The Nano-Bots are coming!

You can obviously use your imagination to think about where this technology can lead. The applications are almost endless. But here is Rolls-Royce official statement below.

Rolls-Royce today demonstrated an exciting vision of how robotics could be used to revolutionise the future of engine maintenance. Bringing another element of its IntelligentEngine vision to life, Rolls-Royce teamed up with academics from the University of Nottingham and Harvard University to discuss and demonstrate a wide range of potential future technologies at the Farnborough Airshow, from ‘snake’ robots that work their way through the engine like an endoscope, to miniature, collaborative ‘swarm’ robots that crawl through the insides of an engine.

Rolls-Royce | SWARM robots from Rolls-Royce on Vimeo.

The IntelligentEngine vision, first introduced by Rolls-Royce at the Singapore Airshow earlier this year, describes a world where product and service have become so closely connected that they are inseparable. This vision drives activity across a range of fields, including robotics, with a particular focus on digital technologies.

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Pole Dancing Robots, I guess this means the future is here?

I'm sure you've heard about the infamous pole dancing robots at a strip club in Vegas by now. If not, well you're in luck. Obviously this is a gimmick to get people into the strip club. Guess what, it worked! 

The Sapphire Club in Vegas employed two pole dancing robots to attract some new customers and get their name in the headlines. I think they are mildly interesting to say the least, but my guess is they are here to stay and version 2.0 will do a little more than shake their asses. One of the disturbing things about them though is their 80's style surveillance camera heads. It says to me, "You are watching us but we're watching you." 

Check out the video below to see them in action for yourself.

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State of Mind Cyberpunk Game Coming Soon

State of Mind is a futuristic cyberpunk thriller game delving into transhumanism. The game explores themes of separation, disjuncture and reunification, in a world that is torn between a dystopian material reality and a utopian virtual future. It looks like a pretty cool sci-fi game from the teasers at the bottom of the page. It obviously takes some inspiration from Blade Runner, Altered Carbon and a slew of other Cyberpunk Games. Check it out below!

When mind and machine become one – what will remain of humanity?

Berlin, 2048 – The world is on the brink. Lack of resources, illnesses caused by polluted air and water, crime on the rise, war. Governments and companies promise remedies through technological progress. Drones and humanoid robots replace humans in the public sector, everything is interconnected, surveillance has become omnipresent.

Richard Nolan is one of the few journalists openly criticizing this development. When he wakes up in hospital after an explosion and finds that his wife and son have mysteriously vanished, Richard realizes: he and his family have become more than just bystanders in a storm of rivaling ideas pertaining humankind’s salvation between dystopian reality and digital utopia. Instead, they find themselves right at the center of it.

This domestic drama evolves into a thriller about a worldwide conspiracy, which at its core aims to determine the fate of humanity: Could a perfect digital utopia be the answer? A virtual paradise not affected by material needs and quarrels? Could a super-AI be our savior – or would it simply declare us as dispensable since it could not be taught the value of philanthropy?

What will the world look like after this storm, what will remain of humanity?



The game is available for pre-order here from Daedalic Entertainment.

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Prisoner of the Mind rough sketches

It's been a little while since I posted any of my character sketches. Now that Prisoner of the Mind issue 1 and 2 are out, and 3 is on the way next month, I have started on Volume 2 of my graphic novel. I'm posting some of my sketches here over the next few months just to keep things fresh. The above rough is about emotion, and trying to bring some expressions across that can be a little more complex to portray with a pencil drawing.

Machines, machines, machines... What kind of a Sci-Fi story would this be without some robotics intertwined. The beauty of robots, are to get them to do our mundane tasks that we hate to do as humans, and then figure out what that robot would look like.

Got to have some cool cars too, just a few ideas including my favorite future VW upgrade.

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The bots are getting smaller.

Purdue University researchers have developed a robotic hummingbird that can pull off 

the real thing's characteristic aerial stunts(Credit: Purdue University/Jared Pike)

This new hummingbird drone was designed and built by researchers at Purdue University. The coolest part of it is that it actually flies like a hummingbird. The 3D-printed body has wings made of carbon fiber membranes. 

It has an electrical sense of touch and AI algorithms that can analyze those touches, basically creating a map to see in the dark. Bio-inspired robots and drones have been around for a long time, but this one seems closer than ever. Check out the video below.

