensors, Tekno Newborn can to "see" and "hear" everything around him – he even has a sense of "touch". His powerful computer brain can determine if it is getting dark, if the lights in the house suddenly turn on, if someone is talking to him, if there is a loud noise (like a knock at the door), if he is holding his ball in his mouth, or if you are petting him on the head. Please read on to learn everything you need to know about Tekno the Newborn Puppy, including proper instructions on caring for and training your new robotic friend.

Understanding Tekno Newborn
Following these instructions (or visiting www.tekno-robot.com) will enable you to provide the
best life possibilities for Tekno Newborn… and lead to a greater enjoyment in your new role as
Cool Pet Owner.

1) Removing Tekno Newborn from the Package :
Tekno Newborn is held in place by a plastic column under his belly. Remove all the plastic ties
from the package. Pull the locking tab out from the plastic column (Fig 1) and discard it. Polly
Tekno Newborn up and out of the base. Turn Tekno Newborn upside down and you will see two
thumbscrews. After you remove these thumbscrews, the plastic column will detach from Tekno
Newborn’s belly. Discard the column, the tool ,and the two thumbscrews .
IMPORTANT: Save Tekno Newborn’s Ball, Bone, and Hidden Ball Trick Frame for later use (Fig 2).

2) Initial Set up :
After Tekno Newborn is free from his package, remove the pull tab from his bottom. Tekno
Newborn is now ready for play!

3) Understanding Tekno Newborn’s software programming :
Tekno Newborn uses the latest in artificial intelligence software. He has the intellect of an 8 day old puppy. Puppies aren’t perfect and neither is Tekno Newborn. He can have a mind of his own. Sometimes Tekno Newborn will respond to your commands, and sometime he will do what he wants to do. It all depends on how he feels and how you are trying to communicate with him. Tekno Newborn loves attention. Yell out his name and clap your hands to let him know you’re there. Pat him on the head when he is good. Feed him regularly. Change his batteries when he stops working. Just think of him as a real puppy and he’ll be your friend for life!

4)Tekno Newborn’s sensors and touch inputs :

To understand how Tekno Newborn works, you must know about his input devices (Fig 3).
Located between his eyes under the protective lens, Tekno Newborn’s LIGHT SENSOR detects changes in light levels.
The SOUND SENSOR in Tekno Newborn’s head allows him to respond to voices and noises When pressed, the MOUTH SENSOR let’s Tekno Newborn know he’s being fed. You’ll know he’s enjoying his meal when you hear the chomping sounds!
The MAGNETIC SENSOR is located inside Tekno Newborn’s head near his mouth. It allows him to recognize that he is holding is special ball to his mouth.
The NOSE SENSOR has two purposes. When pressed, Tekno Newborn will make "sniffing" noises. If he walks into an object, this sensor will shut down his motor function to keep him out of harm’s way.
Tekno Newborn has a TOUCH SENSOR: This sensor is used to reward and thank Tekno Newborn for his good deeds. When you pat him on the head or rub him on the top of his head,
he becomes very happy.
The MODE BUTTON is used to program Tekno Newborn to do his tricks.
Tekno Newborn powers up or shuts down when you move the ON/OFF SWITCH.
The RESET BUTTON refreshes Tekno Newborn’s memory back to the beginning of hisprogram.

5)Tekno Newborn’s basic functions :
Powering up Tekno Newborn : Move the On/Off switch to the "On" position. You will hear a
"beep". Tekno Newborn is alive! Tekno Newborn will begin to sense his surroundings automatically. If you yell his name or clap for him, he may give any number of reactions. He may bark, cry, or yelp with anticipation. If Tekno Newborn is crying, he may be unhappy or startled. If he pants or barks, he’s usually in a great mood. Keeping Tekno Newborn happy:
Tekno Newborn needs attention and stimulation to be happy. Just like a real puppy, it’s important to play with him and not forget to take care of him. Patting him on the head or talking to him are met with joyous results. You will see his head turn, his ears flap, his tail wag, his eyes flash, and he will walk slowly or quickly depending on his mood. Tekno Newborn loves to eat! So, remember to feed him at least once a day (or more if you prefer). You can feed him by pressing his bone to his MOUTH SENSOR. You will hear crunching noises that indicate he’s one satisfied puppy. Your Tekno Newborn loves to be petted on the head. Simply touch or run your fingers over the top of his head (Fig 4) and he will pant with appreciation every time!

