Any Upcoming Robot Movie News?

Posted 30 Dec 2003 at 04:08 UTC by The Swirling Brain

Tonight we went and saw Elf. The kids loved it, but there wasn't any Jesus came as a baby to bring Salvation message in it *cough*the real meaning of Christmas*cough* so I didn't care for the movie as much as they did. Well anyway, while on the way out of the theatre I saw a poster for the new IRobot movie. I know that this isn't earthshattering news, but hey, the IRobot movie now has its own website according to the poster. Actually, the website has probably been around a while but, well, I finally just noticed it, so I thought I'd share. Looking at the website, I wonder if they're trying to do some sor of weird before the movie stuff like the AI movie did? Like what does it really mean when they say, "What are you going to do with yours?" Also, In other movie news, now that Arnold Swartzenegger is now gov of CA anyone want to take a guess as to whether the remake of WestWorld is still a go? I'm guessing probably not but one can still have some elf holiday spirit hope, can't they?

Hobby Robots in "I, Robot", posted 30 Dec 2003 at 05:23 UTC by topazx2 » (Master)

Early 2003 20th Centry Fox scoured the internet looking for unique hobby robots to use in the I Robot filming. Somehow they stumbled across my robot Little Johnny and called me to see if I wanted to make some money off it. At first I thought it was a hoax, then I thought "well, it's probably some documentary", but when I looked it up, to my surprize it's a feature film that stars Will Smith! I am honored to be one of the guys who was selected. I had to send my robots (yes two) to Canada for a month, but it's very cool to think that my little ole robot will be on the big screen with the likes of Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan. To top it off, I was paid well and was able to create my Biped with the proceeds from that deal.
Yes... I am anxious for the films release on July 16th 2004, I'm sure it will be better than ELF.
-Dan Gates

Irobot, posted 30 Dec 2003 at 10:24 UTC by motters » (Master)

The web site for the film is quite cleverly done and it fooled me for a while until I started looking at some of the applications such as washing cars and taking the dog for a walk. Even menial tasks such as those are completely beyond current robotics technology.

The fact that it fooled me does show that we probably aren't too far away from that sort of technology though. One of the critical components needed to get there is an accruate perception system capable of building 3D models and playing out imagined scenarios. A couple of technologies to watch out for are Moravec's Seegrid company and the 3D laser ranging system developed at Frauhofer http://www.ais.fraunhofer.de/ARC/kurt3D/ Initially these technologies will be very expensive, but if the sensors can be produced as an easy to install package for under $500 then then some very interesting mass market applications will become possible.

Casting Couch, posted 1 Jan 2004 at 01:52 UTC by The Swirling Brain » (Master)

Very cool topazx2. I'll be watching for your robot in the movie! Way to go!

Goofy answers, posted 1 Jan 2004 at 19:16 UTC by topazx2 » (Master)

Yes, Johnny has been acting a little strange since he's been back. He even asked for his own M&M sorting Robot Pal to seperate out the red and green M&Ms. He picked up a few new habits after hanging with Will too, he goes around Rapping to the tune of Wild Wild West.

See more of the latest robot news!