The mechanical engineering students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have created a really interesting personal transportation machine called the Cajun Crawler. …Continue reading … »

Here’s the scenario: There’s a group of adult males, in a out of the way location, competing in one-on-one battles, with rules of conducts for each match. Sound familar? The only thing of note is the men are using robots. Yep, it looks like it could be the robot version of the fight club. …Continue reading … »

The engineering students at Michigan State University have created a robot that can clean windows. The Winboni, as its called, has a centrifugal fan on its bottom which creates a vacuum-like suction, keeping it planted on 90-degree surfaces while still allowing it to move in all directions. It then is able to clean the windows surface with felt pads. …Continue reading … »

A Japanese company by the name of Sakakibara Kikai has created a bipedal exoskeleton called the Land Walker. It stands over 3 meters tall and weighs 1000kg(2200lbs). The user sits in a cockpit which uses special software to control the exoskeleton. The Land Walker is powered by a 250cc motor and costs $350,000 (£185,000).

See it in action in the video below. …Continue reading … »

The video below shows some highlights from this year’s Toy Show in Tokyo.

Among the really interesting products included in the show were a mini jukebox player, a a radio-controlled car that goes up and down a wall like spiderman, a chocolate fountain, a radio-controlled hovercraft and new customized versions of Tomy’s i-Sobot robots.

Check out the video to see those items and many more that were featured at the Tokyo 2008 Toy Show. …Continue reading … »

What you see above is a logging machine prototype created by Plustech Oy and John Deere.

This hexapod machine, (which I think resembles a grasshopper), has six legs which allow it to traverse terrain that would be difficult for conventional machines that have wheels or tracks. This also allows this hexapod machine to perform its work while minimizing any damage done to the forest.

It also has the ability to step over obstacles which are in its path.

Check out the video of this incredible machine below.

[source: likecool.com]

Cyberdyne has created a exoskeleton called HAL (hybrid assistive limb) which has sensors that attach to the wearer’s skin and can anticipate which muscles you want to move, allowing it to move the appropriate parts of the suit at the same time. This allows the user to move around easily in the 50 pound exoskeleton. Furthermore, HAL can boost the wearer’s strength from 2 to 10 times and operates from 3 to 5 hours before needing a recharge.

Cyberdyne is building a new facility that will be able to produce from 400 to 500 suits a year by the end of 2008. This amount will increase to tens of thousands a year in the future. As a result of this Cyberdyne will be renting its HAL exoskeleton’s for $1000 a month to overseas users. This fee includes a upgrades and maintenance costs.

$1000. That’s not bad. But what I really want to know is how much to buy one of these bad boys?

[source:BotJunkie]

As cool as the BigDog robot is I always thought that its legs looked strange, like the legs of two men who were standing facing each other. And their are a few other particular characteristics about the robot that could be exaggerated in comedic situations. Apparently, I was not alone in my thinking. Check out this amusing parody of the BigDog robot video.

[video source :Youtube,Neatstuff2008]

[image source:Cyberstein]

I just came across this video of three very unique robots. It is a video which features a performance of three copies of the robot you see above. The robot is called the Titan and was developed by the Cyberstein Robots Ltd. This company was founded in 1999 by Nik Fielding.

These 8ft tall Titan robots have been designed using cutting edge technology. And you can see it in their mobility and how they perform. I was impressed by how well they move. …Continue reading … »

Meet Boston Dynamics latest creation - BigDog. BigDog is a quadruped robot that is capable of carrying 340 pounds of gear over various types of terrain and surfaces including ice. Developed with DARPA funding, BigDog’s balancing abilities are so advanced that it is able to prevent itself from falling after being kicked. Check out the video below. …Continue reading … »