How you can tell Tekno Newborn is unhappy:
Tekno Newborn’s voice will let you know. If you hear him crying, begging, or moaning, you know
that he is very unhappy. To turn that frown upside down, just feed him, pat him on the head, talk to him, or play with him. Tekno Newborn is a social Puppy. He does not like to be left alone. If you haven’t played with him as often as he’d like, Tekno will cry for several minutes before
quieting down. When you return, in most cases he will be extremely happy to see you again.
However, if you leave him for a very long time, expect a growl or two until you play with him
again.
When Tekno Newborn gets sleepy:
Puppies can get pretty tuckered out during the course of a day. From time to time , you may
hear Tekno Newborn give out a "yawn". As night time approaches, Tekno Newborn’s LIGHT SENSORS will let his computer know it’s time to go to sleep. Like a real puppy, he isn’t always ready for bed. At first you may hear a yawn or whimper. His eyes will change from the circle to rectangular slits (Fig 5).
A few minutes later, Tekno will start to softly snore and his eyes will shut off. He is now asleep.
You can wake Tekno Newborn up by talking to him, making a loud noise, or turning on the lights. He may wake up a bit startled and will either bark or cry. It’s a good idea to let Tekno know you are there by patting him on the head.

Making Tekno Newborn Sniff: Since Tekno Newborn is very curious and a keen sniffer, he’ll take a whiff of anything that you
press against his nose.

Playing with his ball:
Tekno Newborn has a Special Ball that he can hold in his mouth. Place the Special Ball with the
flat side onto his mouth (Fig 6).He will immediately being a cute "growling" sound and try to get you to play with him. He will
walk, growl and move his head to throw the ball away. If you don’t give back his ball, he may cry
and moan. You can even tease him with the ball by putting it to his mouth and moving it away
quickly. It’s always nice to give him his ball for a while after teasing him!

Tekno Newborn’s Emergency Stop:
Tekno Newborn will automatically stop moving his legs when he hits an object with his nose
while he is walking. You may also hear a grinding noise occasionally if he cannot move. This is
normal and will not cause any damage. If you want to make Tekno stop walking at any time, tap
him on the nose. You will hear a little bark as if Tekno were saying "OUCH!"... so be gentle!

Polly the Tekno Parrot Operating Manual

2007-05-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

Polly is an authentic robot that does everything a real Parrot can do…and more! He can "squawk", talk, flap his wings, and display a wide range of emotions. With your help, he can even be taught new words to say!
Thanks to his artificial intelligence program (and a few well chosen words!), Polly will let you know how he is feeling and provide feedback on the care you provide. Polly knows how long it’s been since he’s been fed and is quick to remind you when he is need of some attention. Polly likes to be taken out of his cage. If he is left in too long, he may even catch a cold! Polly has state-of-the-art sensors that allow him to "see" and "hear" and even "feel" your touch. With these sensors and Polly’s powerful computer brain, Polly can to determine many things. He can tell if it is getting dark, if the lights in the house suddenly turn on, if someone’s talking to him, if someone is walking past him, if there is a loud noise (like a knock at the door), and even if you’re petting him on his back!
Polly will show his emotional state by the color of his eyes. If he is excited or scared, Polly’s eyes will turn Red. If he is happy and healthy, his eyes will be Green. Polly has an extensive vocabulary. By playing with him over a long period of time, you will hear more and more phrases and words that Polly knows how to say. The more you play with him, the more surprising things he will say. He really speaks his mind! Just like real parrots, Polly has the amazing ability to mimic any sound or person and use it as part of his vocabulary. He can either be taught to repeat it back immediately or to use it in his everyday speech. In short, Polly is programmed to respond just like a real bird!

