ROBOTS DREAMS

Creative Robot Birthday Cake (Video)

How to make a unique and delightful, animated music-box type birthday cake?

Hide some Lego Mindstorms under the cake and use pipecleaner linkages fed through drinking straw tunnels to move whatever character the lucky birthday person loves.

Animated Birthday Cake How-To

Raising Teenage Robots (Video)

Raising teenagers through their adolescent trials, tribulations, and insecurities is hard enough for parents. What are we going to do when our family’s robot dependents reach the same age?

Robot! Bring Me A ...! (Video)

Ask most Western robot geeks what they would like a humanoid robot to do, and the typical answer is “Bring me a beer.” Ask the same question to a Japanese robot otaku, and you’re very likely to get a response like this….

Mujaki Clockwork

Robot Joke

Funny robot joke

At least it seemed funny to us.... :D

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Cool Robot Graphics

Draw Me A Robot

Think you can do better?

Give it a try and send us your best shot.

If we like it, you'll see it featured here on Robots Dreams with full credit to you and a link back to your website!

[Posted from my iPhone]

RoboPhilo Junior - Neat New Remote Control

One of the high points during our review session with the RoboPhilo Junior was it's new PS2 gamepad type wireless controller. After struggling with IR based remotes (Robonova, I-SOBOT, the original RoboPhilo, etc.), the new controller is a breath of fresh air and a pleasure to use.

And, because almost everyone has played video games using this layout style, the button locations and functions are natural, almost intuitive.

The robot designers also realized that some customers may want their own custom layout, so they made it simple to remap the control keys (or combination of keys) so that it triggers any predefined command or motion.

The communication technology operated without a hitch during our testing sessions, though we should point out that we live in a semi-rural area without much radio or other electrical interference.

And, what are the best parts?

First, the new controller comes with the robot kit and is included in the purchase price, unlike other manufacturers that sometimes ask you to part with an additional $100 or more to get the same functionality.

Second, the new controller will be made available for use with the original RoboPhilo- a move that's sure to be applauded by owners everywhere.

Third, since the communication technology has been widely known for a long time and hacks documented on the Internet, it won't be long before users put together direct control apps to operate their robot directly from their PCs or networks.

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Robot Presidents

We clearly remember the first time we saw the Disney animatronic robot presidents in operation. It was fascinating to say the least, but there was a huge 'uncanny valley' feeling to the display.

Now, years, if not decades, later, the realism has improved considerably. Still, we're not quite sure that the world is ready for a Robot President Obama while he is still in the White House leading the country.

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Robot Ramen Chef Let's Customers Have It Their Way

Everyone likes their food seasoned a little differently, so why not use a robot chef to make every dish to order?

Actually, we can think of several reasons why this concept may not be as popular as it's inventor intended.

The most obvious is that most people find it quite difficult to articulate what the like or want. In other words, they know what they like when they see (or taste) it, but can't explain it in words.

Nevertheless, we wish him luck and really hope he can prove us wrong.

[Posted from my iPhone]

RoboPhilo Junior Review

Our review of the new RoboPhilo Junior low cost (under $300) humaniod robot kit is locked down, gone to press, and will appear in the next issue of Robot Magazine.

The bottom line? We like the new robot a lot and give it high marks with just a few minor concerns.

[Posted from my iPhone]

Kondo KHR Robot Anniversary Celebration Report

The Robot Watch report is online, and the action looks great - lots of good eye candy and video clips. Makes us really sorry we had a schedule conflict and couldn't be there in person this year.

Kondo continues to dominate the top spot in affordable humaniod robotics, though their primary customer base is still limited to Japan.

As interest in the hobby picks up overseas, they will either have to develop business policies and strategies to cater to foreign markets, or yield their leadership position to others, perhaps from Korea (most likely) or China.

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Being There...

We're happy to be here, but if we weren't already here, this is where we'd like to be today...

Anime Expo

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NAO at RoboCup 2009 (Video)

Ok, obviously we recognize that this was a setup by the Aldebaran folks to promote NAO, but it’s still incredibly cute.

