http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Robots Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2012 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Tue, 29 May 2012 05:34:28 GMT Tue, 29 May 2012 05:34:28 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Patents-Emotions-Robot-Crossing-Guards-266790.shtml After seeing all sorts of patent applications getting passed, we wouldn't be surprised if someone actually placed one for, say, air and breathing, so we couldn't resist wording the title like that.

Samsung isn't literally trying to patent emotions. Besides the fact that it would be completely absurd for that to happen, it isn't quite ... (read more)]]> Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:36:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Patents-Emotions-Robot-Crossing-Guards-266790.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Patents-Emotions-Robot-Crossing-Guards-266790.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Qbo-Robot-Taken-Apart-Goes-Open-Source-263101.shtml TheCorpora had fun creating the Qbo robots that flirt with each other (and sometimes themselves) and now it is going a step further.

The company doesn't want to make an exclusive business out of them, although it will sell fully-constructed versions (pricing and availability still unknown).

More importantly, it has decided to re... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Apr 2012 20:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Qbo-Robot-Taken-Apart-Goes-Open-Source-263101.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Qbo-Robot-Taken-Apart-Goes-Open-Source-263101.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robot-Jellyfish-Uses-Water-for-Fuel-260108.shtml The idea of fuel derived from water isn't a new one, but actually putting it into practice is not easy, although some success has been achieved.

Contrary to what some may expect, this piece of news is not about some new car or engine that can pull the hydrogen out of the water vapors in the air.

We're pretty sure cars based on somet... (read more)]]> Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:54:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robot-Jellyfish-Uses-Water-for-Fuel-260108.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robot-Jellyfish-Uses-Water-for-Fuel-260108.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-Buys-Robot-Maker-Kiva-Systems-Replaces-Warehouse-Workers-259675.shtml Looks like Amazon won't be employing any more people for finding and moving packages and crates in its warehouses, having chosen to call upon robots instead.

Amazon seems to have decided that it just isn't automatized or effective enough when it comes to storage and supply management.

When it boils down t... (read more)]]> Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:44:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-Buys-Robot-Maker-Kiva-Systems-Replaces-Warehouse-Workers-259675.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Amazon-Buys-Robot-Maker-Kiva-Systems-Replaces-Warehouse-Workers-259675.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Romeo-Robot-Will-Handle-Housework-For-You-As-Soon-as-It-Learns-to-Walk-254024.shtml We've seen lots of robots crop up over the years, especially the past half a decade, and we seem to have finally reached the stage where humanoid bots can start to help around the house.

The Romeo project has, as primary goal, the creation of a humanoid robot capable of carrying out menial tasks.

T... (read more)]]> Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:21:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Romeo-Robot-Will-Handle-Housework-For-You-As-Soon-as-It-Learns-to-Walk-254024.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Romeo-Robot-Will-Handle-Housework-For-You-As-Soon-as-It-Learns-to-Walk-254024.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Small-Robot-Builds-Its-Own-Christmas-Tree-out-of-Jealousy-243863.shtml We haven't kept a very close eye on the quadrocopters that Flying Machine Arena built, but that may have been a mistake if the recent video is anything to go by.

Christmas trees may be a symbol of holiday cheer, but they are fairly common.

Festive foam bricks aren't quite so common, but they aren't all that rel... (read more)]]> Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:23:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Small-Robot-Builds-Its-Own-Christmas-Tree-out-of-Jealousy-243863.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Small-Robot-Builds-Its-Own-Christmas-Tree-out-of-Jealousy-243863.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/These-Robots-Cook-Sandwiches-and-Popcorn-240287.shtml We all thought about what might happen if films like the Terminator came true, but autonomous robots are still a way off, although researchers from the Technical University of Munich aren't slacking.

Indeed, they have been tirelessly working on the robots James and Rosie.

What they've achieved is success in their goal to enable... (read more)]]> Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/These-Robots-Cook-Sandwiches-and-Popcorn-240287.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/These-Robots-Cook-Sandwiches-and-Popcorn-240287.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nao-Next-Gen-Robot-Is-Eager-to-Care-for-Everyone-239558.shtml French startup Aldebaran Robotics just announced the next-generation version of the Nao robot that is meant to interact with humans and assist organizations that care for people with disabilities (autistic children and other conditions).

