Gizmodo: robobusiness 2007

Afghanistan Rescue Robot Hauls Suitcases, Drags Ass

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 17 May 2007 17:10:00 EDT

I encountered this Star Wars reject at the RoboBusiness 2007 conference in Boston this week. Not only can this crane-happy robot diffuse bombs, hold a fire hose, and give injections, it will also drag your ass six ways from Sunday across the craggy desert—usually to safety, though in my case it was at high velocity towards a pretty sturdy wall. The war bot ranges in price from $80,000 to $300,000. The MSRP of a new set of cheeks is currently unknown. – Jack Ventura

Don't forget to check out our RoboBusiness 2007 clips of the Bionic Baby Seal and the Hello Kitty Angel of Death 'bot.

Event Site [RoboBusiness 2007]

RoboBusiness Roundup: Some Robots Get Emotional, Others Get Physical

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 16 May 2007 10:30:00 EDT

The IZI Robotics development team must be composed of elves, oompa loompas, or leprechauns. I couldn't find a robot that was bigger than a Swiffer head at their booth. They had roving robots that traced dark lines, wheel-based cubes that kicked around a golf ball, wireless "emotional network robots" (Netoys) that looked like winged Boos from Mario Brothers, and sensor-reacting I-Pets that lit up and looked cute. I-Pets can be controlled using an IM-like PC messaging program via a USB cable that connects directly into their rear ends. Netoys, operating on a wireless network, luckily evaded this particular design trait.

Follow the jump for the RoboBusiness 2007 wrap-up. (Will robot evolution ever reach a point where they can simply drag us off to their robotic caves? The answer might surprise you.)

As my robotically charged quest drew to a close, I couldn't help but reminisce over the many robots that touched me in so many ways, including the one that jerked me across the floor, almost crashing into the wall and ending my life. Still, I saw robots that danced, robots that clapped, robots that fell down repeatedly and kept falling down for no apparent reason, robots that picked up hard plastic suitcases, and finally, robots that showed promise and hope for the future. A future rife with cyborgs and Terminators. A future mired in wires, rife with automation and instant gratification. No more security guards, no more supermarket clerks, no more parents. Although, based on the Whitman's Sampler of robotic mediocrity I trudged through today, that future still might be a little ways off. – Jack Ventura

Event Homepage [RoboBusiness Conference & Expo 2007]

Bionic Baby Seals Keep Old People From Feeling Lonely

Wilson Rothman — Wed, 16 May 2007 09:10:36 EDT

Want to know what the Japanese government has been doing with 12 million dollars for the past two years? Developing Silver Technology, that is, robots for lonely old people. The intuitive baby harp seal, which I encountered at the RoboBusiness 2007 conference in Boston, is equipped with internal motion sensors and responds to petting, scratching and holding. It also emits exceedingly cute seal-like chirps and sheds its "fur"—you know, like seals do. Come on, what's $3500 for a bundle of robotic animal joy? Unfortunately, the seal is only available in Japan, so if you were thinking about buying one for Grandma just so you wouldn't have to visit her anymore, the jig's up. – Jack Ventura

Hello Kitty Angel of Death Robot Ploughs Corpses

Brian Lam — Tue, 15 May 2007 23:41:20 EDT

I had the pleasure of meeting BEAR today, a Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot designed by Vecna Robotics. Although BEAR is intended to aid in building excavation and long-distance transport, his main purpose is to replace the guy who was last to call "Not it!" when it came to fetching the dead bodies in the trenches during live combat. And how about that gun-mounted remote control?

BEAR means well, but one look at his Hello Kitty Angel of Death face and foreboding forklift arms would most likely scare a fading soldier to death, or a dead soldier to life. It's a toss up. And what happens when this $100,000 roving psychopath gets his cat/badger/raccoon head macheted off? Now I really feel bad the soldier who calls "Not it!" last. – Jack Ventura