So you want to build your own robot for data gathering and surveillance? deemojo has shared a guide that shows you how to do that. Rakshak One is a robotic system for data logging, distance measurement, and other similar tasks. It can be controlled using a GUI built using Processing.
In the future, robots will be used to work alongside humans in the office. Take Betty for instance. It is a robot office manager that has just started a two-month trial at the Transport Systems Catapult. The robot will assess how many staff members are in the office outside working hours and monitor the environment.
Here is a fully automatic system for robotic tracking of uncertain contour patterns without any teaching. As researchers at Ishikawa Watanabe Laboratory explain, the system extracts key points from unknown contour patterns using images captured with a low-cost camera. These points are then used to form a smooth path for coarse tracking.
![3D Printed Magnetically Actuated Quadruped Tiny Bots [20mm]](https://www.roboticgizmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/15/3D-Printed-Magnetically-Actuated-Quadruped-Tiny-Bots-20mm.gif)
We have covered a bunch of cool tiny robots here in the past. This magnetically actuated quadruped robot is quite interesting though. It weighs less than 2 grams and measures 20mm in length. It is 3D printed and moves around by changing the dipole orientation of the leg magnets. The robot can move with different gaits.
Here is a couple of robot controllers that fit on your Raspberry Pi Zero and let you control up to 6 motors. The 640 and Escape boards are designed for DC motors and ESC powered motors respectively.
Robots are already helping many manufacturers become more operationally efficient. Take the FNT Robotic Loader for instance. It is a form, nest, and to-seal loader that uses Fanuc robotics handle and put products in boxes. This robotic system can be used to package juice, tea, and milked drinks.
Meet Marty the Robot: a programmable, customizable walking robot designed to get kids familiar with robotics and electronics. It is upgradeable and has WiFi. You don’t need any tools or soldering to put these robots together. Users can program it in Scratch or Python/C++.
Marty is compatible with Raspberry Pi and other single board computers. You can add sensors to do even more with it. The plastic part can be 3D printed. You can find out more about this project on Indiegogo.
You don’t always need to have a human training partner to get some ping pong practice. Not when the Omron Ping Pong Robot can keep up with you. It has sensors about the table to monitor the ball 80 times a second. The robot knows where its bat needs to be and where shots will land.
The robot is not perfect, but it can give human players some practice. What do you think? Are you impressed?
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It is no secret that many large companies are relying on robots for automation and efficiency. DHL is currently running a pilot test that involves using robots for collaborative automated order picking. The EffiBOT a fully automated trolley that follows pickers and reduces their physical workload.
Meet RoBattle: a combat robot that can operate independently or support manned formations. It can be used to perform scouting, penetrate into dangerous areas, and gather intelligence.