Mostly, Nao Next Gen is intended for research, teaching and generally exploring the new area of ... (read more)]]> Fri, 9 Dec 2011 12:10:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nao-Next-Gen-Robot-Is-Eager-to-Care-for-Everyone-239558.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Nao-Next-Gen-Robot-Is-Eager-to-Care-for-Everyone-239558.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robots-Do-The-Work-of-Men-Kawada-Proves-It-236931.shtml All the videos about this or that robotic invention don't precisely suggest that genuine, humanoid robots are very involved in humanity's daily workings, but Kawada Industries really wants to show that they are.

As such, the company has created an actual robot that can work alongside human beings.

This isn't just some prototy... (read more)]]> Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:31:01 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robots-Do-The-Work-of-Men-Kawada-Proves-It-236931.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robots-Do-The-Work-of-Men-Kawada-Proves-It-236931.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/HAL-Exoskeleton-Become-Anti-Radiation-Suit-233032.shtml There aren't many things that can be worn in order to protect against radiation, but it looks like the problem of weight has been mostly solved through the use of a certain other invention.

The HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) exoskeleton wasn't initially invented with radiation protection in mind.

This didn't stop it from becomin... (read more)]]> Tue, 8 Nov 2011 11:08:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/HAL-Exoskeleton-Become-Anti-Radiation-Suit-233032.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/HAL-Exoskeleton-Become-Anti-Radiation-Suit-233032.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telesar-V-Is-Basically-a-Means-to-Transfer-One-s-Consciousness-232798.shtml One would think that it would still be a while before humans reach the stage where they stay mostly inert and interact with things via robotic proxies, but a team of Japanese researchers apparently aren't willing to wait too long.

Anyone wondering what had become of the technology of virtual reality helmets might ident... (read more)]]> Mon, 7 Nov 2011 13:56:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telesar-V-Is-Basically-a-Means-to-Transfer-One-s-Consciousness-232798.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Telesar-V-Is-Basically-a-Means-to-Transfer-One-s-Consciousness-232798.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robots-Will-Get-to-Perform-Eye-Surgery-Soon-230918.shtml People will probably feel a bit wary of any machine handling their eyes, or any other body part, but a researcher from the Netherland's University of Technology thinks robots, or the particular robot he made, will assist with such things very well.

Researcher Thijs Meenink at TU/e said that the new eye surgery robot is meant to keep th... (read more)]]> Sat, 29 Oct 2011 07:51:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robots-Will-Get-to-Perform-Eye-Surgery-Soon-230918.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Robots-Will-Get-to-Perform-Eye-Surgery-Soon-230918.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sanyo-Android-Robot-Takes-Over-the-Household-211791.shtml Coming to show just what a robot can do by achieving just a fraction of the concept's potential, a certain product from Sanyo has been formally launched, powered by an OS usually found in smartphones and tablets.

The IT industry has spawned many things over the years, from small and single-purpose gadgets to large, powerful systems and ap... (read more)]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:47:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sanyo-Android-Robot-Takes-Over-the-Household-211791.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Sanyo-Android-Robot-Takes-Over-the-Household-211791.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Litter-Robot-Will-Clean-After-Your-Feline-Friends-189924.shtml While there are plenty of people out there who simply love cats (feline friends or overlords, whichever the case might be), cleaning after them is not always a pleasant task, and that's exactly the reason why a company called Automated Pet Care Products introduced the Litter-Robot.

Although one might think that this thing is actually... (read more)]]> Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:10:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Litter-Robot-Will-Clean-After-Your-Feline-Friends-189924.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Litter-Robot-Will-Clean-After-Your-Feline-Friends-189924.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Adds-Home-Surveillance-Camera-to-Wi-Fi-Equipped-Cleaning-Robot-189637.shtml Robotic home cleaning assistants (or vacuuming robots, for short) are becoming more and more popular around the world, and, for this reason, some manufacturers equip them with all sorts of extra features, this also being the case with Samsung.

In fact, Samsung has just recently released a new cleaning robot that w... (read more)]]> Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:21:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Adds-Home-Surveillance-Camera-to-Wi-Fi-Equipped-Cleaning-Robot-189637.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Samsung-Adds-Home-Surveillance-Camera-to-Wi-Fi-Equipped-Cleaning-Robot-189637.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/ReCon-6-0-Programmable-Rover-Will-Get-Your-Kid-Interested-in-Robotics-186107.shtml If you happen to be the type of person that's always had somewhat of a keen interest in robotics and you want to share this with your kids, then you might want to give the ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover, a fun and rather inexpensive toy robot.

