Tech photo of the day

LONDON - MAY 06: The Shadow Robot company's dextrous hand robot holds an Apple at the Streetwise Robots event held at the Science Museum's Dana Centre on May 6, 2008 in London, England. The Dextrous Robotic Hand has a bank of 40 Air Muscles which make it capable of 24 movements and the most advanced robot hand in the World. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Raytheon shows off "Iron Man" exoskeleton

Ok, it isn't bullet-proof and it can't fly but Raytheon's Sarcos Exoskeleton can carry 200lb and is agile enough to climb stairs.

It isn't really practical yet and appears to be connected to power and computer via a thick set of cables but they have come a long way since they started on the exoskeleton in 2000.

My guess is that in about 10 years we will see these deployed with our military - not as laser wielding Terminators but as cargo loading assistants as in the movie Aliens.

(large photo gallery at raytheon)

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R2-D2 DVD Projector: Want!

So when we first heard about the $3000 R2-D2 DVD projector we thought it would be really cheesy.

Now there is a video out and it is cheesy but in an awesome spectacular way!

This thing moves around, projects movies onto the wall at 1024x768 (1500 lumens), can lead back and project onto the ceiling, 20 watt speaker system, ipod dock, it does everything (except electrocute other robots).

How long until the first video comes out showing some 40 year old overweight geek in his basement pleasuring himself to the tune of "help me obi-wan kenobi, you're my only hope" while wearing his homemade princess leia slave costume?? *shudder*

(video at starwarsblog)

The best bionic prosthetic hand yet?

Touch Bionics is showing off their prosthetic hand that looks to be almost as good as the real thing. The best thing is that the case study they use on their website is a former US Army soldier injured in Iraq.

The i-LIMB is the first fully articulating bionic hand that is commercially available (for $17.5k) and has 5 individually power digits controlled my myoelectric muscle signals from the remaining part of the users arm, each digit also has advanced sensors that determine the correct amount of grip to use in order to hold something without crushing it.

Lets hope more of these find their way to injured servicemembers.

Read about US Army Sgt Juan Arredondo at Touch Bionics

(via ubergizmo)

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