Beachbot uses WiFi and a laser scanner to track its position and a retractable rake and sensors to draw lines.
FAA issues waivers for real estate and agricultural UAVs
The FAA granted two exemptions for commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems in U.S. airspace for real estate and agricultural crop scouting. But all is not as rosy as it appears. Both exemptions require the operator to maintain line of sight with the aircraft at all times during operations using an observer and a pilot…
MIT Wants Your Household Robot to See Better
A new algorithm developed by MIT could enable household robots to better identify objects in cluttered environments.
Watch: Robot Serves Ice Cream in China
The “Robot Ice Cream House” was installed recently at a mall in northeastern China, offering six different flavors and a variety of toppings.
SoftBank/Aldebaran Pepper robots go on sale in February
IEEE/Spectrum Senior Editor Erico Guizzo describes in a recent post (and two videos) how Aldebaran’s two-year Pepper project is coming to fruition. The article identifies some hitherto unknown facts excerpted below: SoftBank, a large Japanese telecom and Internet provider, will begin selling Peppers to Japanese consumers and businesses in February for 198,000 yen (about $1,700) plus a monthly…
Time and Turing
Alan Turing’s genius as a mathematician was recognized in his day for his ability to solve the most sophisticated encryption algorithms of the Second World War. The team at Bletchley Park known as “the Codebreakers” created fake messages so perfectly that the Axis forces did not realize that the Allies were intercepting and faking crucial […]
Test: Vote for Best Robot Movie Ever
Meet ChihiraAico: The Creepiest Robot of CES
ChihiraAico uses 43 pneumatic actuators for its movements, including 24 in its shoulders, arms and hands and 15 in the face. She can move her hands and communicate in Japanese sign language. She can also be happy, irritated or sad – and even cry.
Ozobot Bit Uses Google Blockly to Make Programming Fun
Ozobot Bit is basically identical to the original Ozobot, but adds in Google’s Blockly coding editor, allowing kids to expand their coding know-how by seeing the results unfold in front of them.
WowWee Adds Dancing MiPosaur Robot, REV App-Controlled Cars
MiPosaur comes with an interactive TrackBall that activates Feed, Chase and Guard modes.
The Best Drones of CES 2015
We’ve scoured the CES 2015 showfloor and compiled our list of the best drones.
Rethink Robotics gets a $26.6 million Christmas gift
In an unannounced funding discovered by Boston Globe reporter Scott Kirsner, Rethink Robotics sold equity and received $26.6 million a few days before Christmas. UPDATED Jan 8: This funding brings Rethink Robotics’ total venture capital to $100.1 million according to CrunchBase. Highland Capital Partners, Sigma Prime Ventures, and CRV (formerly Charles River Ventures) participated in this round…
40% annual growth forecast for Chinese robotics
Chinaâs Robotics Industry Association, said that the number of robots sold in China in 2014 would reach 50,000; up from 36,860 in 2013. âFrom now on, the robot industry will maintain an annual growth rate of 40% for a long period of time,â said Song Xiaogang, president of CRIA. “China has already overtaken Japan as…
Mercedes-Benz F 015: Meet the Future Self-Driving Personal Chauffeur
The self-driving concept car features a “lounge-like” cabin with four seats that swivel 90 degrees to let passengers interact.
Audi A7 Self-Driving Car Arrives at CES: Gamble Pays Off
At CES 2014, Jack failed while driving along an open stretch of freeway, requiring a human driver take the wheel.
Zano Nano Drone Takes Selfies to New Heights
Zano operates on a “virtual tether” with your device, and a mode called “Follow Me” makes it hover a set distance away from it.
Samsung POWERbot VR9000 Robot Vacuum Offers 60x Cleaning Power
The POWERbot VR9000 maps your home and has an enlarged drum brush that covers a wide area and has side brushes to get into those pesky corners.
Energy and the Balance of Power
In modern times the backbone of the industrialized world is energy. While electricity is the dominant form of energy for manufacturing, the dominant form of energy in transportation comes from crude oil. Regardless of whether it is used in a car, truck, bus, or airplane. Oil is the basis for plastics, epoxies and synthetic […]
Robot Challenges Humans at Beer Pong During CES
Versaball robot gripper shoots perfect game in video promoting upcoming man vs. machine beer pong contest at CES 2015.
2014 fundings, IPOs, acquisitions, and failures
From the 2014 archives of The Robot Report: 45 fundings, acquisitions, IPOs and failures with some staggering figures. All citations below can be found in the 2014 archives of The Robot Report (except for those with an asterisk which were reported by Travis Deyle in his article Venture Capital Funding for Robotics in 2014) or by searching…