We had all heard about natural pollinators such as honey bees disappearing at a fast rate. Robobees may soon take their place. Researchers at West Virginia University (WVU) have developed an autonomous robot that can pollinate bramble plants in a greenhouse. BrambleBee uses modern localization, mapping, and path planning combined with precise manipulation techniques to get the job done.
Here is an autonomous electric vehicle from Volvo that can optimize delivery and transportation processes for businesses. Vera doesn’t make a whole lot of noise and can be controlled from the cloud. It comes with sensors, radars, and cameras for maximum safety.
In the past few years, we have covered plenty of fun research projects that involve the iCub robot. Mohamed Elobaid, Yue Hu, Jan Babic, and Daniele Pucci have put together a paper that discusses an architecture for teleexistence and teleoperation for such a robot.
Robots are getting better that producing artwork all the time. TU Vienna researchers have programmed an industrial robot to create artwork with strings. The hooks on the frame are connected by strings until the image becomes visible.
Here is an educational kit that shows your kids how to build and customize their own rover. The littleBits Space Rover Inventor Kit comes with over 30 in-app activities. It shows your kids how to build a space rock collector, alien life detector, or probe launcher using simple electronic blocks.
In the future, machines will behave a whole lot more like living creatures. It can be quite an uncanny feeling dealing with them at first. Encounter by Piet Schmidt is a robot that perceives its surroundings like a living creature.
The machine observes its surroundings, focuses on new visitors, and fearfully retracts when it sees a stranger. In a short time, it gets used to visitors and moves its mirror up to them from different perspectives.
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So you have a thing or two for dinosaurs? With the Meccano Meccasaur, you can play with a programmable robot T-Rex. It comes with over 700 parts for you to complete it. The kit consists of a motorized module, light-up LED, brain, and 2 tools. The robot responds to petting, can answer yes/no questions, and is even capable of guarding your room.
The idea of using robots to kill germs in hospitals is nothing new. The Xenex LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robot is a powerful machine that can get rid of hard-to-kill germs and superbugs. It uses flashes of germicidal UV light to get the job done. The robot is portable and can clean rooms in about five minutes.
We have had many tragic mass shootings in the U.S. in the past. Using robots may be one way to stop them. A Northeast Ohio company is creating robots to help with school security. Herbie the robot has a weapon detection tech that sounds an alarm when weapons are detected. The robot can also teach students new things.
Here is an advanced simulator that helps prepare students and professionals for procedures on young patients. Pediatric HAL features dynamic facial expressions, movement, and speech. It comes with real-time patient monitoring equipment and mechanical ventilators.
