NASA Wants You to Train Its Space Robot

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Astronauts on board the International Space Station don't have a lot of free time, which means the last thing they want to do is expend energy on mundane chores like vacuuming. Enter Robonaut 2, the first humanoid robot in space that takes on these everyday tasks. R2, which has been on the ISS since 2011, has a mission: clean handrails, vacuum air filters and take air-flow measurements. The problem is it doesn't yet have the ability to learn and complete the work. So NASA is looking for someone to teach the bot. The Robonaut Challenge calls on contestants to write algorithms that allow R2 to interact with a training dashboard the space agency built. Read more... More about Space , Nasa , Robots , Algorithm , and International Space Station Read more »

Making Robots With Mass Appeal

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Not so long ago, the idea of most people owning a robot seemed far-fetched. But today, not only can consumers buy robots, they can do so relatively cheaply. The world of consumer robotics is finally beginning to merge with the world of everyday people, and some products really stand out. But in this growing and cutting-edge field, what makes a robot commercially successful? TechNewsDaily spoke with two creators of successful consumer robots to find out how they make their products click with the masses. Ian Bernstein, co-founder and CTO at Orbotix, believes the secret to success is simplicity. "[The robot] has to be really simple, because if it’s too complicated, people won’t u… Continue reading... More About: Gadgets , Robot Read more »

Telepresence Robot Brings Remote Co-Workers Into the Office

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Having meetings with colleagues who aren't in the room can be challenging. Conference calls feel inpersonal and video chats can be full of glitches. Outside of meetings, though, it can be difficult to make remote workers feel like they're a part of company culture. Now a 5-foot-tall robot called Beam, that has a large video screen for a head, can bring people from around the world into the office. The robot can see, hear, talk and "walk." Beam, made by Suitable Technologies, is just one of dozens of telepresence robots currently on the market. One thing that may halt its widespread adoption is the hefty $16,000 price tag attached to each robot. Do you think telepresence robots can i… Continue reading... More About: Robot , workplace Read more »

5,000 Pound Crab-Like Robot Can Walk On Asteroids

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Gravitational pull on most asteroids is pretty low. That’s why NASA’s rover ATHLETE (All Terrain Hex Limbed Extra Terrestrial Explorer) — with its dexterous arms and the ability to crawl across low-weight environments — could become useful in the future to explore rocky space surfaces and treacherous conditions. ATHLETE was created by NASA’s Johnson and Ames centers, Stanford University and Boeing. Read more »

Squishy Robot Can Move Under Obstacles

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A team of Harvard scientists designed a “soft” robot which can move under difficult obstacles by mimicking the movements of certain animals, such as squid and worms. The robot doesn’t have a hard internal skeleton; it is composed solely of elastomeric polymers and a series of chambers. Using a pneumatic valving system, the chambers can be inflated to create movement, which boils down to a combination of crawling and undulation Read more »

Honda’s ASIMO Robot Gets Smarter, More Autonomous

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Honda has upgraded its bipedal ASIMO robot with several advancements, including improved AI and a bigger degree of autonomous behavior, the company announced. The new ASIMO features strengthened legs, an expanded range of leg movement and stability control technology that allows it to walk, run, run backward and generally be much more agile than before. It now has a multi-fingered hand with a tactile and force (we wouldn’t want it to apply too much force on its human overlords) sensor, which makes it capable of performing delicate tasks, such as pouring coffee into a mug Read more »

“World’s First Spherical Flying Machine” Can Land and Fly Almost Anywhere [VIDEO]

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The sci-fi classic Star Wars: A New Hope features a famous scene in which Luke Skywalker practices Jedi Lightsaber skills on a small, flying sphere that can hover and move quickly in any direction. Now, Japan’s Ministry of Defense has developed what may be a precursor to the Jedi training ball, though they call it a “Spherical Flying Machine.” Driven mostly by remote control, the 42-inch in diameter, 350 gram flying ball uses a combination of propellers and wings to hover, fly in all directions at up to 60km/h and even move along the ground and walls. Virtually nothing seems to stop the ball from “flying” Read more »