Filed under: Robots

So the military is continuing down the totally inevitable path of computer-controlled autonomous robo-warriors capable of fighting deadly human battles on our behalf — and out come the naysayers like U of Sheffield prof Noel Sharkey, who, at The Ethics of Autonomous Military Systems conference in London, decried the bots’ self-determined killing abilities as “a threat to humanity” — especially if they’re captured and re-purposed by terrorists to do their evil bidding. Sharkey exclaimed that he’s “worked in artificial intelligence for decades, and the idea of a robot making decisions about human termination terrifies [him],” but — and we’re just gonna throw this out there — what if being oppressed by a race of automatons run amok were actually an improvement over our corrupt governments of men? Isn’t that a possibility, too? We’re certainly going to keep telling ourselves it is, thankful we’ve somehow managed to not be overthrown by our own creations. Thus far.

P.S. -We dare you, commenters, NOT to bust out the welcoming our robot overlords cliché.

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Filed under: Robots

While robot / human relations seem to be fairly solid at the moment, it looks like the fight has long since been on between canines and their robotic counterparts. Some researchers at Saint Louis University compared Sony’s AIBO with a mutt named Sparky at three different nursing homes, to see how residents would respond. Maybe Sparky just isn’t that affable, but the researchers found that AIBO and his living breathing competition were both equally successful in alleviating loneliness. AIBO also has the added advantage of, erm, cleanliness, and is easier for senior citizens to take care of, so it looks like Sparky is pretty much out of a job. Get used to it, buddy, it’s called outsourcing.

[Via Tech Digest]

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Filed under: Household, Robots

We want one. Scratch that: We need one. Check out this ridiculously awesome kitchen-cleaning robot called the Readybot — if this is what the future of robot enslavement looks like, sign us up. The creators, part of a homebrew group called the Readybot Robot Challenge, are dedicated to finding a breakthrough application for consumer robotics, and team leader Tom Benson says the answer is simple: “We think people want a robot that can clean the kitchen.” Uh, yeah. The dishwasher sized Readybot prototype can currently do a little less than half of your common kitchen chores, but Benson says it’ll eventually get to 80 percent — which is about 100 percent more than we’re currently doing. Fall in love with the video after the break.

Continue reading Readybot cleans your kitchen, might be single best thing ever invented

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Filed under: Robots

Rufus Terrill’s stocky handmade robot is more than your average drinking buddy — in fact, the four-foot tall, 300-pound robotic security guard makes it his job to discourage vandals and vagabonds from marring the streets of Atlanta. The inventor is an engineer-turned-bar owner who got tired of drifters and thieves hanging around his business undeterred. Rather than calling in the professionals, he constructed a remote controlled robot that can flash a spotlight, blast out water and resist even the toughest of 40oz. cans that inevitably come its way. Best of all, he can even make the creature talk, and apparently, its array of scare tactics has been fairly effective thus far. Talk about protecting and serving.

[Via MetaFilter]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Robots

We kind of wish this was fake — and we’re tentatively overjoyed that it’s not — but we can’t help but feeling a little freaked at the Toshiba 815T PB on Softbank, developed to coincide with a new show featuring (you guessed it) robo-phones called Ketai Sousakan 7. Yeah yeah, QVGA, 3G, 3.2 megapixel camera, that’s all well and good, but our latent fear of cellphone brain cancer kind of just went out the window.

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Filed under: Robots

Make no mistake, our hearts were fluttering when we finally witnessed WowWee’s FlyTech Dragonfly buzzing about, but there’s just something about this creature that really wins us over. Designed and constructed by James G. Watt, this robotic insect reportedly includes a number of solar cells which provide enough power in sunlight to make the critter’s wings flap. Granted, we aren’t told whether or not it’s mighty enough to deliver loves notes in math class, but we’re digging the concept, regardless.

[Via MAKE]

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Filed under: Robots

We’ve seen some pretty fantastic replicas grace the always fascinating pages of eBay before, but this particular creation is apparently hitting home with quite a few wealthy nerds prospective buyers. The fiberglass reproduction of Gort from the famed 1951 classic The Day The Earth Stood Still is currently sitting just above $4,000, and there’s still quite a few hours left for bids to fly in from other galaxies. Unfortunately, the winning bidder will be forced to trek to San Francisco to pick it up, but at least you can look forward to checking out its tilting visor and array of sound effects before it melts your wallet and calls you master.

[Via Technabob]

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Filed under: Robots

We’ll be straight with you — Wizkid would be a lot easier to take seriously if it looked even remotely like a fellow Earthling, or at least an animal. Instead, we’re left with a curiously designed, but totally brilliant robot that can hone in on human faces, remember your preferences and understand hand motions. Essentially, the creature is set to improve our lives by cranking up the stereo when we wave a CD in its grill, playing games with lonely souls and keeping us occupied with other on-screen interactive applications. No word on whether this kiddo is destined for the commercial realm, but folks incredibly curious can go say hello at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

[Via Primidi]

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Filed under: Robots

We wouldn’t have believed it, either, but the WowWee Dragonfly is attracting some unusual attention — owners are reporting their bots are being attacked by hawks. WowWee says 45 people have reported hawk attacks in the past two months, and there’s even a few pictures of the birds with their robotic prey out there — like this one taken by fifth-grader Danny McGorry. We always knew the Dragonfly was fun, but this takes it to another level — all we need now is a remote squirt gun mounted on the thing and we’ll be ready to go. Check the whole article below.

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Filed under: Robots

Prepare to be amazed. Thank the good lorf for embedded video because any words used to convey our awe in Dan Paluska’s and Jeff Lieberman’s ping pong ball hurling, robotic Absolut Quartet orchestral machine would fall limp upon your liquid crystal cells, rods and cones. Should have sent… a poet. Video after the break.

Continue reading Absolut Quartet: robots making music with ping pong balls and brandy glasses

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