|
|
|
The News -
Latest News
|
|
Written by William Cox
|
|
Tuesday, 07 June 2005 |
If you live in the Galesburg, Illinois area and are interested in leaning how to do machining, here's your chance!
"[A] CNC-Workshop ... will be held from June 20 through 26, 2005 at the Cardinal Engineering shop just outside of Galesburg, Illinois."
The week long workshop will only cost you $100, and will cover everything from retrofitting a benchtop milling machine to session on CAD software.
You can check out the schedule here.
They will be holding a swap-meet Friday through Sunday that's open to everyone with an entrance fee of $15.
|
|
The News -
Latest News
|
|
Written by William Cox
|
|
Tuesday, 07 June 2005 |
 I wish I were there:
"Word is the robots are the stars of World Expo 2005. Japanese robots of various designs serve functional roles here as multilingual information guides, security guards, garbage collectors, and floor cleaners."
"The Toyota exhibit has a two-part robot show featuring a robot jazz septet that marches into the 800-seat arena and plays ''When the Saints Go Marching In." Then follows an elaborate movie and floor show with nearly a dozen single-passenger robot vehicles, cavorting dancers, and a trapeze acrobat twirling from the ceiling."
Followed by:
"...corporations have acknowledged spending between $2 million and $30 million each on [their exhibits] ..."
Wow.
|
|
The News -
Latest News
|
|
Written by William Cox
|
|
Monday, 06 June 2005 |
 Mmmm hmmmm ... well, it's very bizzare looking. Not only does it have, "a woman's face, a sensor around its waist and can move in all directions on its three wheels hidden underneath an evening gown," but a very evident female body.
Don't worry ladies, "a male version [is] under development."
Oh yea, I'm talking about "The Partner Ballroom Dance Robot"! Now all you geeks don't have to worry about finding someone to dance with. It also doesn't mind if you step on it's feet (wheels?).
Oh course, the real idea behind this is to better understand how to respond to humans. The specific application would be care of the elderly. But, having a bright pink robot with pointy ears is cool too. Freaky, yes, but still cool.
|
|
The News -
Latest News
|
|
Written by William Cox
|
|
Sunday, 05 June 2005 |
 It seems to me that this article is full of handwaving, but here goes -
apparently, a doctor of Mechanical Engineering in the UK has come up
with a self replicating rapid prototype machine, you know, the ones
that can create anything by building up layers of plastic? His plans
are to eventually market such a machine to developing nations to help
create low cost products. Pictured is a robot that was created using
the machine.
More interesting, is that, "To encourage that development, Bowyer plans
to make the design of the RepRap available online and free to use ... "
Slashdot coverage of the topic is here.
|
|
The News -
Latest News
|
|
Written by William Cox
|
|
Saturday, 04 June 2005 |
 Well, this is by far one of the more interesting robot sensing devices I've seen in a while. It's like your standard bump sensor whiskers on steroids.
A group of researchers from schools that I can't pronounce have come up
with the ultimate robot whiskers solution - a motor spins the whisker
in a semicircular motion and an accelerometer attached to the end
monitors the acceration. When the whisker hits an object the end of the
whisker vibrates at a certain frequency depending on how far up the
whisker the object hit. The acceleromter, coupled with sensors that
determine the angle of the whisker can then accurately pinpoint the
location of the obstacle.
In theory it sounds pretty easy to implement. I'll have to add it to
the "to build" list. Apparently, the biological counterpart is how
insects navigate their way around the world.
|
|
The News -
Latest News
|
|
Written by William Cox
|
|
Saturday, 04 June 2005 |
 I have to say, the art of Arthur Ganson is some of the most amazing stuff I've seen in a long time.
" Self-described as a cross between a mechanical engineer and
a choreographer, Ganson creates contraptions composed of a range
of materials from delicate wire to welded steel and concrete."
This is some truely amazing kenetic art. This page off of Ebaum's World has quite a few videos of his art. Be sure to check out the one of the walking wishbone. The PBS website also has 5 minutes of clips from the DVD.
|
|
The News -
Latest News
|
|
Written by William Cox
|
|
Saturday, 04 June 2005 |
Here's some robot news to kick start your Saturday morning:
- Out of Japan comes a story of Roborior
(Robot + Interior), a futuristic ... thing ... with built in camera
& infrared sensors that can be used to guard a house, or stream
video of your cat to your cell phone. It comes out in November for a
paltry sum of around $3,200 USD. At least it looks really cool.
- Along the same lines, apparently the Japanese G'ment is spending 3-billion yen a year
on their "Super Science" initiative, "splitting the money between 82
high schools, which are using their grants to focus on rocket
engineering, genetics and solar energy." The impetus for this is fears
of Chinese superiority and slipping math and science scores for
Japanese children.
- Here's a short story on a college design class that uses robotics. I wish my Engineering 101 class was that cool.
- Discovery Channel talks a bit about robot skin .
|
| << Start < Prev 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 Next > End >>
| | Results 386 - 392 of 399 |
|
|