A Look Inside Vstone Robot Center (Video)

A look inside the new Vstone Robot Center in Akiba, along with several other related robot projects that Vstone has been associated with. This particular video was taken just after the shop opened. Since that time they have increased the stock and robot selection quite a bit.

Melissa Robot Performs Some Useful Tasks (Video)

Melissa is definitely evolving, and is getting to the point that we can believe evetually robots like this will provide useful service around the home and office. And, we really appreciate Melissa’s builder’s sense of humor and willingness to openly share his ‘bloopers’ and false starts with everyone online as well.

UK Humanoid Robots Gather

Check out photos from the UK humanoid robot gathering/competiton that was staged concurrently with the UK Micromouse 2009 last weekend. It looks like humanoid robotics is definitely drawing attention and builders on that side of the world.

[via RoboSavvy]

UK Micromouse 2009 Results Online

The results of the UK Micromouse 2009 competition, held last weekend in at the Technology Innovation Centre in Birmingham, are online now.

KHR-3HV Humanoid Robot Has Big Feet...

The new Kondo KHR-3HV humaniod robot kit has feet that depart from the popular bathtub design used in older Kondo designs.

You can compare the relative size in this photo. The older bathtub foot is on the left in the package, while the new foot is to the right.

Proportionally, the new feet are larger and not as natural looking - they almost give the robot a circus clown feet look.

That being said, the new robot's expanded footprints should make it easier to align and balance correctly, which will contribute to smoother, more human-like walking and other motions

One curious observation: the new feet have lots of extra holes and servo mounting locations designed in from the git-go.

The bottom (sole) of the foot reveals a huge array of holes, many of which are countersunk for use with mounting screws, and two servo mounting patterns. The foot edges have also been designed for better robot walking providing more of a bevel and clearance for the robot to tilt its foot slightly without dragging or tipping while initiating a walk move, much like humans do.

The top side of the foot shows the holes, and the unused servo mounting patterns more clearly.

Note that the stock KHR-3HV only uses four small screws and nuts to attach the ankle servo frames to the feet. It’s functional enough, however our huge paws are going to find it difficult, and a little frustrating, to work with those tiny parts. We’re not watchmakers…

Does this indicate that Kondo has a lot of options or add-ons in the works? They had to have something in mind, even if it was only to provide lots of flexibility for future KHR-3HV hackers.

Hopefully there will be some exciting follow-on products that use those extra holes, but we're not going to hold our breath waiting for them to appear.

[Posted from my iPhone]

Japanese Otaku Go For Middle Eastern Fast Food

We have no idea why they are so popular, but these fast food style kebab shops have popped up all over in the past two years, especially in otaku/geek locations like Akiba.

This past Wednesday afternoon this particular kebab shop, located in a small side street, wasn't busy, but on weekends it's not uncommon to see lines running down the block, and sometimes around the corner.

The kebabs are relatively cheap, often super-sized (omori in Japanese), very salty and high fat.., well, guess that's why they are so popular...

If this trend continues, you can expect the average weight levels and heart proplems to increase very rapidly, maybe eventually catching up with their US counterparts.

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MechWar Robots Come Closer to Reality (Video)

Brat based, PS2 game pad controlled, this MechWarrior robot almost ready to do battle.



We have to admit we were on the fence about the viability of staging actual MechWar competitions, but we're slowly coming around to the idea.

[Posted from my iPhone]

Toy Show Coming Up Soon

The International Tokyo Toy Show 2009 is coming up in just a couple weeks.

The show, held at the Big Sight Convention Center, draws large crowds from all over Japan, Asia, the US, and Europe.

Unlike many other shows, admission is free to the general public, and sales on the show floor are not only allowed, they're encouraged.

It will be quite interesting to see which manufacturers have weathered the economic storm and are still in the game, and which have gone under.

It will also be a great chance to get an early look at any new robot products planned for the upcoming holiday gift buying season.

International Tokyo Toy Show

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