Weekly Roundup
Friday, April 13th, 2007 Is that quick and automatic lifestyle people dreamed about in the 1950’s a reality? Well, not yet, but we are getting a little closer with services like iControl. This service allows you to monitor your house through the Internet. But the really breakthrough will be when we have personal robots as domestic servants. Several fronts are already working towards that goal.
Kawada Industries of Japan has developed the HRP-2 robot seen here to the right. This robot has a compact electrical system, allowing it to forgo the backpack that other humanoid robots have. Two of these robots recently demonstrated their ability to pour tea at Tokyo University. They are also being developed to walk on uneven surfaces and to get up if they fall. Meanwhile, Domo at MIT, is being taught to place objects onto shelves. Domo is humanoid robot that focuses on faces and facial stimuli to better react with humans. Aaron Edsinger has been working on Domo for the last 3 years. When Domo is handed an object by Aaron , he wiggles each object as it is placed in his hand. This helps Domo get a sense of the object, allowing him to place it correctly on the shelf. The idea here is to make robots that can react appropriately in a household enviroment. Hopefully someday Domo could assist people with unloading groceries or putting away dishes. Also, a humanoid robot called Actroid is being used in Japan to promote voting. Will this robot eventually put actors out of work? I doubt it, but get the scoop here. IRobot this week also unveiled its new pool vacuuming line. Too bad I spent all my money on my robot army instead of a pool. They are offering 2 models, the Verro 300 going for $799.99 and the Verro 600 offered at $1199.99.I also read a rumor somewhere that iRobot will unveil more new items in the 4th quarter of this year. The speculation was that it may be a robot lawn mower similar to Robomow. |
