“Drone technology certainly raises novel issues that merit careful examination,” says California Governor Jerry Brown in his veto message. “This bill, however, while well-intentioned, could expose the occasional hobbyist and the FAA-approved commercial user alike to burdensome litigation and new causes of action.”
Drone Films Migrants on Train Tracks Near Hungary Border
Migrant refugees from the Middle East continue to enter Hungary despite a barbed wire fence along the border. Drone footage from the Associated Press shows crowds walking along train tracks near the border.
Steve Wozniak: Self-Driving Cars Make Sense for Apple
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, says self-driving cars will be a huge market, which is why it makes sense for Apple to pursue the category.
Chris Anderson: Drone “Jackassery” Must Stop
Anderson says geo-fencing software and dynamic no-fly zones will prevent drones from flying in areas they aren’t supposed to be.
Drunk Man Arrested for Kicking Pepper Robot
Police arrested 60-year-old Kiichi Ishikawa at a SoftBank store in Japan for “allegedly kicking a Pepper robot in a fit of rage.” The Pepper robot now moves more slowly, and its internal processor may be damaged.
Rodney Brooks: AI Systems “Very Narrow Tools”
Brooks says, “People hear AI and they think they’re these smart machines with wants and desires and capabilities. They don’t have any of that. I wish they did, but that’s not what we’ve been able to do in the last, really, 55 years of AI research.”
Watch: Farmer Catches Fish with Drone
The drone enthusiast recently used his DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter, equipped with fishing line and a camera, to catch a small bluegill fish. He used a fake worm for the bait and flies the fish back to shore.
You Should Be More Scared of Smartphones Than Robots
Gill Pratt, one of the top roboticists in the world, says people should not fear robots because they have legs. He says you should be more worried about all the data you carry around on your cellphone, and who has access to it.
Drone Delivery Tests Begin in Finland
Posti, the Finnish postal service, started experimenting with drone delivery. A custom drone will deliver packages to customers in Helsinki, between the mainland and an island just off shore.
Watch: Man Flies in 54-Propeller “Super Drone”
A UK inventor tests out a 54-propellor super drone called Swarm because its propellers make a noise resembling a swarm of bees.
Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum Steers via Smartphone
Neato’s Botvac Connected robot vacuum laser maps its environment and has Wi-Fi connectivity so you can control it from anywhere using a smartphone.
Why Do Cops Need Weaponized Drones?
Bill 1328 just passed, making North Dakota the first state in the US to legalize police use of drones equipped with rubber bullets, pepper spray, tasers and more. The police, however, say they’ll only use the drones for search and rescue missions and to photograph crimes scenes. So, remind us again, why do we need weaponized drones?
A Cyclist’s Encounter with an Indecisive Google Self-Driving Car
Can These Swarming Drones Improve Disaster Response?
The tiny drones build a map of a building’s environment to give first responders a look inside.
Superhero-Inspired Robot Hand Wins James Dyson Award
Open Bionics can 3D-scan an amputee and build them a custom-fit hand in less than two days. This is certainly much faster than most other prosthetics on the market, which can take weeks or months to make.
How Baxter the Robot Can Help Blind People Navigate
For people with sight, the necessary tasks associated with urban living – crossing the street, sorting bus tickets or finding a store – are accomplished without a second thought. Innovations using collaborative robots can make these tasks just as easy for the blind population.
5-Year-Old Throws Out 1st Pitch With 3D Printed Robotic Hand
Hailey Dawson, born with a rare congenital disease that affected the growth of her right hand, receives a custom Baltimore Orioles-themed prosthetic hand to throw out the first pitch at Camden Yards.
Watch Google’s Terrifying Atlas Humanoid Run in the Woods
Atlas, a 6-foot, 2-inch humanoid robot from Google-owned Boston Dynamics, has drastically improved its walking ability since the DRC Finals. Watch it run through the woods and traverse rough terrain.
How Back to the Future Influenced Jibo’s Voice
“The objective was to make sure he came across as being a young, male character. Someone who’s earnest and energetic. Helpful.”
Apple Self-Driving Car in the Works
Apple is looking for testing facilities for a self-driving car in the San Francisco Bay area, according to a report, which shows Project Titan is further along than anyone thought.
Drone Sightings to Quadruple in 2015
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there have been more than 650 reports this year through Aug. 9 by pilots of drones flying near manned aircraft. There were 238 reported drone sightings in all of 2014.
iRobot Robot Lawn Mower: Too Little too Late?
iRobot was granted approval by the FCC for its robot lawn mower, but the Roomba maker is up against some stiff competition looking to change how robot lawn mowers work.