Gizmodo: bot

OSP Robot Is Human Sized Roomba For Oil Spills

Christopher Mascari — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:10:15 EST

Designer Ji-hoon Kim has come up with an ingenuous idea for cleaning up oil spills. Using various features such as boom control modules, solar panels, oil protection boom, communication modules, boom connectors, and propulsion modules the OSP robots work together to surround an oil spill site with an inflatable barrier. Once the site has been contained the cleaning crews can easily remove the oil from the water. If saving the planet wasn't cool enough, an OSP robot is actually the size of a grown human and a group of bots can easily be deployed via helicopter or boat. The only thing we can think of to make these bots better is a speaker that would play their slogan as they work, DEPLOY - UNITE - SIEGE. [Yanko Design]

iCub Baby Robot to Undergo Developmental Training, Still Isn't a Real Kid

Haroon Malik — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST

Those spiffing fellows at the University of Plymouth, UK are undertaking a research project involving a baby-bot named iCub, which will see the robot actually learn how to speak. The three-foot high robot will help researchers deduce how language is taught, but the further reaching impact of the study include the prospect of developing humanoid robots that can learn, think and talk. Sure, Steven Speilberg has already envisioned such a future, but how far off was he?

Well, we can't really say. The iCub will undergo pretty basic tests, such as shape analysis, nesting different sized cups and stacking wooden blocks, as well as speech development tasks, meaning iCub will be able to name actions it carries out, which will lead to a commentary of its routine. The overall goal was laid out by Angelo Cangelosi, Professor in Artificial Intelligence;

"The outcome of the research will define the scientific and technological requirements for the design of humanoid robots able to develop complex behavioral, thinking and communication skills through individual and social learning."

It may well be a far cry from AI, but the project, which will begin next year, is costing around £4.7 ($9.34) million and if that kind of cash doesn't lead to robots that can write our articles for us, we shall be really, really pissed. [BBC News]

Singapore Contest Offers $600k for Best Robo-Warrior

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:11:24 EST

All you bot builders listen up. Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency is holding a contest to see who can build the best street-fighting robowarrior. The prize? One million Singapore dollars (about $652,000 US). The bar is set pretty high, however, as the winning bot will have to know how to move within buildings, navigate through urban landscapes (without the use of a GPS system, mind you), and use an elevator. He'll also need to know how to climb up and down flights of stairs. I guess that puts Honda's Asimo outta the competition. Applications must be received by May and the winning bot will be crowned in August 2008. – Louis Ramirez

TechX Challenge [via Tech Blog]