Think outside the box

This is an interesting concept for a robot. Apparently it's self replicating http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/May05/selfrep.ws.html
or at least that's the idea behind the robot. I have trouble getting my head around how it could be useful. I mean their boxes...and they move...around...and...some more...moving about. So there you have it, quite self explanatory. I'm sure when you see the video it all make sense to you. I'm sure there's a million applications for this; everything from box removal to box storage.

More real than most people I know

Goodbye Kids ASIMO is here

ASIMO is quite a famous little guy, er robot. It is the flagship for Honda's research and development department. It's been around for a while now but they do continually improve and update it. It costs 1 million dollars(US) but you can rent them for $20,000 per day. Apparently it can run and think like a 6 year old now. One of the biggest problems for ASIMO is it's battery pack, which doesn't last that long. ASIMO is used for a lot of promotional gigs at the moment and the have a few wondering around the Honda offices.

Anyway I've sat down and explained to the kids, in the kindest way I could, that they would have to hit the road. They simply don't measure up to ASIMO. Does that make me a bad parent? I don't think so... I'll explain; ASIMO is polite and doesn't talk back. From what I can gather, he's quite tidy around the house. He stands out in a crowd, so you can't lose him. Not fussy with food, 'cos he doesn't even eat! Can't get the kids to bed? well just flip a switch. I think the kids understood these points, after they stopped sobbing I pointed out that they could come back and visit anytime they liked. ASIMO would even help pack their bags. Say no more! SOLD!

Now, I know you all must think I'm a monster, and I may well be. But I just want to point out one thing to all you so called 'good parents' and 'humanitarians'; Remember when you watched AI:Artificial intelligence? the spielberg movie? the one with the robot boy? Remember that little brat of a HUMAN kid. Remember YOU wanted the mother to get rid of the brat and keep the GOOD boy robot?
DON'T LIE!!!! it DID cross your mind!
so...now that where all honest with ourselves, we can see that I'm right; Kids go, good robot children stay. Case closed, and goodday to you all.



He does run like a bit of a girl though. This could be a problem with bullies at school...


And he may be gay...

Roomba, it sucks!

The Roomba is the first mass produced commercial robotic vacuum cleaner( I think). It vacuums an area and it recharges itself, and this cycle can continue indefinitely. The only regular attention it needs is the emptying of the dust compartment. I must say it looks impressive, but I'm not sure how well it sucks. There are a few models, the latest is called 'Scooba' and that washes floor. I like the idea, but I have to stick to our currant vacuum cleaner which has a power head and it does a great job on carpets. And I think another limitation is that you would need more than one to clean a house.

This is the Roomba when all is well...


And this is an example of Roomba's considerable temper...

America's Latest Triumph In Robotics

The USA has long battled the Japanese in technology and robotics, and it looks like that the tables have finally turned, and here is some footage of their new robot.

"this is at the pinnacle of genius and ingenuity" one engineer is quoted as saying.
"impressive, a clear winner", and "surely you'll be seeing these technological wonders in our homes in the near future" another said.

This footage does have, what appear to be large bananas with the robot, but I'm assured by the R&D team, that this is just a ploy to throw off corporate spying. "we would be devastated if this technology was stolen, reversed engineered that is"

Has America 'redeemed' itself in the robotics world? I'm sure the Japanese will have to re-think many of their projects. "This has set us back a decade, ASIMO will be scrapped and we will look at new directions for our robotics industry. The USA has given us a body blow with this one." a leading scientist from Honda has said.

The Japanese, leaders in robotics...

Brings you 'NeCord' the first dead looking robot cat for your home. Are you sick of your beloved cat, who died last summer, stuffed and mounted sitting on the mantle piece looking lifeless and dead?

Well your wishes have may have just come true!

NeCord wont bring your cat back, BUT it will give you the next best thing. A walking, meowing, animated DEAD looking cat for your home.

YES! there is life after death! And NeCord will bring it to your home!

*Batteries not included. Soundtrack available through iTunes.

An educational video for those that fear robots

Robots = Nerds

Wow I found this clip really funny. See what you think...

More twisted and evil ideas

Look what this GENIUS has come up with. Oh very discreet, this thing wouldn't fit under a coffee table let alone the fridge. It's equivelent to strapping a vending machine on your back. The roach can hardly move. At the end it's wearing the camera as a hat, great for 'Fashions on the field', but nothing else. I mean strap it to a fly next, and watch it being slowly crushed by the weight of the camera.

But seriously, in the near future, when nano technology has really taken off, I'm sure we'll be able to make cameras(with battery, transmitter, and circuitry that is) the size of pinheads. And then you could start putting them on insects and other small creatures. So many different paths to robotics. Some scientists and engineers working on artificial intelligence, while others are looking at intergrating insects and animals into controling machines. Interesting and kinda disturbing...

Cockroaches...Our new Overlord Masters.

One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; the robot Cockroaches will soon be here. And I , for one, welcome our new insect overlords. I'd like to remind them as a trusted blogger personality, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves.

Elvis the CatBox robot

Hmm where do I start. YOU MADE YOUR CAT INTO A BOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the HECK were you THINKING man!!! It looks like a FedEx express box with a friggen cats head on it! What about the poor cat, it don't want to be a robot. Or if it did give it some mouse catcher ability like some deadly claw at the front, or some kind of flyswatting device. The kids at Christmas will try and open it, and then what?! you'll put 'em in councelling for better half of thier lives. Whoa, rant over, sorry about that. Seriously I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw this. Anyway I reckon a 3.5/5 for freaky and 2/5 for funny.

I, Brokeback

Ahh yes another Brokeback trailer spoof from ifilm. That slow strumming (is that the right word?) of the guitar will never be the same. You put that music to anything and it'll weird you out LOL.

While I'm on the subject of Brockback mountain, as some of you know in Tasmania, Australia we had two miners trapped for fourteen days in a small cage one kilometer bellow the ground. One of our media commentators, Jill Singer, made a joke about them, referring to the situation as very 'Brokeback Mountain'. Now, as you can imagine, this didn't go down too well with the general public, and I hate political correctness myself, but I think it did go a bit far. Tsk tsk Jill. But anyway I digress...back to the clip.

DANCING LITTLE FREAKS!!!

This video is creepy. Sure these little guys are only dancing...for now. But what about when those innocent Japanese fans are replaced with razor sharp blades. Wouldn't be too cute then, would it? How about an army of 'em walking (or dancing) in the streets. They way they move is so fluid and real, perfect even. What if they make 'em 8ft tall? Nope, I won't be buying one in the future. Maybe if they put fur on them, and gave them big eyes, that would make me feel better. Anyway see what you think, but I'd give this a 4/5 for freakyness!

First post WOOHOO!!!

Hi there. This blog will be about robots, weird and wonderful. I've always had a fascination with 'em and they seem to be evolving quite quickly. I'm a little surprised that there aren't more blogs and sites dedicated to robots. Don't get me wrong, there are some great ones out there, but for me they seem to be a bit heavy to get through. So I thought I'll make mine light and fun. I'll try to post something every day or two, things that I've come across that I find interesting, and hopefully you'll agree. Please leave me comments on what you think, I'd love to hear what you all have to say.

Well... The first video looks like an ad for a robot. It looks real, but obviously it's not. It is set in the slums of Johannesburg, and it was created by The Embassy Visual Effects Inc and directed by Neill Blomkamp (my hats off to them). Great stuff, I've watched this a few times now; I'd give it a 4/5 for impressiveness, for the production that is, 'cos it ain't real (yet), and a 4/5 for freakyness, 'cos it's real... freaky, eh?