Robot Living

Oscar D Torres is a graduate student that has created a robot that paints named Jackoon.

The robot is named after Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning. You can see the similarities to the artists in the painting here called Lemon Wasp.

Although the paintings look random, the robot uses a camera mounted on the ceiling to help tell it where to paint.

Jackoon is currently part of the ITP Spring Show.

See also Drawbot, the robot that draws.

Video after the break.

Link via (Dvice)
(more…)

Tags: jackson pollock, robot

Disney will be releasing a new animated movie this summer called Wall-E about a lonely robot. See a preview trailer here.

Disney has teamed up with WowWee Robotics to produce a real robotic version of Wall-E. The big unveiling will be at the Maker Faire in May. Who knew Disney was into DIY.

Wall-E will contain 10 motors and retail for around $189.00. Also in the pipeline are other Disney characters. Up next is a Tinkerbell that actually flies.

Link via (Gizmodo)

iRobot from Burlington Massachusetts has secured $50 million in credit from Bank of America. The speculation is that they will be acquiring another company soon. Link via (Robot Stock News)

Vision Robotics from San Diego is working on a robotic harvester. This robot will be used to harvest and trim grapevines. No word on how this will affect migrant workers. Link via (Wired)

Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute will spend 40 days exploring the Arctic Ocean sea floor. They will do this with the help of two robots or AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) named Puma and Jaguar. They hope to find new and interesting life in these harsh conditions. Puma will be used to map out the hot fluid containing minerals rising from hydrothermal vents in the ocean floor. Once located, Jaguar will be deployed with video cameras and image mapping sonar. A third towed vehicle will collect actual samples. Retrieving the robots can be tricky as the ice floes on the surface tend to move. Link