Robots are many. Some are bipedal, with wheels, crawling, they can swim or even some that can display facial expressions. But virtually all of them must be programmed so they can do what they do. But a few, like Baxter, are capable of learning new behaviors from the guidance of his own, without writing a single line of code. Baxter costs about 20,000 euros, and many believe that in the future many robots will learn as he does.
In the last two decades have seen how robots stopped being tools for the assembly line of a manufacturing plant or protagonists of a science fiction novel to become sophisticated learning tools or entertainment. The advance of microelectronics and low price of servomechanisms, coupled with breakthrough occurred in processing power and memory of microcontrollers has enabled even robotics enthusiasts can design and build their own models. However, in almost all cases, regardless of concerned business models or built at home, it is necessary to write programs that tell the robot in question and carry out certain task. If we want our newly built biped robot one step, we have to write a program to turn your servo and respond to stimuli received from its sensors so you can get it right This task, of course, is not accessible to all potential users of these interesting devices.
Baxter, a new robot designed and built by Rethink Robotics, is based on a concept that, while not entirely new, has been implemented well enough to work perfectly and perhaps mark a trend in the market robotics. Instead of using traditional programming to learn new tricks, simply manipulate their own limbs showing him what to do. Suppose we want the robot takes an object that is on the right and moved 40 centimeters to the left. Instead of writing a program in a complex programming language, indicate when and how to move each of their engines, just put it in "program mode", move your right arm to the object, open the "hand", placing on property, close, move the arm 40 inches to the left, open hand again to drop the object, and keep all those movements in a. Thus, Baxter has "learned" that sequence of movements without writing a single line of code.
As mentioned, this form of teaching a robot is not new. However, it is the first time we see one, for the market (ie, outside a laboratory) with a lower price to 20,000 euros and that works as well. Baxter complements their learning skills with a "face" based on an LCD equipped with very expressive eyes, which helps a lot when it comes to understand that's what we're trying to communicate device or what it is "seeing" with their cameras. It is designed to help small assembly lines, parts handling light tasks or assist in packing / unpacking, but if the system works as well as it looks, certainly appear similar to Baxter models but cheaper and for the home. 'd Point you to one?
Curiosity. It seems that all the media activities of NASA, at least for the remainder of this year, will have something to do with this robotic probe, and no wonder, since the mission has been a success. In the last hours are no new developments, particularly related to high-resolution images sent to our planet and its contents. And there have been some "frivolous", probably designed to attract younger people, such as the transmission from Mars for the song "Reach for the Stars" by Will.i.am.
As stated in the title of this short summary, the Curiosity robot never rests. Since arriving at Mars has continued to give satisfaction to the U.S. space agency, without encountering major problems or setbacks. In recent days this robot has transmitted to Earth high resolution images of the Martian surface, with a level of detail well enough to reveal, among other things, the presence of hydrated minerals.
On August 23, when Curiosity took the now famous image of the area southwest of descent point to calibrate their cameras all knew that what we were seeing in the next few days would be awesome. And the robot will not let us down. The photograph below, which shows the aspect of the base of Mount Sharp, is simply spectacular. They appreciate a disparate series of rows around the base of this mountain that rises in Gale crater, Curiosity site that dropped on August 6.
One of the last images received, taken with the camera and a telephoto MastCam 100 mm, showing what could be a geological unconformity on the slopes of Mount Sharp. This is an area where mineral deposits are observed that only form in the presence of water, while the highest areas lacking these elements. Sediments are clearly at a different angle to those found below, something common in places with volcanic or tectonic activity.
Obviously, NASA needs support and funds to operate, and that requires them to carry out also some actions that do not fall precisely within what one might consider a "huge science forward." For example, in what is recognized as an attempt to attract younger look to the work of NASA and its missions, on Tuesday issued Curiosity-broadcast live from Mars-the song "Reach for the Stars" the American musician Grammy award winner will.i.am. During transmission, the team responsible for this mission went into a trance orgasmic set, with her arms raised and eyes glazed.
The song arranged especially for this event, whose letter says "I know Mars could be away but love is not so far away", was interpreted by an orchestra of over forty instruments, since the artist "did not want another song made on a computer "was first transmitted to Earth from Mars. "I wanted to show the human collaboration with an orchestra there to have something that would last over time, that would be appreciated by different cultures, which did not have the rhythm of hip hop or dance music," he said.
