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Robots
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 9:35 pm
by I'm Murrin
Robot technology is certainly coming along these days. A few articles I came across today:
First up - This robot is able to climb rock faces without any outside input, and although it is not yet able to identify footholds on its own (the layout of the footholds must be loaded beforehand), it still plans it's own route.
Origami - A dexterous robot has been created that can perform complex paper-folding techniques, a task difficult for robots, which usually handle more rigid materials.
Traffic Cones? - GPS guided robot traffic cones place themselves on the road to block traffic.
Performing robots - In march, a humanoid robot made by Sony conducted the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra in a unique rendition of Beethoven's 5th symphony. The robot has also been demonstrated performing complicated dance routines.
Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2004 9:57 pm
by [Syl]
I heard about the traffic cones one. Cool stuff.
Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2004 2:25 am
by aTOMiC
Very cool links, Murrin. I've been reading quite a bit about Asimo over the past year or so. I'm very impressed with the advancement of robotics.
world.honda.com/ASIMO/
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:29 am
by matrixman
I would have liked to have watched the video of the robot conducting Beethoven's Fifth, but it requires realplayer, which I despise.
However, I did watch the clip of the four robots doing the dance routine...and it BLEW ME AWAY! Their movements were beautifully smooth and life-like. Not to freak out anyone here, but I was emotionally moved by that performance. Robots really are starting to come into their own.
Posted: Sat Jul 03, 2004 11:12 pm
by Cheval
When in high school, there was a topic about culture shock.
There was a film shown to the class and in this film, there was (at the time) an experimental robot built by college students.
It walked upright on two "legs" and had what looked like a human body.
The robot even had a latex mask that looked like a male face.
When dressed in clothes, it did in fact looked human from a short distance.
That was an eye opener.
Now, I just watch the robotic "games" on television, like "Robot Wars" and "Battlebots". They may be on the destructive end of the spectrum, but I like to see them demolish one another.
(Satistic, aren't I?)
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 3:08 pm
by The Leper Fairy
Heh, really, is there anything better than watching some robots hack each other to bits?
That rock climbing one sounds amazing, if only it could find it's own footholds... wow. That would be cool to see.
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 3:24 pm
by I'm Murrin
Even though I posted this, I hadn't looked at the videos until I read matrixman's post today (slow internet connection discourages it) - I watched the dancing one, and I was impressed - there were moments when their movements were eerily human.
Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:35 pm
by I'm Murrin
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:49 pm
by I'm Murrin
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:39 pm
by aTOMiC
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:09 pm
by Revan
I think it'd be cool if the robots took is over and made us slaves... maybe that will teach humanity to be less... human... heh.

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:19 pm
by I'm Murrin
Posted: Tue May 24, 2005 8:58 pm
by I'm Murrin
Video of modular robot M-Tran III - Okay, so it's slow and loud, and takes a long time to program, but imagine what it'll be able to do with a few more years development!
Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 8:58 am
by Avatar
Awesome. Guess we're going to have to start iscussing social and ethical implications soon. Caves of Steel etc. anyone?
--A
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:25 pm
by I'm Murrin
Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 4:32 pm
by I'm Murrin
How about this one:
Babybot
I think the most interesting part is about the next model, Babycub, which they are hoping will teach itself to walk upright.
Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 4:38 pm
by Creator
Blade Runner anyone!!

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:32 am
by Avatar
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
--A
Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 7:52 am
by Avatar
South Korea Unveils Robot Armed Guard
Seoul - South Korea unveiled an armed guard robot on Thursday that it says can be used to detect and suppress intruders along the heavily fortified border between South and North Korea.
The commerce ministry said the robot, which can fire a machine gun or rubber bullets and sound an alarm when it detects suspicious movement, could dramatically improve surveillance capability.
The robot also can distinguish people from moving objects such as a vehicles from up to 2km away in the daytime, and half that distance at night, said the ministry.
It can identify an enemy up to 10m through a password, said a news release.
Commerce minister Chung Sye-kyun said the robot opened a new era because it could replace soldiers in front-line units guarding against any possible aggression from the communist North.
Can do full combat
South Korea's army has also said it would start this month developing military robots which could carry out operations ranging from patrolling and removing land mines to full combat.
South Korea's 650 000 troops face the North's 1.1-million-strong military - the world's fifth largest - across the most heavily armed border in the world.
Last month, the defence ministry said that robots - along with sensor-activated alarm systems and closed-circuit TV cameras - could be installed along the 250km-long order with the North.
--A
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 6:31 pm
by I'm Murrin