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.
If you are obsessed with flying cars like we are, this is interesting news. Leading flying car developer SkyDrive, established by the members of CARTIVATOR, a group of aircraft, drones, and automotive engineers, has secured 14 Million USD through Third-party share issuance funding and subsidies. A total of 18.5 Million USD has now been raised and manned test flights will begin this year. Apparently Toyota is involved with this too. Check out the videos below.
Brain implants allow a tetraplegic patient to control a whole-body exoskeleton with brain signals in a proof-of-concept demonstration published in The Lancet Neurology. The patient uses two wireless chronically implanted brain-computer interfaces to control virtual and physical machines.
While the early results are promising, the system is a long way from clinical application or being widely available. Check out the video below.
Boston Dynamics is at it again, this time they're showing off more moves that their Atlas robot can do than most humans today. We live in interesting times, just imagine what this robot will be able to do in 10 years. We've covered plenty about robots but this is truly outstanding.
Here is what they have to say about it:
Atlas uses its whole body -- legs, arms, torso -- to perform a sequence of dynamic maneuvers that form a gymnastic routine. We created the maneuvers using new techniques that streamline the development process. First, an optimization algorithm transforms high-level descriptions of each maneuver into dynamically-feasible reference motions. Then Atlas tracks the motions using a model predictive controller that smoothly blends from one maneuver to the next. Using this approach, we developed the routine significantly faster than previous Atlas routines, with a performance success rate of about 80%. For more information visit us at https://www.BostonDynamics.com.
If you follow this site then you know that we usually post progress on the artwork and story for Linder's comic books and graphic novel, current and future technologies, and related things that reflect similarities to the neo-noir futuristic graphic novel Prisoner of the Mind.
This creation is Mindar, a Buddist robot. The robot was unveiled at Kodaiji Temple in Kyoto to share Buddha's teachings in plain terms. Mindar is modeled after buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon. The deity transforms itself into different forms to help people and “This time, Kannon changed into an android”.
The wise robot would “help people who usually have little connection with Buddhism to take an interest” in the religion.
Mindar the robot was created by the temple and MR. Hiroshi Ishiguro, a professor of intelligent robotics at Osaka University, It was built by Tokyo-based A-Lab Co.
It looks like the future is already here, and things are about to get real interesting. New groundbreaking research in optometry has the military examining the plausibility of replacing bulky and costly night vision goggles with eye injections. Read more here. Check out the video below.
Cyberpunk is happening and it doesn't matter if you like it or not, because things are getting weirder all the time.
In recent years, Japan has become a world leader in the booming field of wearable technology. Tokyo launched a Wearable Expo in 2015, the largest wearable tech fair in the world, featuring everything from augmented human hands to electronic kimonos.
The project, called Arque, is led by Yamen Saraiji, Junichi Nabeshima and Kouta Minamizawa. The researchers from Keio University came up with the idea last summer. "We were interested in (asking), 'how can we empower the human body with wearable technologies?'" Saraiji told CNN in a phone interview. You can read more here.
I imagine myself going about my morning routine, stepping out of the shower, brushing my teeth, combing my hair, getting ready to go to work. Whoops...I forgot my tail. Think Jurassic Human?
