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Robodex 2003 Shows Robots Ready for Work & Play

Posted by Hemos on from the looking-into-the-future dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Robodex 2003 was held last week in Yokohama, Japan. At this show 38 companies, colleges and other organizations introduced more than 90 different types of robot. Many were designed to handle tasks too dangerous for humans and assist people in their daily lives. In this column, you'll find a selection of articles and short quotes about this trade show which attracted about 70,000 visitors. I also built my own Robodex 2003 Fashion Show (the whole page weighs 172KB). You'll find there pictures of many new robots, including Banryu, developed by Tmsuk, Inc., which will control your home while you're away, Doki, the world's first gender-aware robot, built by Intelligent Earth, from Scotland, or the Comet III, a one ton mine-clearance robot from Chiba University. There are also pictures of new machines from Sony, Mitsubishi or Fujitsu among others."

13 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. *yawn* by revmoo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Many were designed to handle tasks too dangerous for humans and assist people in their daily lives.

    Call me when they make one that will fetch my beer

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    I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.
    1. Re:*yawn* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      here you go.. http://www.russianwives.com/

    2. Re:*yawn* by revmoo · · Score: 2, Funny

      And just how is that not dangerous? :-p

      You make a good point, and that is why the robot would need advanced non-shaking algorithyms, in order to prevent the beer from being shook up whilst in transit from fridge to hand.

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      I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.
  2. "Gender Aware" by Gyorg_Lavode · · Score: 2, Funny

    I just keep thinking of the robot pulling a 'crocodile dundee': walking up to someone and grabing their crotch to determine their gender.

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    I do security
    1. Re:"Gender Aware" by kinnell · · Score: 1, Funny
      I just keep thinking of the robot pulling a 'crocodile dundee': walking up to someone and grabing their crotch to determine their gender.

      I just keep thinking of divide by zero errors. Ouch!

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      If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
    2. Re:"Gender Aware" by bumby · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh my... It will buffer overflow if it meets me ;)

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      Hey! That's my sig you're smoking there!
  3. Robots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Situations too dangerous for humans - robots should be used:

    *Manufacturing

    *Handling dangerous waste

    *Computer programming - robots can't be sued for violating patents

    Situations where robots would be too dangerous (to their manufacturers)

    *Surgery - the programmers of the robot would be sued.

    *Driving a car - endless lawsuits

  4. Obligatory Information About Robots by TrollBridge · · Score: 1, Funny

    Old Glory Insurance

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    There's a Mercedes gap too. I want one and can't afford one, but it's not government's job to do anything about it.
  5. MS-Robots by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    MS-Robot EULA

    *The robot is not your property. MS owns and controls it except where you are given permission by MS to control it. Controlling it except as permitted by MS is illegal under the DMCA. Everything the robot does is your responsibility, no matter if you controlled it or if MS did. You are criminally responsible for anything your robot does. You will not sue MS or defame MS in any way. You will acknoledge that you solely controlled the robot to do everything it does, even though you didn't. The robot's parts are warrented for 30 days. We cannot be responsible for damage related to operation of the robot, however. The function of the robot is not warrented in any way. You may not replace any major parts of the robot without buying another license. If a major part is replaced, it will be considered, at MS's sole determination, a new robot. If MS considers it a new robot, you agree to pay $500 to continue using it. Making your robot interact with other robots requires RALs. (robot access licenses) Allowing robots to interact in any way without the proper number of RALs is illegal, and you will be prosecuted.

  6. Porn will drive this industry as it did all others by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 1, Funny
    When the sex robots arrive, then the home robot industry will grow (pun not intended). Especially if they use polymorphic-metasilicone to reform into whatever shape one might desire. Turn the knob from "Wynona" to "Brittney". I guess you could do "Oprah" with refill packs.

    Does sex with geeks come under "tasks too dangerous for humans"?

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    --- Ban humanity.
  7. here i am... by greenalbatros · · Score: 5, Funny

    here i am. brain the size of a planet and they ask me to go and fetch their beer. i wont enjoy it you know. oh im so depressed...

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    this sig steers like a cow. and i can prove it
  8. Re:Gender-Aware robot? by greenalbatros · · Score: 1, Funny

    that's disgusting! he just extended his class!

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    this sig steers like a cow. and i can prove it
  9. The real question by Scrameustache · · Score: 3, Funny

    Where are the BuffyBots?

    I'd settle for a Cherry 2000, but that model is outdated already.

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    You can't take the sky from me...