For those who believe that technology and robotics will make their life a lot easier than at any time in the past, this is probably something that would not really surprise you. But for those conspiracy-theory experts who believe that one day all the robots will turn on us and try and eliminate us from the face of the earth (ala Terminator), this is another sign towards the impending doom. Korean company Yujin Robot has been showing off a coffee barista robot that delivers your coffee with precision and with complete politeness.
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Robots will one day overtake human beings, so say the Science Fiction writers. We have been laughing at them for ages but their prophesies have been coming true time and again. At Tokyo’s CEATEC conference, the new age Ms. Robot, MechaDroid Type C3 has been launched. MechaDroid is the robot receptionist that claims to be more effective, punctual, careful and pleasant than her human counterpart.
Receptionsts typically meet hundreds of new faces everyday, so much so that, it becomes difficult to recognize each and every person. But MechaDroid has been inbuilt with a unique face recognition technology. It has a number of other useful features that makes it truly worth spending $28,000.

This news reminds me of my University days when I played the role of Sulla, the receptionist in a production of Karel Capek’s RUR. It amazes me how the Czech writer predicted a future nearly 100 years forward as he wrote the play in 1921! And What scares me is that the play ended with a rebellion by the Robots. I wonder if MechaDroid also demands worker’s right in times to come! Chuckle!
Via techfresh

Ever heard of your chair knowing your mind, following your brainpower? The researchers at MIT are designing a wheelchair that responds to verbal commands. This user-friendly system can learn all about the locations in a given building, and then take its occupant to a given place in response to a vocal order. Just by saying “take me to the cafeteria” or “go to my room,” the wheelchair user would be able to avoid the need for controlling every twist and turn of the route and could simply sit back and relax as the chair moves from one place to another based on a map stored in its memory.
Unlike other attempts to program wheelchairs or other mobile devices, which rely on an intensive process of manually capturing a detailed map of a building, the MIT system can learn about its environment in much the same way as a person would: By being taken around once on a guided tour, with important places identified along the way. Outdoors in the open, such systems can rely on GPS receivers to figure out where they are, but inside buildings the wheelchair prototype relies on a WiFi system to make its maps and then navigate through them, which requires setting up a network of WiFi nodes around the facility in advance.

The research which has been funded by Nokia and Microsoft will especially be a boom to the patients who have partial or substantial loss of muscle control. As the research progresses, Nicholas Roy, assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics and the one behind the machine, says he’d like to add a collision-avoidance system using detectors to prevent the chair from bumping into other wheelchairs, walls or other obstacles besides including a wide number of other applications, such as automated forklifts that can learn where to take a crate and repeat that process.
So, this one is sure to take you places!!
Via MIT / BoingBoing

And this time the elite/coolest gadget of the week nominated by savvy readers of Coolestgadget is Rovio Wi-Fi Robot featured at Gaj-it.

This resourceful piece of gadgetry rivulets video and audio through an integrated camera, and can be monitored from anywhere. You can easily track the activities happening in your living room by scheming Rovio via the internet. On days, when you are enjoying vacations, the Rovio Wi-Fi Robot comes as a great security measure to make you stay near to your home albeit virtually.

To know more hit here.

Months ago, we witnessed the unveiling of Shadow Caddy, whose presence is enough to invite the entire gold club robotically. And here stands another similar furniture accessory with an appeal similar to that of a lounge chair complimented by an added feature of offering comfort to your tired feet. Called the RoboStool Footstool, the comforting mechanism devised by Steve is accessible via Parallax Propeller chip and cruise mount kit and sports three modes i.e. universal remote, beacon navigation, and thermal sensor that puts it in a “FollowMe” mode.

Those you are skilled enough to practice the DIY know-how for developing their own can visit their site to get an insight about the schematics.