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Amphibious Robot Travels on Snow, Ice and Water

We've covered quite a few interesting robots over the years, but this one is quite amazing. It's not bipedal, or four legged but almost manta ray in nature. It can skate on ice, snow, swim and move on land. This is the type of probe you want to send to a new planet for discoveries.

This Robot is Pliant Energy's Velox robot which is a beautiful swimmer than can leave the water and travel across sand, pebbles, paving, grass and even ice.

Applications

Highly maneuverable autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) or remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that can move from land to sea and back with ease. Ideal for surf zone, amphibious beach missions and polar ice missions

Personal propulsion for professional divers and recreational use

Stand-alone thruster to replace propellers on craft in environmentally-sensitive waters such as coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds

Stand-alone thruster to replace propellers on craft in debris-filled waters

Check out the video below for more.

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UPDATED! Flying Car Obsessed!

Two more flying cars are coming. As I have said before, we are entering a new era for the flying car/personal transportation type vehicles. VTOL (vertical take off and landing) if you will. Maybe we've finally reached the level of technology to make these things realistic. We covered the Kitty Hawk which looks more like a pontoon boat with propellers. And then there is the Black Fly, which I really like. I'm not sure what it is about this one that attracts me to it, but it looks fun to fly/drive.

So, here are the latest companies to join the fray of flying personal vehicles. 

Of course Aston Martin is going to make an awesome looking vehicle. The Volante Vision is meant to be a private Air Taxi, I imagine it like a personal jet for wealthy business types. This is an area of tight competition right now with multiple companies attempting to do the same thing. Maybe that is just what we need to jump start this flying car thing. The Volante Vision looks more like a futuristic flying car than most of them, but for now it's just a concept vehicle like most. Before you know it Porsche and Ferrari will jump right in, after all Rolls Royce had a hand in this Aston Martin Vehicle idea.

Check out the Video below.

MORE on the Aston Martin...

Then there is the CityHawk, not to be confused with Bell Helicopters X-Hawk. The CityHawk flying car is almost a direct descendant of the Cormorant AirMule which is an autonomous UAV designed by an Israeli firm Tactical Robots. This vehicle has been under development for a few years now and has over 200 flights to date. The CityHawk is designed by Urban Aeronautics, also an Israeli firm that uses a similar airframe, so this one has much more of a chance of becoming real than the Aston Martin. Below is the video of test flights of the AirMule.

The CityHawk is going into full scale development according to Urban Aeronautics. The aim here is to make it some type of taxi for consumers. This one reminds me of an of a 1980's Cessna Airplane because of its chunky (non-sexy) airframe. Definitely a different take then Aston Martin. See below.

It seems that I forgot about the Lilium. Below is a still from their first test flight they did last year. Check out the video below.

The Lilium Jet successfully completed its maiden test flight series in the skies above Bavaria. The 2-seater Eagle prototype executed a range of complex maneuvers, including its signature mid-air transition from hover mode to wing-borne forward flight.

If flying cars aren't your thing, and you would rather have a little more freedom, then why not by your very own Jet Suit designed by Gravity. This suit is very cool, we have covered this and many other Jet Packs and personal transportation devices before. This one will set you back almost half a million bucks.

This thing is sound good until you run into a brick wall, but in that case you might need this.  

Anyway, you've probably already seen this, but in case you've been living under a rock, check out the video below.

You might say I am a bit flying car obsessed.

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Bizarre little Bi-pedal drone robot takes first steps

We've covered a lot of various robots here that range from practical to WTF? This one is a head scratcher. Caltech’s LEONARDO (LEgs ONboARD drOne) is a bipedal robot that uses synchronized control of drone-like propellers and legged joints.

This robot is under development at the Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST).

Check out the video below. Personally, I don't get it.

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New York Comic Con 2014

NY Comic Con 2014, This year is bigger and better than last year. It's starting to get a little crazy.

Weta, had an amazing Lord of the Rings, Hobbit exhibit complete with animatronic Smaug.

Let the cosplay begin.

Marvel's booth was huge too with many panels and announcements.

Robots.

The master Kim Jung Gi.

His work is inspiring to say the least.

Loads of people.

Made my way to artists' alley again.

The prolific Walter Simonson.

Geoff Darrow is one of my all time favorite artists.

James O'Barr. The Crow.

S.O.A.

Long day and a beautiful night in NYC.

A fitting end to the day. See you next year NYCC.

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