Robot Living

iRobot wins an injunction against Robotic FX.

Judge Nancy Gertner has issued a 30 page ruling. This will most likely prevent Robotic FX from delivering their recently won army contract. A full trial is scheduled no later than April 7, 2008 so their is plenty of time for more action in this robotic soap opera. Stay tuned….

Link via (Robot Stock News)

Children bond with QRIO robot by Sony. A study has just been released where researchers used QRIO in a classroom with children aged 10 months to 2 years. Javier Movellan at the University of California San Diego led the study.

Over 45 sessions were conducted over many weeks. The robot would giggle when touched on the head and would lie down if it’s batteries were running low. The robot could also dance and wave.

Eventually the children treated the robot as one of them. Some toddlers even came up to the robot with a blanket when it lied down and said goodnight.

Link to video.

Link via (Guardian)

Link via (New Scientist)