Tokyo HackerSpace Creates Akihabara Video Tour (Video)
Akiba and Patrick, with Tokyo HackerSpace, put together an amazing Akihabara guide to all their favorite sources for components, processors, kits, video games (including classic Nintendo gear at Super Potato) and even robots. They included 24 videos and write-ups, including Google maps and locations, in the series. We can't believe how much work this must have taken, though they do seem to have considerable fun in the process.
This is definitely a resource that you're going to want to bookmark and have at your fingertips when visiting Japan. We know we will. 
Akiba and Patrick visit our favorite Akihabara robot shop, RT Corp:
The V-Stone Robot Center:
H2K2 Robot by Joseph Senior 10
Sometimes we run across a robot gone so incredibly wrong that it's actually very, very right.
Source: DBSW.net
Thanks to Stuart. 
Next VEX Competition in Japan Set
ASIJ VEX-0051
Originally uploaded by Robots-Dreams.
We just confirmed that the next international VEX competition in Japan is set for November 9, 2010 at the American School in Japan (ASIJ) campus just West of Tokyo. Last year's competition was intense with top competitors coming from several different countries around the Pacific. The 2010 event promises to be even more international and more competitive. We'll post more details as they become available.
Dekinnoka 6! Robot Pro-Wrestling Rivals ROBO-ONE (Video)
It started off with one robot builder, Atamo, who was addicted to both the humanoid robot competitions and Japanese pro wrestling. In the beginning, he designed his robot to look like a pro wrestler, and to grab more of the competition judges, and audience, attention he dressed up in a matching wrestler costume. Needless to say, it was a huge hit and generated tremendous enthusiasm, even if though he didn't win the championship.
Other builders wanted to play too, and impromptu matches started to take place every time they could manage to get together. It wasn't long before Atamo attracted the attention of enough builders to start staging regular Dekinnoka! events. The first competition was a little ad hoc, just a bunch of enthusiastic energetic robots builders having a lot of fun. But, as the saying goes, enthusiasm is contagious. The Dekinnoka movement quickly caught fire. The number of participants, professionalism, production quality, and energy has increased to the point that Dekinnoka is becoming a strong rival for other robot competitions like ROBO-ONE.
Yesterday, Dekinnoka 6! Robot Pro-Wrestling was staged at the Kondo RoboSpot facility in Akihabara. This particular competition, part of the robot pro-wrestling world tryout initiative, was limited to humanoid robots utilizing Kondo servos and components. Normally, the competitions are open to robots based on any manufacturers hardware.
The event was broadcast real-time using Ustream, and has been archived so that you can go back and watch the whole event. But for readers that don't have the hours to spend, here is the promotional video, followed by the video stream of matches #4 and #5:
Dekinnoka 6! Match 4 & 5
I really like the way that they inserted short videos introducing the background and interests of each of the competitors it gives a feel for what they do in their daily work life, why they're interested in robotics, how long they've been involved, why they're so excited about robot pro-wrestling, and a lot of other interesting background. And, of course, it's a great opportunity for competitors to promote their company is or their own personal products and services to the audience including the other builders.
The 7th Dekinnoka! robot pro-wrestling competition is scheduled for November 3, which is a Japanese holiday, in Saitama, just north of Tokyo.
What's next? We got to believe that the Dekinnoka robot pro-wrestling movement is going global! This is exactly the type of event that would have tremendous public and media appeal to audiences all over the world. It would take some organization, and some sponsorship, but Dekinnoka would be a killer event for RoboGames.
Roboni-i Gaming Robot is Woot Top Bargain of the day
The Roboini-I robot is currently the deal of the day at Woot.com for only $69.99!
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