When Sony announced recently that they would be terminating their well-known robot dog Aibo, robot enthusiasts began looking desperately for another company and product to fill the void. Last week, Ugobe, the California-based robotics company co-founded by Furby designer Caleb Chung, caught the attention of many tech blogs, including Robot Gossip, who wondered if they …
Tag: ai
Jan 26 2006
Alas, Poor Qrio! I Knew Him, Aibo.
It appears as though the Purdue University study I reported on yesterday extolling the virtues of robot pets came too late to save everyone’s favorite robo-puppy, the Sony Aibo, and apparently it’s not the sole casualty of Sony’s bottom line. While there has been no official announcement, careful inspection of Sony’s 2005 3rd Quarter Earnings …
Jan 18 2006
FedEx Institute Launches Robotics Research Center
The FedEx Institute of Technology at the University of Memphis announced today that they will be launching a new robotics research center focused on developing robot technology with everyday uses. The new research center, the first since the FedEx Institute opened in 2003, will be initially funded by FedEx Corporation with corporate and government sponsorships …
Dec 21 2005
Scientists Create a Self Aware Robot
The Discovery Channel has a story today about researchers from the Meiji University in Japan that have created a robot able to tell the difference between looking at its own image reflected in a mirror and looking at an identical robot. The research, led by Junichi Takeno, is a big advance towards understanding human consciousness …
Dec 16 2005
Sony Announces QRIO Upgrade
Hot on the heels of Honda’s Asimo update announced this past Tuesday, Sony today introduced the world to the newest version of their humanoid robot, QRIO. The enhancements to the QRIO include an additional camera mounted in its forehead, mechanical improvements to its arms and hands, and better machine vision algorithms and AI. Like its …
Dec 13 2005
An Asimo for the Office
Honda Motor Co. introduced the second-generation Asimo today. While walking and obstacle avoidance were considered highlights of the previous model, the new Asimo includes many advancements that science fiction has groomed us to expect from humanoid robots. The five-year old Asimo can now handle simple office tasks like greeting visitors and showing them to meeting …
Dec 09 2005
New Machine Vision Algorithm for Depth Perception
Although there have been many advances in machine vision, most relatively simple robots are still not able to maneuver around objects at high speeds because they are unable to quickly judge their distance from the objects. In order to tackle this problem researchers from Stanford University have developed a new algorithm that many said was …
Nov 10 2005
Robot Lawyers are Coming Soon
Engadget’s got a summary of an article by Business Day about Buys Inc., a South African law firm that plans to add 3 “robot” lawyers, Stacy, Dave, and Nathan, to their human legal staff in early 2007. Initially their duties will include answering basic questions and presenting training material online. They will operate under very …