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Spiderbot
University of Arizona student Matt Bunting has created a cool hexabot that looks like a spider. The robot also landed him a job offer and an order for two of the robots. Making robots can be fun and rewarding.
Every time the robot is turned on, it must learn again how to walk. If a particular movement moves it forward, then that movement is reinforced. This allows the robot to learn instead of using pre-programmed behavior. This also allows the robot to adapt if it gets damaged or loses a leg. The robot also uses a webcam to aid in navigation.
Stewart Christie at Intel liked the robot because it uses the Intel Atom processor. Intel ordered two robots and plans on using one in live demos.
Click through for a video of the spiderbot in action.
BEAM Battle Bots
Solarbotics has a new Instructible up on how to build a Solar Powered Battle Symet.
This looks really fun as these BEAM robots spin a lot faster than their predecessors and are easy to make.
From the Instructible:
BEAM Solar Symets (a contraction from “Symmetrical Robots”) were first built by Mark Tilden many years ago as a way to provide mobile plant-life to the other creatures in his Robot Jurassic Park. Being quite simple by only using one solar-engine circuit, they’re quick and easy to build.
These versions use high-power Miller Solar Engine circuits, that make them spin much more madly than their pokey ancestors! If you are new to BEAM, it’s a design philosophy that incorporates minimalist electronics, and often, solar power.
Buy the Solarbotic bundle of parts or source your own.
Robot Toys Seized At Customs
17,600 NFL toy robot figures similar to the one shown here were seized at customs in Seattle recently.
The toys were manufactured in China and found to have 6 times the acceptable level of lead in them. The toys are valued at around $96,000 and will be destroyed. Chalk up one win for the humans against the coming robo-apocalypse.
You can buy similar NFL robot action figures currently on Amazon, but we have no idea what the lead levels in these toys might be.
Robocosmonaut From Nasa & GM
The world’s first robotic cosmonaut has been unveiled by NASA and GM. Would that be called a robocosmonaut?
Wow, NASA ok, but GM and cutting edge technology? Sorry, when I think of GM all I can think of is clunkers.
All that aside, this robot looks impressive. The robot is ambidextrous and can lift up to 20 pounds. The press release states:
The two organizations, with the help of engineers from Oceaneering Space Systems of Houston, developed and built the next iteration of Robonaut. Robonaut 2, or R2, is a faster, more dexterous and more technologically advanced robot. This new generation robot can use its hands to do work beyond the scope of prior humanoid machines. R2 can work safely alongside people, a necessity both on Earth and in space.
See the GM R2 Robot Press Release.
Click through for a video.
8/5 Update – You can now follow Robonaut on Twitter .
Via (Gizmodo)