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Nobody’s perfect: Future relationships with humanoid robots

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The concept of creating the perfect companion has probably been a central theme in works of science fiction since the beginning of science fiction. 

Although Frankenstein’s monster is not everyone’s idea of the perfect companion, Mary Shelley wrote the novel before 1818, when it was first published.

That’s at least 200 years since someone described a mad scientist who creates a human-like being in a lab using means other than natural procreation. [Read more…] about Nobody’s perfect: Future relationships with humanoid robots

European scientists show off humanoid robot that can put out fires

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Scientists in Europe have demonstrated a humanoid robot which can put out fires and do similar kinds of dangerous work in the aftermath of an industrial accident. (See video below.)

The research project was led by the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, and was conducted in collaboration with University of Pisa in Italy, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany and the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

The humanoid robot is called Walk-Man, and was funded within a project of the same name by the European Union through the European Commission.  [Read more…] about European scientists show off humanoid robot that can put out fires

LG buys 10 per cent of Robotis for $8.5 million

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South Korean electronics giant LG has acquired a 10.12 per cent stake in Robotis, according to the Korea Herald. 

The website reports that LG paid $8.5 million for a share of Robotis, which is also a South Korean company.

Robotis develops a while range of robotics technologies, including robotic controllers and sensor modules.  [Read more…] about LG buys 10 per cent of Robotis for $8.5 million

Humanoid robots will take over the world, claims industry group

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Your home is in line to be taken over by a humanoid robot, if the views of an industry group are anything to go by. 

Roboticists and technologies have long dreamed of building humanoids capable of moving around the house and doing chores just like the average human.

And although they look to be many years away from releasing humanoids as capable as the ones routinely seen in science fiction films and television shows, the scientists are not giving up.  [Read more…] about Humanoid robots will take over the world, claims industry group

Humanoid roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro unveils news-reading android

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Dr Hiroshi Ishiguro, one of the world’s leading humanoid roboticists, has unveiled his latest creation, a news-reading android. 

Innocuously named “Erica”, the terrifying robot will be reading the news to the Japanese nation from April this year, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In comments reported by the Mirror, Dr Ishiguro says Erica is “the most beautiful and most human-like autonomous android in this world”.  [Read more…] about Humanoid roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro unveils news-reading android

Boston Dynamics terrifies humanity again with humanoid robot that can do backflips like an Olympic gymnast

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As many people – including us – have said many times, Boston Dynamics makes the scariest robots in the world (see video below). 

Not only do they look terrifying, they move in such a realistic way that you wonder if the makers have done something horrible to achieve such life-like motion.

Like transplanting an actual human brain into the humanoids or a dog’s brain into the canines to achieve such expert movement skills.  [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics terrifies humanity again with humanoid robot that can do backflips like an Olympic gymnast

Toyota unveils its third-generation humanoid robot T-HR3

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Company says new robot is enabled through advanced torque servo module and master maneuvering system

Toyota has revealed the third generation of its humanoid robot, the T-HR3, designed and developed by its Partner Robot business unit. 

The company’s aim seems to be to market the robot for use in the home, perhaps for elderly care or companionship, but says it can also be applied in industrial sectors such as healthcare, construction and disaster recovery. (See video below.)

Toyota says its latest robotics platform will explore new technologies for safely managing physical interactions between robots and their surroundings, and it features a new remote maneuvering system that mirrors user movements to the robot.

Toyota says the T-HR3 reflects the company’s broad-based exploration of how advanced technologies can help to meet people’s unique mobility needs.  [Read more…] about Toyota unveils its third-generation humanoid robot T-HR3

Mouser Electronics to distribute Robotis components

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Mouser Electronics has reached a global agreement with Robotis to distribute the company’s components, which include a range of controllers, servo motors, industrial actuators, and open-source development boards. 

The Robotis portfolio is now available from Mouser Electronics, although it’s not clear whether complete versions of the company’s humanoid robots and its TurtleBot will be sold through Mouser.

Robotis’ OpenCM9.04 open-source controllers run on an STMicroelectronics STM32 F1 microcontroller with a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 core.  [Read more…] about Mouser Electronics to distribute Robotis components

SoftBank has sold 10,000 Nao robots. Now the tiny humanoid wants to ‘conquer new markets’ with Zora

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SoftBank Robotics and Zora Bots have signed what they describe as “a major partnership” aimed at reaching a wider audience for the humanoid robot Nao.

Zora Bots, which has already deployed its software designed for robots in the health sector, is now the world’s leading distributor of Nao and is poised to expand its solution in many areas including retail, hospitality, education and personal services.

This strategic rapprochement in the international arena will bring humanoid robotics into a new dimension and make Nao available to a wider audience.  [Read more…] about SoftBank has sold 10,000 Nao robots. Now the tiny humanoid wants to ‘conquer new markets’ with Zora

Audi autonomous car tech boss chats with humanoid robot as though it were entirely natural

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Audi has demonstrated its autonomous car – which it calls “Jack” – in a road test featuring a humanoid robot called Sophia, developed by Hanson Robotics.

Audi’s head of concept development, automated driving, Klaus Verweyen, was sitting in the driver’s seat of the car, while Sophia was in the passenger seat.

Verweyen chatted away to Sophia as though it was the most normal thing in the world. Meanwhile, Jack drove itself from Audi’s facility onto a main highway and back again.  [Read more…] about Audi autonomous car tech boss chats with humanoid robot as though it were entirely natural