Check out the video

Via GadgetsNGizmos / MakeZine

The Seascout aquatic rescue robot can be witnessed as a weapon for specialized and errant tourists in unbolted waters. If any fine day, you feel the possibility of getting caught in such panicky moment then all you need to do is to activate a GPS tracker and the ‘bot’ would slither out to scrape them into its drudgery bay, transporting them back to shelter. Accessibly physically or preprogrammed, and features a domestic lighting, a sun-shade and a radio system so as to keep you away from that claustrophobic feel.

All it needs is a duo of frickin’ laser beams to scuffle off shark to evolve as a marine hero or rather a successful villain. Designed and developed by Andre Harley, a student at the Designskolen Kolding University in Denmark, the Seascout is truly a revolutionary form of recue.



Via Dvice / Gizmodo/ Corofolt

Selfridges in association with Asahi beer has unveiled the world’s first personalized robotic barman that has a potential to serve you with a drink within two-minutes of taking the order, hence saving your 13- minutes. Called ‘Mr Asahi,’ it is developed using Robotics and Animatronics, and essentially is expert in serving ice-cold beer as half pints within de-cap bottles of beer. Mr Asahi’s simulation technology is accessible upon a condensed air feature that is monitored and synchronized through its numerous valves and electrical switching mechanisms connected to a PC.

They say 200 man hours were invested by a pool of eight-engineer to create such a product with robotic bar keeping skills. Weighing a quarter of a ton, it always offers a smiling face and responds patiently to the customers’ needs.

After making its manifestation in this week, the Mickey Metal functional caricature is reserved to move on for a national sampling tour with a schedule appended here.
· Manchester: 10-14 July
· Nottingham: 18-19 July
· Edinburgh: 24-26 July
· Glasgow: 25 July
· Newcastle: 1-3 August
· Birmingham: 6-7 September
· Leeds: 10-13 September
· Birmingham: 18-20 September
After an exhaustive oration, I suggest you to run through the video and applause his skills.

Via TechRadar/ Gizmodo/ TheInquirer

It was difficult for us to accept that Sega has stopped developing gaming consoles but little were we aware that company has high plans to unveil another exciting offering. With the growing number of robots in Japan we have calculated the possibility of a day when they will govern our life. Vince Veneziani from Gearfuse digged out Sega-Hasbro’s Ampbot, a two feet tall Robo slave that sits on his job until Robot’s rule begins. Ampbot chases you while producing music from 12W speakers and features an integrated iPod cradle on its back. It’s advised to form a robot-themed playlist that will suit well the dancing steps of the Ampbot.

Demanding a sum of $500, it is expected to hit the markets in America and Japan coming November.

Via T3News

Before you ponder over this dog-shaped animation and mistakenly doubt it as your kids’ toy, let me take the honor of introducing you to the form beyond function of this doggy robot. Designed and developed by HPI Corporation, it would surely be a product of difference against their line of radio-controlled cars and planes that serve as pricey deals for boys willing to grow.

Called the G-Dog, it follows the right design philosophy and claims to be quick and dexterous rather than lethargic like the late Sony Aibo robo-dog.

The company was actually in a dilemma to decide the look of a greyhound dog and has finally used the “RS304MD” Time To Live command /PWM controls that assures its speediness. HPI is planning to release four models of G-Dog robot in July.

Enjoy the ultra-cool “HPI G-Dog Robot” video:

Via News3Yen

LawnBott, the $2,750 robot claims to be the honest automated lawn mower with a potential to hack 33,000 sq ft of grass on a single go. But lately it has revealed its true face as well.

It is capable to grill humans into pieces as well. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Kyodo America have lately thought of “reminding them instantly.” Actually, one of the possessors elevated the mower from the land while it was in motion and “endured slight gashes from the stirring cutting edge.” It is another set of stupid humans making efforts to win the Darwin Award.

For the creator, it may not be something big but the US CPSC and the company are decisive to recollect models LB2000, LB2100, LB3000, and LB3200 as “the hurtful blades persist to swivel when the mower is raised from the ground and the left out space on the side of lawn mower would evidently hurt the feet.” Instaed of doing any good to clients, it would surely invite people who would be anti-robot land mower.

Via | Gizmodo