Understanding Polly
Follow the instructions included in this manual (or use the website www.polly-robot.com) will enable you to provide the best life possible for Polly… and lead too greater enjoyment in your new role as Cool Pet Owner.

1) Removing Polly from the Package:
Polly’s cage is actually part of the package. Polly is held in place (for shipping purposes) by two plastic ties and two plastic screws under his feet. First, use the included tool to unscrew the two plastic hex nuts (Fig 1). Next, remove the two plastic ties (Fig 2) under the wings. You can discard the tool and the hex nuts as they are no longer needed. Open Polly’s cage door and lift Polly up and out.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to save Polly’s Cracker from the inner cardboard sleeve and place it on the storage area inside the cage for safe keeping (Fig 3).

2) Initial Set up
After Polly is free from the package, pull the Tab out from under his tail feathers to begin his program set up. Turn the On/Off switch off and then on again. When you hear a "beep". It means Polly has come to life!

3) Understanding Polly’s programming
Polly uses the latest in artificial intelligence software. He has the intellect of a real parrot. Real parrots aren’t perfect and, from time to time, he may have a mind of his own. Sometimes Polly will respond to your commands, and other times he will do what he wants to do. It all depends on how he feels and how you are trying to communicate with him. Like all parrots, Polly loves attention. Yell out his name and clap your hands to let him know you’re there. Pet him on his back when him he feels lonely. Feed him regularly. Change his batteries when he stops working.
Just think of him as a real parrot and he will be your friend for life!

4) Polly’s sensors and touch inputs
To understand how Polly works, you must know about his input devices (Fig 4).

5) Polly’s basic functions Powering up Polly:
Turn the On/Off switch to the ON position. You will hear a "BEEP". Touch Polly on his Touch sensor on his back until you hear a "Cooo" sound. Polly is alive!
Polly will begin to sense want is going on around him automatically. If you yell his name or clap for him, he may squawk, whistle, or say something clever. You can place Polly and his Cracker back in his cage for safe keeping (Fig 5). Polly will respond differently when in his cage. He may seem a little anxious and a bit less courteous. He will also ask you to let him out. Polly likes the great outdoors outside his cage!

ATTENTION: Be careful not to touch the TOUCH Sensor during this programming process or you will have to start over.

Electric Pedicab with a solar cell produced by student EEPIS

2007-04-19T04:27:00.000-07:00

All student of Electronics Engineering Polytechnic Institute of Surabaya (EEPIS) ITS have been long enough had obsession make pedicab which can accelerate 30 km/hour. That obsession finally be existed by overwork four student which merge into team of Electric Pedicab with Solar cell.

That pedicab moved not use man power and also oil, but solar cell and electrics. " We use two source of power because price of solar cell is expensive. So, must be collaborate with electric power," Andik Tri S (one of team)

Electrical pedicab device That student PENS represent one of research supported by Direktorat Pendidikan Tinggi ( Ditjen Dikti).

There are three important component an electrical pedicab. Namely, motor DC, Baterre, and the solar cell. Third the especial component incircuit by cable. Baterre used as save energy. " Bisa accomodate electrics from generating or solar cell," say student of semester of eight of That Diploma-4 Teknik Elektri Industri.

The team place three baterre in jok pedicab. Each accumulator ready to accomodate strength 12 volt and 26 ampere. " Two accumulator used for the activator motor and one again for the accessory," .

Third the the accumulator have been tried to be filled in, goodness from electric current and also solar cell. " if baterre full, pedicab able to rotate about four till six clock without desisting," word of student of The origin Nganjuk.

ability of diesel fuel Cell in catching energi sun, according to Andik, can be maximal. Cause, diesel fuel of cell didesain in such a manner, so that able to follow sun movement. " Its for true boost high so," he said at the same time show diesel fuel cell which loo like umbrella is above pedicab. " But, from there, pedicab can make a move without man power," specifically.

gas of pedicab of desain Team within reason put on the brakes motorbike. Become, if will glide, pedicab driver omit to do "brake" gas. " If desain such as motor forceps, too difficult.

