Robot Archive

  • New footage of LittleDog found: Run away! Run away!

    New footage of LittleDog found: Run away! Run away!

    So you just woke up. You had some cereal, some coffee. Hit the old elliptical and then took a shower and went to work. You fire up the old PC, get the TPS reports ready, and while the FTOPS are loading you visit CrunchGear. You play the video above. You realize that your entire world, [...]

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  • The Mint Automatic Roboswiffer: Like Roomba but more like Robocop

    The Mint Automatic Roboswiffer: Like Roomba but more like Robocop

    What the deuce? This looks like some sort of Swiffer/robot cyborg that mated with an Apple power supply. Apparently the Mint floor cleaner is available for $249 and is now on pre-order. The sweeper dusts and wet mops floors and you can add Swiffer cloths to it. It’s much smaller than the Roomba and I’d [...]

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  • MIT’s teleconferencing robot can interact with, strangle you

    MIT’s teleconferencing robot can interact with, strangle you

    Have you ever wanted to reach out and strangle someone during a conference call? Well now you can. MIT's crazy MeBot is a tiny robot that sits on your desk and moves around, allowing remote communication partners to roam around your office when you're talking to them.

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  • Doctors learning how to operate using robots

    Doctors learning how to operate using robots

    You probably haven't heard about the Da Vinci surgical robot, but it's been out for a little while. I had the chance to see it last year (and even try it out a little bit) and it's an amazing piece of machinery. It's also extremely expensive and in high demand, so it's difficult for doctors to find time to train in it's use.

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  • RoboCar G: Japanese venture to sell electric robot car (videos)

    RoboCar G: Japanese venture to sell electric robot car (videos)

    We covered various products from Tokyo-based robotics venture ZMP in the past, including a mini robo car, but we never had the chance to blog about an actual robot car (from any company actually). Granted, it's just a one-seater and not really "robotic", but the so-called RoboCar G [JP], which is an electric vehicle, doesn't look too bad and might be the beginning of a new trend.

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  • Green Max 4.8 GMAX robot toy: Toilets in disguise

    Green Max 4.8 GMAX robot toy: Toilets in disguise

    Did you know that TOTO makes GreenMax 4.8 liter toilets? And did you that in Japan these toilets are revered as deities? What you’re seeing here is a TOTO action figure called GMAX whose catchphrase, “Protect the Earth, GMAX! Ready – Switch, on!” is now part of the Japanese National Anthem. It’s true! Actually all [...]

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  • Holy crap – the Ukranians have robots

    Holy crap – the Ukranians have robots

    Fair warning to anyone trying to do evil in Odessa, Ukraine - they have a giant robot guarding the port. While he doesn't seem to move much, I don't think he has to. This silent sentry warns anyone coming in to Odessa to be good, or he will smite you with his mighty steel rod.

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  • Lian Li “spider” case seen creeping around Taiwan

    Lian Li “spider” case seen creeping around Taiwan

    Beware the coming of the spider! This strange creature was seen in a back alley, eating cats, small dogs, and any memory chips it happens to find. It has the capability to disguise itself as the Lian Li T1 Pitstop, which is a Mini-atx case with room for a full size power supply. Of course, [...]

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  • Vote to choose the next Pleo color

    Vote to choose the next Pleo color

    Here's your chance to change history, and influence the future. The makers of the Pleo are holding a vote to decide exactly what color the new Pleo should be when they change it later this year. Oh, and if you like the original color scheme, you can get free shipping until the end of February.

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  • Video: Meet Palro, Fujisoft’s mini humanoid

    Video: Meet Palro, Fujisoft’s mini humanoid

    Most of the robots we cover on CrunchGear have been built for research or entertainment purposes, but some of them do become available for the general public at some point. And today we can give you the Palro (Pal+robot) [JP], a soon to be marketed humanoid developed by Tokyo-based Fujisoft. The little guy stands 39.8cm tall, weighs 1.6kg and boasts a whole range of features: 20 joints, five mics, voice recognition, mono speakers, a 3MP camera, Wi-Fi IEE 802.11 b/g/n, a USB port, an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor, 1GB internal memory, 4GB flash memory, Ubuntu OS, a gyro-sensor, a three-axis acceleration sensor, eight pressure sensors in his feet, a distance sensor in his head, and a 7.4V/2,800mAh lithium ion battery as his power source.

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  • Power Loader: Panasonic venture accepts orders for mecha robot suits (video)

    Power Loader: Panasonic venture accepts orders for mecha robot suits (video)

    Walking vehicles, also known as mecha, don't play a big role in today's robotics industry, but that might soon change. (You might remember one of the protagonists in Avatar sitting in a mecha, called AMP in the movie, during the final fight.) Now Tokyo-based robot venture Activelink, a Panasonic spin-off company, says it can make one for you, too. The startup has begun accepting orders for their aptly named Power Loader, a power-amplifying robotic suit that enables humans to carry loads of up to 100kg. Users need to strap their feet to the mecha's legs and hold the grips to control the two utility arms. They are then able to lift heavy loads as high as 2m and carry them around.

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  • Indoor Personal Mobility Robot (video)

    Indoor Personal Mobility Robot (video)

    It's always good to hear that some robot makers are focusing on the development of machines that actually have the potential of helping people in their everyday life. And the so-called Indoor Personal Mobility Robot, which is particularly geared towards the elderly, is certainly one good example. The main idea behind the robot is to make life easier for people who have trouble moving indoors. It's designed so that you can actually sit in it and, much like a Segway, "drive" around in your house by moving your upper body. Face your body forward, for example, and the robot will move accordingly, and the best thing is that even people who aren't able to use their hands can use it (you can turn around by moving your waist).

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  • Robot maker Vstone rolls out three mini humanoids

    Robot maker Vstone rolls out three mini humanoids

    We just recently visited Japanese robot maker Vstone's flagship store in Akihabara for a detailed photo report. The company has now announced three mini humanoids, which are all part of their famous "Robovie" series of two-legged robots. Buyers can choose between a new Robovie-X model and two versions of Robovie-nano. Vstone is offering the three robots not as kits but as finished products.

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  • Recyclable mannequin robots

    Recyclable mannequin robots

    We have seen mannequin robots already, machines that may sometime replace real models in fashion shows and similar events. Needless to say that the company behind those robots is based in Japan. And it was clear that the first robot maker marketing a new line of robots as "recyclable" would come out of the same country, too. And Osaka-based Eager [JP] is combining both ideas by offering recyclable mannequin robots.

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  • CrunchGear visits top robot store Vstone in Akihabara (photo report)

    CrunchGear visits top robot store Vstone in Akihabara (photo report)

    We've covered robots from Japan-based robot developer and retail store Vstone a few times in the past. Reason enough for me (I live in Japan) to go and have a good look at Vstone's flagship store in Akihabara, Tokyo's electronic district, and make a few pics (the company itself is headquartered in Osaka).

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