Amazing Baltic Robot Sumo Demonstration (Video)
When we think of competitive robot sumo the first country that always comes to mind is Japan. It's where the robotic sport first originated, and has been actively promoted by FSI Corporation for the past 22 years.
The teams are known for an obsessive focus on design and performance to the point that the top robot competitors move so fast that it's hard to capture them on camera. And, when it comes to building the most competitive robot, they tend to use only the best, and often most expensive, components, like Maxon drive motors.
But recently strong competitors have appeared in countries not previously well known for advanced technology. The Baltic Robot Sumo organization is a great example. They seem to be just as focused and competitive as their Japanese compatriots on the other side of the globe.
’Amazing Baltic Robot Sumo Demonstration (Video)’ continues
The Ultimate "Service" Robot
Everyone agrees that the most promising future for robotics is in the service sector. So far, practical applications have been limited primarily to fairly mundane domestic tasks like robot vacuum cleaners.
What will turn out to be the "killer application" for household robotics? How about a humanoid robot toilet like the Toto GG1-800?
’The Ultimate "Service" Robot’ continues
Invest 10 Minutes to Improve Robotics for (Your) Future
Got 10 minutes free to invest in improving the future of robotics?
Angelica Lim, a.k.a. "thepetitegeek" is doing some interesting graduate level research work at Kyoto University on robots expressing emotions and other behaviors normally associated with human beings.
She is also an active NAO Developer Program participant and has put her humanoid robot to good use in developing this well thought-out motion survey.
Take a few minutes, watch the videos, answer the questions, and add any comments you think would help advance her work.
Who knows, sometime in the not too distant future one of Angelica's creations may be the robotic nurse or doctor tending to you in a moment of need....
Ecovacs Deepoo D76 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Navigation (Video)
The Spanish robot website, Robots al Detalle, evaluates the navigation system of the Ecovacs Deepoo D76 robot vacuum cleaner.
Although the captions are in Spanish, it's pretty easy to understand the meaning from the video footage. And, yes, we were just waiting for the robot to pull the lamp off the table...:D
That being said, it's difficult to see any clear or compelling difference from the Roomba vacuum cleaner we already own and use regularly. There must be some difference in the cleaning algorithms or design, otherwise they would have problems selling it without patent challenges and litigation, but they aren't obvious.
Is the home robot vacuum destined to be the solitary domestic robot assistant? Of course we hope not. But, there don't seem to be any strong challengers to its leading position at the moment.
And, how much improvement, other than cost reduction, can be accomplished by iRobot or its growing number of competitors? There are some design tweaks that would help.
For example, here in Japan acceptance of the Roomba, and most of it's clones, has been severely hampered by the fact that owners have to come in contact with the floor dust and debris when emptying and cleaning the robots dust bin and brushes. That may seem to be too anal or picky for Westerners, but it is a major negative for the Japanese housewife. All of the domestic vacuum manufacturers go to great lengths to isolate the dust and dirt by using disposable bags that can be easily changed without any exposure. Of course modifying the robot design to incorporate that type of feature could possibly increase the manufacturing costs.
The Robots al Detalle website lists a wealth of domestic robot vacuum cleaners and their YouTube channel includes videos of many of the robots in action. It's a good resource for an overview of what's available, including some that you may never of heard of before.
Ponoko announces Personal Factory™ 5 Making Platform
via blog.ponoko.com
David ten Have, the CEO and founder of Ponoko, just announced Personal Factory 5 including Personal Factory App Gateway that enables use of the new AutoDesk 123D free 3D design software for makers.
According to the official Ponoko blog:
"From day one, we envisioned Ponoko creating a platform that would change the rules on who was able to make things and the way things were made.
This goal is being achieved by connecting a network of people who want to design and customize their own products with a network of digital manufacturing technologies that can make products on-demand closest to the point of consumption."
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