As you can see, NASA must balance between the scientific side of this mission, which cost about 2,500 million, and the related marketing, the funds necessary to continue to flow. Soon we will have news, surely more shocking photographs to see before the Curiosity begins to scroll to the slopes of Mount Sharp, site that will address during the coming weeks and months.
All we ever see an earthworm. These beings are dragged along the ground alternately compressing and relaxing the muscles that have over their bodies, moving slowly with each wave of contractions. Well, this strange but efficient propulsion system has been imitated by a team of researchers from MIT, Harvard University and Seoul National University, who have built a robot called Meshworm that not only moves like a worm, but is able to "survive" with a hammer or footprints. Part of the project funding comes from the ubiquitous agency DARPA.
The researchers in robotics often tend to "brainstorm" in (or blatantly copied) nature. We've seen robots with legs fast as a cheetah, flying and even some can swim like a fish. However, there is still room for surprise. In the last hours, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT for its acronym in English) has issued a press release in which you can see a job that its engineers have made together scientists from Harvard University and the University Seoul National. This is the robot called Meshworm whose main feature is to mimic the way it moves and shifts an earthworm.
Earthworms crawl along the ground through a mechanism that basically boils down to alternately compress and stretch muscles that have over their bodies, moving slowly with each sequence of contractions. The snails and sea cucumbers also used to move a similar mechanism, called peristalsis, and the food moves through the inside of our body like ripples through our gastrointestinal tract. The robot Meshworm, composed almost entirely of soft materials, it is also very strong. As you can see in the video, is capable of withstanding a person will pass over or blows with a hammer.
Sangbae Kim, Esther and Harold E. Edgerton, project managers, say a robot "soft and flexible as it can be useful for traversing rough terrain or made by small cracks." The "muscles" of the robot is constructed with a wire of an alloy of nickel and titanium that has a certain shape memory, able to expand or contract when their temperature varies. Winding a wire around a tube these plain, form "muscle rings" like those with live worms because when they get a small stream segments wire mesh tube pressure, they deform and drive robot forward. The results of this work were presented at society through an article published in the journal IEEE / ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, explaining that it could be the first of a new generation of robots, soft and lightweight, ideal for exploring hard to reach spaces.
Kim explains that earthworms possess two main muscle groups: circular muscle fibers surrounding the tube-shaped body of the worm, and other longitudinal muscle fibers that run along it. The two groups of muscles work together so that the worm can move slowly. The research team set out to design a similar system, using "body" built a long tube with a heat seal polymer mesh. It is placed on the "muscles" nickel-titanium, thanks to the current provided by a computerized system, were able to move the robot. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the Pentagon agency that is always behind any project that could have a military application, provided some of the funds used to create the Meshworm.
I swear when I first saw all the memories I have of "Patlabor" came running from a dark corner of my mind, and just ran over me. We have heard and read several times about a Japanese project that sought to create a wick pure and simple, but it seems that you no longer need to explore further. Suidobashi People Heavy Industry presented its prototype Kuratas, a 4.4-ton robot can be yours ... for just over a million euros.
It is assumed that someone has to do first. And that something is a fuse (or mech) Functional sold in the market. We have absorbed a lot about exoskeletons and hydraulic systems. We have also seen developments of robots that can move using two legs and adapt to the complexities of the terrain. But there is no wicks. We do not see "Labors" building buildings or armies that use something like Gundams or armor tactics as Gasaraki. They may not be more than a delirious unfeasible at present, but the same was said of both cars and airplanes. And now comes the Kuratas, or rather, "Suidobashi Kuratas Heavy Industry." Wick has to name.
Four meters high, 4.4-ton diesel propulsion, thirty hydraulic joints that allow movement of arms, legs and torso. V-Shido interface to control their movements, even from a smartphone over a 3G connection. You can shoot rockets (water, grrrr ...), and compressed air guns that can fire up to six thousand bullets per minute, using as trigger the smile of the pilot. In Suidobashi are looking for ways to mass produce, and the price that has transpired is 1.35 million dollars, something like 1.1 million euros. Whoever decides to buy a Kuratas can change the exterior color (16 available) and access other extras, such as a coaster.