We're pretty sure that robots will become a significant part of everyday l... (read more)]]> Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/ReCon-6-0-Programmable-Rover-Will-Get-Your-Kid-Interested-in-Robotics-186107.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/ReCon-6-0-Programmable-Rover-Will-Get-Your-Kid-Interested-in-Robotics-186107.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Roomba-700-Series-Robot-Vacuumers-Released-by-iRobot-175894.shtml Beside the Scooba 230 ultra-compact vacuumer we've talked about yesterday, iRobot has also added three new Roomba models to its lineup, namely the new 700 series, that provides a couple of interesting enhancements compared to their predecessors.

The new series includes the 760, 770 and 780 models, that all come packed with iAda... (read more)]]> Tue, 4 Jan 2011 07:21:01 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Roomba-700-Series-Robot-Vacuumers-Released-by-iRobot-175894.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Roomba-700-Series-Robot-Vacuumers-Released-by-iRobot-175894.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/iRobot-Intros-the-Scooba-230-Vacuuming-Robot-175761.shtml iRobot has become quite famous for creating the world's first vacuuming robots, the Roomba family, and now, the company's back with yet another ultra-compact and powerful automatic cleaning machine, namely the Scooba 230.

At 3.5 inches tall and 6.5 inches in diameter, the robot easily cleans in tight spaces, including under and around furn... (read more)]]> Mon, 3 Jan 2011 11:57:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/iRobot-Intros-the-Scooba-230-Vacuuming-Robot-175761.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/iRobot-Intros-the-Scooba-230-Vacuuming-Robot-175761.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Meet-PARO-the-Therapeutic-Baby-Seal-Robot-174373.shtml The field of robotics has evolved quite a lot over the past decade, the direct (and visible) results being the appearance of all sorts of mechanical contraptions, some of which manage to mimic real-life beings to quite an impressive degree, as is the case with the PARO baby-seal robot, developed by Japanese company AIST, a leading Japanese industrial au... (read more)]]> Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:28:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Meet-PARO-the-Therapeutic-Baby-Seal-Robot-174373.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Meet-PARO-the-Therapeutic-Baby-Seal-Robot-174373.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-MantaroBot-Low-Cost-TelePresence-Robot-Does-Skype-171215.shtml Since telepresence solutions are becoming more and more evolved and cost-effective, we're seeing some pretty interesting implementations of such products making their way onto the market, the latest we've come across being the MantaroBot TelePresence Robot, that enables low-cost video communications via Skype.

Mantaro, a products ... (read more)]]> Wed, 8 Dec 2010 08:17:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-MantaroBot-Low-Cost-TelePresence-Robot-Does-Skype-171215.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-MantaroBot-Low-Cost-TelePresence-Robot-Does-Skype-171215.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/DARwIN-OP-Open-Source-Humanoid-Robot-Steps-Into-the-Spotlight-169126.shtml It would seem that the times when we'll be able to build and own our own robots aren't that far away, since the Robotis / Virginia Tech RoMeLa DARwIn-OP (open-platform, hardware and software) humanoid robot is getting ready to hit the market for a price that's actually fairly interesting, especially if you're the type of person who's... (read more)]]> Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:45:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/DARwIN-OP-Open-Source-Humanoid-Robot-Steps-Into-the-Spotlight-169126.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/DARwIN-OP-Open-Source-Humanoid-Robot-Steps-Into-the-Spotlight-169126.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Panasonic-Robot-Crosses-500-Km-of-Japan-on-12-AA-batteries-169090.shtml Thinking that batteries don't get as much attention as they should, Panasonic decided to show off what some of them can do by having them power a robot while it traveled across Japan.

Robotics have been their own branch of science for a very long time, and it seems that one of them has now been used for something more or l... (read more)]]> Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:58:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Panasonic-Robot-Crosses-500-Km-of-Japan-on-12-AA-batteries-169090.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Panasonic-Robot-Crosses-500-Km-of-Japan-on-12-AA-batteries-169090.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/MegaHurtz-Non-Lethally-Weaponized-Robot-is-the-Closest-Thing-to-Terminator-166192.shtml OK, it's perhaps somewhat of a cliché to automatically associate just about every robot we come across with the Terminator (or the large majority, anyway), but the truth of the matter is that MegaHurtz is a really menacing-looking device, while the name doesn't really help either.

