Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Segway-Based Robot Opens Doors

Posted by simoniker on from the only-when-turned-on dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "In this short article, Technology Review tells us that Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have built a new robot, named Cardea, which is able to push open doors and has the bottom half of a Segway scooter. Cardea will be five feet tall with a torso, three arms, a variety of sensors, and a human-like head with expressive features and vision, and mounted on a Segway base. More details and references are contained in this review which also includes several pictures. For even more details, go to the Cardea Project homepage."

15 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Johnny 5 is Alive! by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 4, Funny

    Holy %$#@.... it's the robot from "Short Circuit" !!

    --
    "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
  2. Battery life? by ArbiterOne · · Score: 3, Insightful
    The primary problem with two-wheeled robots so far has been balance. This project solves that, not only with the Segway platform, but with a kickstand that extends when batteries cut out.

    How long do the batteries last, anyway? It's not much good if they run out in, say, five minutes.

    A recent article in SciAm described small robots that can be thrown through windows and will run around and map the area. I wonder if this robot could do the same? But what if it runs into stairs?

    Just some thoughts.

    1. Re:Battery life? by kfg · · Score: 4, Funny

      But what if it runs into stairs?

      Ah, the most fearsome killing machine in the universe, foiled by a staircase.

      Well, at least this robot can thank its lucky stars it isn't made by gluing tennis ball halves all over the outside of an upsidedown dustbin.

      KFG

    2. Re:Battery life? by Blangopolis · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This robot's design is actually pretty cool. If you go to this site you will see a bunch of really cool pictures, and even a video about the Cardea. It has three arms, which may seem awkward at first, but actually it is a pretty ingenius design. The "extra" arm isn't really its own arm, it is more of an extension of the left arm that allows the Cardea to open doors and hold objects better.

  3. Balance? by NatePWIII · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Just a dumb question, but if I remember correctly the regular segway works by having the operator balance it somewhat like a bicycle, hence the small learning curve to operate the Segway.

    So my question is, does this robot have some sort of balancing algorithm programmed into it so it doesn't fall flat on its face?

    --

    Nathaniel P. Wilkerson
    www.haidacarver.com
  4. Robot that can open doors. by nilsjuergens · · Score: 4, Funny


    This is such a good thing, as somehow nobody has ever been able to invent a door that opens on its own. But now Johnny 5 comes to the rescue!

    --
    -- Having problems sending big files over the net? Try out Efisto (http://efisto.org)
  5. What else can it do ? by Mr+Europe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Three arms and a "head". Two cameras. But what else can it do besides opening doors. The fact that it looks somehow human with it head eyes and hands is of course nice but finally more important is what is inside the head. Can it be commanded verbally ? Can it be taught simple tasks without programming ? I mean that opening a door is nothing today...

  6. Think tank... by Parallex · · Score: 3, Funny

    - Five feet tall
    - 3 arms
    - a variety of sensors
    - mounted on a segway base

    Oh and let's throw in a human-like head so that people can feel at home with it rolling around...

    Innovation I tells ya!

  7. Predictable by JamesD_UK · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I personally welcome our segway based robot overlords.

    Seriously though this is an intresting hack/use of segway technology. It'd be interesting to learn how it copes with some of the limitations of the technology. What happens when the batteries run out? That could be an expensive crash. How does it cope with moving over larger obstacles that a segway rider might just be able to cope with. I guess I really don't know enough about how Segway+Human works to think about possible solutions. Anyhow, well done MIT!
  8. stupid robot-joke by Harald+Paulsen · · Score: 4, Funny

    Two Cardeas roll into a bar..

    ..which is really stupid since the second one should have seen it.

    --
    Harald
  9. Segway RMP by UWC · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The base for that robot is an official development platform called, I think, the Segway RMP, not just "the bottom half of a Segway." My college has one, too. It acts a bit differently from a regular Segway and can reasonably easily be remote controlled, balancing itself with up to 250 pounds on it. At the moment, it seems they've stuck a robot torso on top of the RMP. Not to say that's not a reasonable accomplishment in itself. I'm an undergrad research assistant in a robotics lab, and real-world application can be extremely frustrating.

    --
    Honor Among Slackers. A veri
  10. Third arm? by nacturation · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cardea will be five feet tall with a torso, three arms...

    Dare I ask where the placement of that third arm is?

    --
    Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
  11. Can it open revolving doors... by corebreech · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...without ending up in an endless loop?

    --
    Is this truly the only Earth I can live on?
  12. Third arm? (Can't you feel it?) by geschild · · Score: 3, Funny

    Dare I ask where the placement of that third arm is?
    If you don't know, you're not standing close enough... :-D
    --
    Karma? What's that again?
  13. That's the genious! by Jeppe+Salvesen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Segway balances itself, actually you shift your weight to control it.

    Now, the genious part. You robot only has to shift its weight in order to move about. You've eliminated a lot of relatively hard problems by piggybacking on the segway.

    It's really kinda like using a library instead of implementing everything from scratch.

    --

    Stop the brainwash