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Remote-Controlled Robot Could Browse The Stacks

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the anonymous-shopping-too dept.

An anonymous reader writes "A Japanese team of researchers has developed a robot that could help browse for books in a library by receiving instructions via the Internet, a team member said Friday. The robot, a wheeled vehicle measuring 50 by 45 centimeters with a digital camera, mechanical hand and arm, follows orders received through the Internet." This reminds me somewhat of Sonoma State University's (quite different) system profiled a few years ago in Wired.

8 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Robot Labor by Raindance · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great idea, but grad students are still cheaper. :)

    RD

    1. Re:Robot Labor by TwoBit · · Score: 5, Funny

      I can see the denial of service attacks already: hundreds of computers all direct bots to get the same book, with the result being a crowded and deadlocked hallway of stuck robots.

    2. Re:Robot Labor by RealProgrammer · · Score: 4, Funny

      and undergrads are cheaper still.

      But you have to teach them to read first, so it's a wash.

      --
      sigs, as if you care.
  2. and so it begins by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    First they get our books, then they become our librarians, people don't return their books on time and no one pays their overdue fine and the robots get mad at us...

    ...and that's how it begins

  3. *sigh* by WesG · · Score: 5, Funny

    And I thought I was cool when I found my book using the Dewey Decimal System :-)

  4. Dude - go for undergraduates! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    You can pay them much less and they could be more attractive!

  5. the REAL reason for this robot by nxs212 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The real reason for building this robot was to catch students making out in the basment. (most libraries' stacks are in the basement where the lights are low and access is limited to staff and few lucky/adventurous types)
    When I was in HS I worked at a library and stacks was my favorite area. One time I heard noise in the far corner and went to investigate. I was clumsy stepped on something on the way there - really cute catholic schoolgirl and my metalhead friend (who also worked there) emerged. Needless to say, both looked embarrassed. They made up some lame excuse and left. Now if I had that robot, I probably would have had the whole thing on tape :)
    1. All the good stuff is in the basement.
    2. Catholic schoolgirls are WAY pervy.
    3. Women are turned ON more if there's a chance of getting caught.
    4. Having long hair and playing metal in your car could actually get you laid! (in the 80s)

  6. We only need it once. by blair1q · · Score: 5, Funny

    Program it to read all of the books and upload them to an online server.

    Then it can retire and take up a hobby, like infinite looping or virus collecting.