The robot, presented b... (read more)]]> Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:33:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/MegaHurtz-Non-Lethally-Weaponized-Robot-is-the-Closest-Thing-to-Terminator-166192.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/MegaHurtz-Non-Lethally-Weaponized-Robot-is-the-Closest-Thing-to-Terminator-166192.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Emotive-Robotic-Avatar-from-Hammacher-Schlemmer-Is-Outrageously-Expensive-161424.shtml We don't expect robots (and especially advanced models) to be among the most affordable products out there, but it would seem that the people over at Hammacher Schlemmer are taking things a bit too with their “Emotive Robotic Avatar” a device that, despite providing some pretty interesting features, has an out... (read more)]]> Mon, 18 Oct 2010 08:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Emotive-Robotic-Avatar-from-Hammacher-Schlemmer-Is-Outrageously-Expensive-161424.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Emotive-Robotic-Avatar-from-Hammacher-Schlemmer-Is-Outrageously-Expensive-161424.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cybug-Solar-Fly-2-Autonomous-Robot-Finds-Its-Own-Way-Towards-the-Light-161260.shtml When it comes down to robotics I don't think there is a gadget geek out there that doesn't consider this domain to be one of the most interesting around, so I am sure these Cybug Solar Fly 2 solar powered robots will manage to arouse your interest since they are actually pretty cool gadgets.

Advertised as a lesson... (read more)]]> Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:35:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cybug-Solar-Fly-2-Autonomous-Robot-Finds-Its-Own-Way-Towards-the-Light-161260.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cybug-Solar-Fly-2-Autonomous-Robot-Finds-Its-Own-Way-Towards-the-Light-161260.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sorin Nita) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kompott-Lets-the-Elderly-Make-the-Best-of-Touch-Technology-147041.shtml So-called robots aren't exactly far along as a technology nowadays, especially those that try to actually simulate human movement, but some projects occasionally surface that actually do have a great potential. The Kompott Robotic Agent may just be one of them. As consumers no doubt know, there is a very strong trend, currently, center... (read more)]]> Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:28:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kompott-Lets-the-Elderly-Make-the-Best-of-Touch-Technology-147041.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kompott-Lets-the-Elderly-Make-the-Best-of-Touch-Technology-147041.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Sebastian Pop) http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Edge-Robotic-Arm-Kit-for-Endless-Mechanized-Fun-103858.shtml The Edge Robotic Arm Kit will definitely not make you feel like bringing Frankenstein back to life once more, but it will certainly mean a lot of fun. This robotic arm is a neat and almost challenging toy, since it comes as a do-it-yourself kit and requires some careful work and even basic engineering knowledge. It might prove that your childr... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Feb 2009 20:51:01 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Edge-Robotic-Arm-Kit-for-Endless-Mechanized-Fun-103858.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Edge-Robotic-Arm-Kit-for-Endless-Mechanized-Fun-103858.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Florin Tibu) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Paint-Mate-200iA-A-Robot-with-an-Artistic-Sense-97706.shtml We've talked a lot about the fact that robots would replace humans at some point as far as certain “dirty” or dangerous jobs are concerned. However, that moment seems to be a lot closer than previously thought, one of the best examples being that provided by the FANUC Robotics company, namely the Paint Mate 200iA compact painting robot... (read more)]]> Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:11:02 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Paint-Mate-200iA-A-Robot-with-an-Artistic-Sense-97706.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Paint-Mate-200iA-A-Robot-with-an-Artistic-Sense-97706.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/G-Dog-The-Future-039-s-Robotic-Fido-Or-Flesh-Hungry-Terminator-97635.shtml The market for home robots that can act as companions or even pets keeps growing, the constant leaps ahead in the field of robotics allowing these devices to reach very high levels of complexity. And that's exactly the case with the latest product introduced by Japanese company G-Robots, dubbed G-Dog, which should replicate the move... (read more)]]> Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:01:04 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/G-Dog-The-Future-039-s-Robotic-Fido-Or-Flesh-Hungry-Terminator-97635.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/G-Dog-The-Future-039-s-Robotic-Fido-Or-Flesh-Hungry-Terminator-97635.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Roomba-Vacuuming-Robot-Now-Comes-in-Wall-E-Flavor-97531.shtml Pixar's latest animation movie, "Wall-E," has enjoyed a huge level of success around the world, and, as things usually go, this popularity has brought about the development of all sorts of branded products, most of them designed for kids. However, one of the most fitting devices of this type (which DOES NOT target children) has just been launche... (read more)]]> Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:31:00 GMT Softpedia News - Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Roomba-Vacuuming-Robot-Now-Comes-in-Wall-E-Flavor-97531.shtml Robots http://news.softpedia.com/news/Roomba-Vacuuming-Robot-Now-Comes-in-Wall-E-Flavor-97531.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Alex Vochin)