You can build all kinds of amazing structures with LEGO pieces. As this video from Human Media Lab shows, it is possible to build smart LEGO brick structures that serve as a controller for miniature drones. As kids move their creations, the drones mimic the shape and color using their tiny sensors and gyroscopes.
Human athletes are not the only ones competing for gold at the winter Olympics this year. 8 teams from universities and tech firms have brought humanoid robot skiers to compete in the world’s first ski robot challenge in South Korea. These robots are supposed to use their sensors and cameras to complete challenges with no human control.
Meet Robby: a hackable robot platform with plug & play sensors and modules that gets young engineers familiar with the basics of robotics and coding. Robby has a powerful microprocessor, Arduino library with examples, step-by-step instructions, omnidirectional wheels, and WiFi/Bluetooth.
Here is a robot that can give you a full body massage and adapt to your body shape. Alex from Massage Robotics can learn your body form to better serve you. It comes with force and voice control. According to Massage Robotics, these bots come with unlimited programming.
Armed robotic vehicles are being tested in many countries. The Wingman program is all about developing armed robotic vehicles that can be controlled by soldiers. In fact, engineers have already been able to autonomously pilot a Humvee to hit targets with its 7.62 mm weapon system.
The goal is to team up soldiers with robotic vehicles in the future to allow them to engage enemies more effectively:
By 2035, advances in technology may allow a Soldier to manage multiple assets such as combat vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and reconnaissance vehicles at the same time in combat
More information is available here.
Robot cafes are nothing new. We have seen a bunch of them recently. As it turns out, a new one has opened in Tokyo for Chinese New Year. As you have probably guessed, coffee is brewed and served by robots at this place. A Pepper robot is used to greet people. Customers can choose their coffee’s strength and size and the rest is taken care of by the machines.
Meet the KolRob: a collaborative screw assembly robot that automates repetitive tasks, helping workers become more productive. The robot uses 4 3D cameras around the table to act smarter and switch to different tasks when needed. As FZI explains:
This is made possible by continuous GPU-accelerated checks for obstacles within the current trajectory that take only fractions of a second. The screw assembly is supported by a force-torque-sensor. It allows the robot to follow the screw precisely while applying a constant amount of force. The sensor also allows the detection of missing or incorrectly inserted screws.
[HT]
Here is another robot that can clear the snow, so you don’t have to. This commercial vehicle is GPS-navigated and can follow a pre-programmed path. It can apply deicer while clearing the snow. The robot is smart enough to detect and stop when obstacles are in its way.
Meet DARPA’s Sea Hunter: an autonomous unmanned ship in prototype stage that could one day lead to vessels capable of traversing thousands of kilometers over open seas without a single crew member aboard. The vessel has already passed challenging tests over the past few months.
Sex robots are going to become a thing. We have seen a bunch of them in the past that can hold a conversation and offer intimacy. The EXDOLL Xiaodie Sex Robot takes it a step further. It is smart enough to receive instructions from its owner and interact with home appliances, such as a dishwasher.
