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Robotic Wheelchair
We have seen robotic chairs before, such as Take A Seat by Jelte van Geest and even a Brain Controlled Wheelchair, but never a smart wheelchair that follows you around.
The wheelchair, developed at Saitama University in Japan, uses distance senors to stay far enough to your left as to not get in your way. The robot also watches your shoulders to know which way you may be turning. It is even smart enough to know to follow you single file in a crowded hallway.
Also, more than one wheelchair can follow a single person. No word though on how you get the wheelchair to select who they follow.
The idea here is to use these in hospitals and other facilities where people need care. They are currently being tested in the field.
Click through for a video.
Link via (CrunchGear)
Telenoid R1 Visits The Uncanny Valley
Hiroshi Ishiguro, the creator of the doppleganger robot, has created another crazy robot that falls way down into the uncanny valley.
The robot, called Telenoid R1, looks like it was sculpted out of white modeling clay. It has the face of a human, but the body is somewhat lacking as it does not have hands or legs and feet.
The idea is that once you become used to the robot, you project whomever is remotely operating it onto the robot, like a friend. I guess the idea is for the robot to be a blank canvas or blank slate. Using special software, a remote operator sits at a computer. Using a webcam and the software they control Telenoid R1 to communicate with the other person.
Telenoid R1 is seen as being used in remote places, education and for the elderly.
Two versions of the robot will be produced. The one for researchers will cost about $35,000 and the commercial version will cost about $8,000.
Click through for a video.
Japan to Send Rover To The Moon
A report recently approved by the Japanese government sets its sights on going to the moon. At first they thought they wanted a human robot on the moon, but now aim to have a rover on the moon in five years. Why not send Wall-e? He is friendly, well mannered, is wheeled like a rover and has plenty of space travel experience.
The Japanese also hope to establish a moon base by 2020.
The team also envisions building the world’s first station on the south pole of the moon in 2020, to be staffed by advanced wheeled robots.
It initially considered sending a two-legged humanoid but judged a “rover type” robot more practical due to the bumpy surface.
RODEM – Segway Like Robot
Tmusk, a robot maker from Japan, has unveiled the RODEM (Robot De Enjoy Mobility). This vehicle is sort of like a Segway and a robot combined.
The robot can be controlled by body movements or a joystick. The robot can also be equipped with GPS, voice commands and a few other extras and is aimed at Japan’s aging population or people with disabilities.
Tmusk hopes to eventually sell REDOM at between $5,000 and $7,800, but no word on when it will be available.
I’m not really sure I can see older folks riding something like this, at least in the United States.
Click through for a video.
Roller Skating Robot
Hitachi unveils a robot that can roller skate, sort of.
Called EMIEW2 (Excellent Mobility and Interactive Existence as Workmate), the robot can walk on uneven surfaces thanks to legs with wheels and shock absorbers.
The robot stands 32 inches tall and weighs about 31 pounds. EMIEW2 also sports 14 microphones in it’s head, in order to better hear voice commands in noisy environments. Hitachi envisions this robot as the usual secretary or receptionist. No word if it will start out working at the mall, like some other robots.
Click through for a video of this little guy in action.