I admit I felt a little disappointed to see that the Kuratas moves using wheels, however, apparently bipedal version is in the plans of the engineers. The official site Suidobashi allowed customize the wick in different ways, but guess what? Anyone who attempts to receive a huge 503. Perhaps few will have a million euros to buy a Kuratas, but this makes it clear that many people want to have a fuse. Tony Stark in his armor to stay if you want, and do not care much if Suidobashi presented to Kuratas as "piece of art" rather than an actual match. Every step brings us closer to a VF-1, is welcome.
The silkworm is one of the most studied insects and GM of the planet. His ability to create silk has been a stimulus for thousands of years, but something that also surprised these creatures is the way they create their cocoons. Mediated Matter Group in the MIT Media Lab has developed a robotic arm that seeks to imitate the "building process", weaving its own structure. The result is more like a spider web, and the robot has some limitations, but nothing prevents you from changing the future of construction.
It is said that the silkworm breeding originated in China about five thousand years. Needless to say, their silk is much appreciated, and represents a very complex industry. But there is no reason to simply admire the silk when these insects. The way they build their cocoons is impressive, and there's no question we could borrow an idea or two of that process. One of the ways preferred by scientists, engineers and researchers to play certain actions of nature is to use robotics, and this is how we find this robotic arm from the MIT Media Lab
The arm is capable of displaying fabric around, although this is not so much like a cocoon, but it bears some resemblance to a spider web, another insect that is not far behind when it comes to extend their networks. The robot seeks to explore the concept of "building additive", in which each part is created by placing a layer of material over another. If this sounds like 3D printing, because the group is responsible for developing Mediated Matter the robot within the MIT Media Lab is also investigating different methods of 3D printing.
One application of robotics is to assist or replace humans in performing tasks and routines, which can be seen in logistics warehouses, assembly lines or even hospitals. Several months ago, South Korea announced its intention to deploy robots in its prisons to monitor inmates, the guards did keep the night watch and detect any attempted suicide. The idea was to start a pilot this spring and evaluate the use of robots, which the country is already doing.
The robot, which acts as a watchdog of prisons, a bit far from the initial sketch but its functions respond to the planned scheme: to monitor the corridors of the prison (ridding the prison officials have to do the night watch), analyze the language body of prisoners (to assess their mood and prevent suicides) and send all the data captured by its cameras and sensors to the control center of the prison for analysis and interpretation.
With multiple cameras, including a 3D camera, speakers, microphone and analysis software that is equipped with this new generation watcher, the robot can "talk" to prisoners (by projecting the voice of the control equipment prison), send images to the control center that also can control the robot using mobile devices, detect any outbreak of fire and send an alarm or prevent and detect any aggression against the inmates.
The prison system in Korea for now, is evaluating the use of the robot in a real environment to see if they could deploy throughout the prison system, yet are already thinking about possible improvements and developments of this prison guard so you can make for example, body searches.
Recently the European Project Octopus shared images showing the progress of a project rather than particular, while many organizations try to create humanoid robots they want to create an octopus-shaped. This is an organization that is trying to understand how the movements of the octopus to recreate in soft-bodied robots octopuses that can reach places that would be unattainable with other techniques.
According to developers, the octopus can do extreme maneuvers in speed and accuracy to justify the hours of research. Mainly get that with his intelligence and lack of bone restricting the movements your body.
The robotic octopus has, like his counterpart wild, 8 limbs, but with the peculiarity that two of them are made of materials with memory, it remembers what the original position and try to recover without the need for any command. The rest of the tentacles are constructed with silicone with a traveling steel cable inside. The movement of these parts is determined by other operating nylon cords by pulling each one of the six lines of steel, in this way is that the octopus can move and get up to manipulate objects.
The video of the robot in action demonstrates a rigid body, but as the developers claim the most complex aspect of the investigation is related to the movement of the tentacles, as we said is still in use with a steel guide.
The project aims to build the first robot completely soft, not rigid skeletons that form a structure. This can address specific needs of different environments, such as winning rescue situations mobility in tight spaces or to navigate sensitive sites that could be damaged under the impact of something hard.
