Random Robot Roundup

Posted 29 Apr 2008 at 20:26 UTC by steve

Sorry for the news slowdown, folks! The editor mailbox is filling up fast. First up is an announcement from Trossen Robotics of their new chat rooms (don't forget the robotics IRC group is still out there too). Markus Waibel sent links to info on the Navy's $1.16 billion robot aircraft program, a gizmodo article on a flexible wing, crawling micro-drone, and engadet posts about the Quadrotor Aeryon Scout and the Caltech fruit fly flight simulator. From the Swirling Brain come links the creepiest robots around, swarming Belgium bots, an update on the O Terrill bum bot - it's being criticized by homeless advocates now, robot jellyfish (with video), a concept for a futuristic clear cut robot (to stop fire, not destroy rain forests, hopefully!), and a DARPA award to Boeing for development of an ultra-long endurance UAV that can maintain a stationary position above a target for as long as five years. Neil Shurley let us know that he's started a new blog called This Week in World Robot Domination. Kevin Prescott of ITC results writes, "I thought you might be interested in a couple of our recent robotics research articles, both about EU-funded research projects." He includes links to an article on the MACS project and RoboCup. We have two new blog posts from Roland Piquepaille, one on a robot crab built from Lego Technic bricks and one on those robot jellyfish mentioned by the Swirling Brain. Finally, Mark Miller sent a link to an assortment of videos he made using his android prototypes, for anyone who needs a little robot humor. Know any other robot news, gossip, or amazing facts we should report? Send 'em our way please.