Robot Living

Japanese company Touchence has released a new version of it’s sensor called ShokacCube.

The cube is soft and can be connected together up to nine times.
Five beams of light inside the sensor, allow the sensor to detect changes in three dimensions. ShokaCube can measure the amount of pressure being applied, where it is being touched and if it is being pinched.  This is great for humanoid or pet robots.

ShokacCube™ can be embedded into Robotic pets as well. It will allow the robot to look happy when you stroke it, and look hurt when you pinch it.

No data sheet or actual specs yet, but he sensor will be available in September 2011.
Click through for a video.

Link via (TechCrunch)
(more…)

Tags: japan, sensor

If you live in Illinois or Massachusetts and have kids, this seems like a great camp to send them to.

Participants incorporate what they learn about robot architecture, end effectors, sensors and programming to command their bot. Projects are theme based and incorporate activities in sports, adventure, search & rescue, the Amazing Race and BattleBots.

The camps are run by Green Apple Campus.

Who is GreenApple Campus? GreenApple Campus is an educational not-for-profit organization providing STEM programming. STEM, Science Technology Engineering and Math, are key 21st Century skills. GAC began offering programs in 2003.  Each year our content team designs exciting enrichment programs designed to challenge and engage kids. We continue to add programs and locations each year, thanks to the positive results we receive from participants and parents.

Camps  cost $250 per week for either the Robotics Engineering or the Robotics & Invention sessions.  Shown here is a Lego Mindstorms NXT robot used in some of the sessions.   Summer 2011 registration.

Link

Tags: camp, kids. learning