Robots Do The Darndest Things

alito writes "15 years ago they couldn't get them to walk, now they are rollerskating (video). Read more about the 2004 Intelligent Robotics and Systems conference in this New Scientist article, and at the conference's site. Also shown at IROS, a childbirth simulator for obstetricians, a capsule that crawls through your intestines, and a 3-mm long swimming robot. (No, I don't get paid by New Scientist.)"

Comments

what's the point?

[wintermute1000]

You know, not only did I not think that robot was great at roller-skating, I just can't think of any real use for a roller-skating robot even if it were a real ace at the sport. Meanwhile, my house could use cleaning, and there aren't any robots to do it for me (well, Roomba et al, but I'm talking real cleaning). I think there needs to be a reevaluation of priorities in the robot design field. Who needs another goddamned dancing/skating/stairclimbing robot?

EEG controlled robots

[gihan_ripper]

From TFA:

Millan is developing robotics that can be controlled using EEG signals from the brain. He hopes eventually to enable disabled and paralyzed people to control robotic wheelchairs or prosthetics in this way.

Looks like Professor Xavier may follow shortly!

But seriously, this does seem to be a real potential benefit for all humans. We will effectively be able to extend our own bodies using robotic technology, perhaps controlling figher aircraft and other complex machinery with our minds.

I'd like to see . . .

[StateOfTheUnion]

I'd like to see how good these roller skating robots could handle a good solid roller hockey body check. Now that would be a real test of robotic balance.

Seriously, the robot dancer/skater/stairclimber are all interesting but they run through what I assume is a static algorithm . . . what about inducing some disturbance and writing an algorithm to reject the disturbance to the robot's balance system.

Re:Robot isn't autonomous, its remotley controlled

[Scrameustache]

The robots(sic) is a small version of the Honda robot

No, that robot is the Sony robot. A completely different beast.
Japan is funding research into humanoid robot devellopment, and so all the big companies are develloping their own.

Honda was the first to get a humanoid walking robot. By now its smaller, runs on batteries and they even programmed it to recognise faces and a few words of japanese. You can instruct it verbally to follow you around, its quite an achievement.

Sony has their doll sized robots who can dance and run around and allmost skate (its not really skating), and it can mimic the movement of a surfer on a mechanised surf board. It impressed me by its ability to keep its balanced when lightly shoved, and to get back up if it falls down.

Toyota has a trumpet playing robot, who was on wheels at first, but they pretty much had to give it legs after the other two did it. And in doing so also made a sort of robot-legged chair, the demo video of which is worth seeing for the look of great fear in its test pilot's eyes, despite his helmet and four point harness.

As far as commercial applications, Honda rents its robot to companies and museums for its coolness factor, and has plans to sell it as a household appliance for the elderly. Its the size of a child and I think they aim to have it able to perform the simple tasks an old person might give a child to do as chores. Pick stuff up, help them out of bed and whatnot.
Sony are apparently going for the high-tech doll market, a follow-up to its robot dog product line.
Toyota...I dunno, superhuman robot orchestra? They seem to be a "mee too" effort.