Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Coming Soon — Cyborg Farmers

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the all-your-veggies-are-belong-to-us dept.

palegray.net writes Robots.net covers an article about robotic exoskeletons for Japanese farmers. These exoskeletons would provide increased strength and support for manual labor intensive tasks. More information can also be found at robots-dreams.com. 'The robotic suit relies on ultrasonic motors along with various sensors and wireless networking gear. [...] The mass-produced version of the suit is expected to weigh in at 8 kilograms and cost about 200,000 yen.'"

19 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. Wait a second. by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture wasn't in charge of Gundam.

  2. WTF are "Ultrasonic Motors?" by StCredZero · · Score: 1, Funny

    Are they just motors we can't hear? Or was the article written by a science illiterate who includes words that he thinks sound scientific?

    1. Re:WTF are "Ultrasonic Motors?" by jbeaupre · · Score: 3, Funny

      Check out this crazy concept: Type "Ultrasonic motor" into this new fangled search site called Google. It pointed me to this free, (seriously: it's free!) encyclopedia called Wikipedia. The link talked all about ultrasonic motors http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrasonic_motor. Seems they are commonly used in cameras. I bet other links would give even more information.

      --
      The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  3. Get away from her... by show+me+altoids · · Score: 3, Funny

    you Bitch!!

    --
    I feel sorry for people that don't drink, because when they get up in the morning, that's as good as they're gonna feel
  4. Re:¥200,000 = $1834.55 by moderatorrater · · Score: 4, Funny

    I find it hard to believe that it would cost less than $2,000 to turn in to RoboCop You're leaving out the cost of weapons.
  5. I hope... by tgd · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope I wasn't really the ONLY one whose first thought was "well that pretty much decides the whole illegal immigrant discussion once the migrant workers get cybernetic exoskeletons"...

    I, for one, welcome our cybernetic illegal immigrant overlords.

    um... I mean... I, para uno, dan la bienvenida a nuestros overlords inmigrantes ilegales cibernéticos.

    (thanks babelfish)

    1. Re:I hope... by Fx.Dr · · Score: 4, Funny

      um... I mean... I, para uno, dan la bienvenida a nuestros overlords inmigrantes ilegales cibernéticos. (thanks babelfish)

      The last time I heard someone used Babelfish, it was in reference to some manner of diplomatic incident.

      Seeing as how Japanese cyborgs are involved, I feel you just opened up a whole can of worms. Good going, man. Good going.

    2. Re:I hope... by thebdj · · Score: 2, Funny

      You mean, The 6 Million Peso Man?

      --
      "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb."
    3. Re:I hope... by greeze · · Score: 2, Funny

      I, para uno, dan la bienvenida a nuestros overlords inmigrantes ilegales cibernéticos. I, for one, cybernetic illegal immigrants give to the welcome to ours overlords.

      (thanks, babelfish)
  6. Robot *what*? by jesdynf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Japanese farmers driving exoskeletons?

    Don't I seem to recall something else Japanese farmers are famous for?

    Oh, that's right. Ninjas.

    Nothing but awesome can come from this.

    --
    Yahoo! Pipes are awesome. How awesome? http://pipes.yahoo.com/jesdynf/slashdot
  7. Re:Before anyone else can say it... by jav1231 · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, they're equipped with testicles and yes Japanese schoolgirls will flee!

  8. Sounds familiar by bograt · · Score: 5, Funny

    I watched a movie about this recently. "RoboCrop", I think it was called.

  9. Re:¥200,000 = $1834.55 by CrashPoint · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe he means the British RoboCop?

  10. Re:¥200,000 = $1834.55 by veganboyjosh · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe they are trying to get these to as many people as possible

    Coming soon: The OEPC project...?

  11. Re:Before anyone else can say it... by TheRaven64 · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Agriculture Ministry is not in charge of Gundam

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  12. Re:Before anyone else can say it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Then those kids would REALLY get off your lawn.

  13. Better Check My Policy. by hotwatermusic · · Score: 3, Funny

    Must make sure my Old Glory Insurance is current.

  14. Re:Just great! by pragma_x · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wonder when they will start making them look like Daleks.
    Good point. With handicap ramps now the norm in building construction, they'll be quite practical too.

    ...

    Wanted: apartment in multi-story building with no elevator. Close proximity to gun store preferred.
  15. Re:how long before.... by The_mad_linguist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yeah, don't anthropomorphize robots. They hate that.