Recently in Robotics Category

This is an interesting concept from Israel's Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.

It is designed to carry up to 4 casualties, and fly up to 10,000ft high at speeds of 150kts.

So what happens when there is no-one with the casualty to load him into the UAV?

via gizmodo

The LG 47LG60 47" 1080p Scarlet TV is the subject of a new review posted over at PC Magazine.

Here's what they thought of it:

"Part of LG's new "Scarlet" series of televisions, the 47LG60 LCD HDTV ($3,499.95 list) offers a blend of colorful modern style along with the finest picture quality I've seen from an LCD TV. The set's high-speed LCD technology proved adept at minimizing detail-destroying motion blur while maintaining good color quality at even the widest viewing angles. Videophiles will also appreciate the excellent HD video processor, as well as the best set of picture controls I've seen. Of course the TV isn't the least expensive 47-inch LCD TV around. Still, you'll be hard pressed to find another set that delivers this level of picture quality, which is why it earns our Editors' Choice. "

LG 47LG60 Scarlet TV Review at PC Mag

Now this is cool: researchers from the non-profit group SRI International have designed a robot that can climb most walls using an electrostatic charge between itself and the wall to stop it from falling.

I forsee a number of uses for this: military surveillance, cleaning windows, scaring little girls, building inspections etc.

Wall climbing robot via Popular Mechanics

The thought of having brain surgery is scary enough but how about if you were told that you were going to be operated on by a robotic arm while stuck inside a MRI machine.... and that it was the first time the robotic arm had ever been used on a person?

A 21 year old Canadian Woman called Paige Nickason was that person, and recently she had a brain tumor successfully removed with the help of a machine called neuroArm.

Full press release follows.

neuroArm Performs First Brain Surgery via medgadget

Don't be lazy and sit in a golf cart the next time you play a round, get out and walk and enjoy the fresh air and exercise!

What's that I hear you say? "but my golf clubs are too heavy to carry around". Well we have the solution for you: the Shadow Caddy.

This clever little robot follows you around the golf course carrying you bags of clubs (and presumably your liquid refreshment). How does it know where you are? via a transmitter you carry.

Trials of the Shadow Caddy are currently underway at four Melbourne Australia gold courses.

autonomous golf caddy via gizmag

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)

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)

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)

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)