Zeno is coming! He is the smartest and coolest robot yet! He has everything he needs to become your friend; he sees, hears, talks and remembers who you are. He even walks and performs amazing stunts. His face is soft like yours so he can show emotions, just like you–happy, sad, puzzled, and lots more. Operate him by himself and see a few of his antics, or let him link to your computer wirelessly so he can have complete conversations with you! Plus, if you use your computer to help Zeno connect to the internet, he can keep learning and growing smarter. He’ll even help you learn about the world around you.
Zeno is the first of his kind. He’s a member of RoboKindTM–cute, animated characters brought to life through Hanson Robotics’ breakthrough technology. Zeno lives in the “Inventing Academy” in the year 2027 with a whole group of other robot kids, learning and fighting to save humanity.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
RoboWalker A new hope for the Disabled
There are 1.7 million people in the United States suffering from weakness in their lower extremities. Debilitation of this nature can have many causes including cerebral vascular trauma (stroke), post-polio syndrome, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and aging. In addition 200,000 Americans have no control of their lower limbs due to spinal cord injury and are therefore confined to a wheelchair. With continually increasing life expectancies and the aging of the population, the affected number of individuals is expected to grow dramatically in the next 20 years. Regardless of the cause, the end result is the same: restricted mobility with significant psychological and financial eff Using 21st century robotics technology, Yobotics, Inc., is developing a powered, wearable device called the RoboWalker. The RoboWalker will augment or replace muscular functions of the lower extremities. With our intimate knowledge of the biomechanics of human locomotion and experience in walking robotics, we are uniquely positioned to develop this device. If successful, the RoboWalker would be the first commercially available, powered orthotic device of its kind, representing a leap forward from the current state-of-the-art, which consists of only passive orthotic devices. The RoboWalker could become the preferred means of locomotion for hundreds of thousands of disabled Americans, significantly improving their quality of life, independence, productivity, and genera The initial stages of the RoboWalker were funded by a non-profit organization called Powered Prosthetics, Inc. We are currently looking for further funding for the next stage of development to turn the RoboWalker into a viable product. Articles:
Yobotics Cofounder and Cyborg wannabe Dan Paluska on the Cover of Wired with M2, the Yobotics flagship biped robot. Photo by Peter Menzel. M2 was developed at the MIT Leg Laboratory. Yobotics is currently licensing and marketing the robot. Radio Shows:
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Monday, May 5, 2008
Toyota Debuts New Robot Models
| Practical use for household robots remains a few years away. By Jill Jusko | |
| Feb. 1, 2008 -- Toyota Motor Corp. may be best known for its vaunted production system and reputation for quality, but one day its robots could grace households around the globe. In December, the Japanese manufacturer introduced its latest additions to "partner robots" being developed to assist people in their everyday lives. One, a mobility robot, is designed to assist with short-distance personal transport and is expected to undergo a "practical use" trial at a Toyota facility in the latter half of 2008. Among its features, the robot can travel up to six kilometers per hour and traverse a 10-degree gradient. Additionally, Toyota reports that the robot can avoid obstacles to reach its owner and autonomously transport its owner. The primary purpose of the second robot, referred to by Toyota as a "violin-playing robot," is to assist with domestic duties and nursing and medical care. It is equipped with 17 joints in its hands and arms, and can achieve "dexterous, human-like" hand movement and arm strength when playing the violin. Toyota will continue to work on the robot's hand and arm flexibility to make it able to use general purpose tools. In addition to its latest introductions, Toyota has demonstrated various entertainment robots and a tour-guide robot that operates at its headquarters. The company says it aims to attain practical use of its partner robots in the early 2010s. | |
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