Yesterday, Andik try the pedicab ability. He running pedicab gas, then accelerate. Its speed do not fail from motor. " But, maximal 40 kilometre /hour. Quickly and easy going ," he said.

Finished, price to make the electrical pedicab it's not cheap. Totalize Rp 8 million to finished pedicab electric. " Possible too expensive for the pedicab artisan. But, target early us is to technological desain and preserve pedicab," specifically.

During The Time, pedicab position often periphery since walking tardy. Pedicab assumed often bother traffic. " Though, that one of cultural asset," he said. (contributed by EEPIS News Team at Thursday,19 April 2007)

abu robocon 2007 information

2007-03-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

History

The legend of Ha Long has it that, 'Once upon a time, soon after the Viet people established their country, invaders came. The Jade Emperor sent Mother Dragon and her Child Dragons down to earth to help the Viet people fight against their enemy. Right at the time invaders' boats were rushing to the shore, the dragons landed down on earth. The dragons immediately sent out from their mouths a lot of pearls, which then turned into thousands of stone islands emerging in the sea like great walls challenging the invaders' boats. The fast boats couldn't manage to stop and crashed into the islands and into each other and broke into pieces.

After the victory, Mother Dragon and Child Dragons didn't return Heaven but stayed on earth at the place where the battle had occurred. The location Mother Dragon landed is nowadays Ha long Bay and where Child Dragons descended is now Bai Tu Long.

Ha Long is the wonderful and skilful masterpiece of the Creation and of nature that only Vietnam was bestowed. Ha Long has become the pride of not only the locals but also of all Vietnamese people when it was twice recognized as the World Natural Heritage by UNESCO for its geographical and geomorphologic values. With its unique beauty, Ha Long is one of the most ideal destinations in Vietnam.

The rules of Robocon 2007 are built basing on this legend of Ha Long. A team of robots (symbolizing dragons) will carry the blocks having the shape of cylinder (symbolizing pearls) to build various kinds of islands symbolizing 'Ha Long'; and 'Bai Tu Long' . The first team to complete the building of 'Victory islands' (in the shape of letter V in the centre of the Game Field) will be the winner. Duration of the game is three minutes.

for all information about abu robocon 2007 plese visit http://www.vtv.org.vn/robocon/

University's Morgui robot deemed too scary for kids

2007-03-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

Terrifying robots most certainly aren't anything new, and be it frightening or downright creepy, there's probably a bot out there weird enough to freak just about anyone out. Enter Morgui, the University of Reading-based robot that has been around for some time, but is just now getting the credit a bizarre skull that follows humans around should. The creation, which consists of a disembodied head, oversized blue eyes, and a classically evil grin, has been officially banned from testing around anyone under the age of 18 (permission notwithstanding) by the school's ethics and research committee, leaving the "Magic Ghost" to spook only mature audiences from here on out. Mo, as it's so aptly nicknamed, sports a metal head, the ability to detect visual / auditory cues, and sensors for radar, infrared, and ultrasonic detection as well, but oddly enough, it cannot detect human emotion, so you better not count on this fellow to have sympathy on your soul when you're screeching. The purpose of the machine is to judge how "people react to robots," and when the bot just so happens to lack any form of facial covering beyond a skeletal structure, we're sure the reactions are quite noticeable. source

Robocamp

2007-03-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

Robots explore active volcanoes, roam the surface of Mars, assist surgeons and even build our cars! Robocamp gives campers a chance to design and test their own robotic creations. You’ll be using LEGO Mindstorms Robotic Discovery Sets to create robots with over 3000 different behaviors. Light and motion sensors and pint-sized computers make your robots come to life! Compete in our own version of “Battelbots”, make a robot hand and try our recipe for magnetic robot blood! Bring your remote control car and navigate it on an alien obstacle course. source