ROBOTS DREAMS

Robo Wars: The British view of robots in combat

Stephen Sackur explores the positives, and negatives, of replacing soldiers with robots in combat situations on Robo Wars Episode 2 via BBC Radio 4.

Note: The BBC only posts their audio segments online for a short period, so check it out soon.

Tough year ahead for robot toys?

TOY FAIR 2010, one of the most interesting, and exciting, toy exhibitions in the world, runs from February 14^th (Valentines Day) through the 17^th in New York City. The event, which is only open to people that can prove that they are “in the trade”, draws over 20,000 attendees to view the thousands of toy products on display. It’s the focal point for new product, and product line, announcements.

Toy Fair is also a bellweather event for trends in the industry. Companies that have confidence and want to grab media and public attention, use the event to announce their latest creations. And, those that lack that confidence, or are suffering under severe economic pressure, keep a low profile, or stay home all together.

For example, take a look at this search of the exhibitor list showing companies that tagged themselves with the keyword “robot”:

Bossa Nova Robotics
Elenco Electronics Inc. 
Innovation First, Inc.
Kauzbots 
OWI Inc.
Robonica
Robotis
Silver Dolphin Books
Toynami, Inc.

Interesting, but smaller than we would have expected given the fact that Toy Fair 2010 is forecast to have more than 1,200 exhibitors in total. More interesting are the companies that don’t appear to be showing up. All we can say is “Wow…”.

New robotic toy store online

Over the past five years Trossen Robotics has developed into one of the top suppliers of robot kits, components, and stimulating ideas and concepts to dedicated robot hobbyists and researchers in the U.S. Now, based on growing demand from parents, educators, and “youngins”, they just announced the Grand Opening of a new online sister store: RoboticsToys.com.

The new store is jampacked with robot toys and learning products like the Scribbler, sumo robots, robot pets, and even Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots. To make selection easy, the store helps parents (and grandparents) with helpful directories listing robotic products by age, type of robot, locomotion, price, skills taught, and assembly difficulty. There’s something for everyone, especially every child.

Check it out!

Innovati Robotinno humanoid on deck (Video)

The postman rang the doorbell with a delivery this morning. Within a few minutes we had the package open, the new innovati Robotinno humanoid robot powered up, and started streaming video of it terrorizing one of our dogs, Maxie.

ABB Robotics recruiting for its Japan operation

ABB Robotics, one of the world’s leading suppliers of automation technology, is recruiting industrial robotics and automation professionals to strengthen its Japan operations in the areas of sales, marketing, and after-sales service. The successful candidates, to be based in Japan, will be foreigners fluent in Japanese, or Japanese nationals with overseas experience. ABB has offices in approxiamately 100 countries, has more than 110,000 employees globally, and world wide sales in the US$29 billion.