Robots Blog

via www.youtube.com You would expect that if a top ROBO-ONE builder decided to design a commercial robot kit it would turn out to be awesome. That's exactly what we're seeing with Tomio Sugiura's Tiny Wave humanoid. Drawing on years of experience as one of the ROBO-ONE and ROBO-ONE Gran Prix Champion, Sugiura has definitely come out with a winner. Tiny Wave, which embodies many of the features and design concepts...

via www.youtube.com This is the first exoskeleton system that we've seen that appears to realize the goal of giving wheel chair users unlimited mobility. Of course we've seen other exoskeleton systems over the years. Some utilized bulky pneumatic actuators and required frequent access to pumps and electronics. Even the Japanese exoskeleton systems developed by Cyberdyne at Tsukuba appear to be focused on commercial applications of the technology. Their demonstrations center...

During a break at the 17th ROBO-ONE competition, Ishikawa-san excitedly told me that he had a big scoop to share! Of course, being a little slow to catch on, and forgetting what a joker he can be, I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. I really though he was about to give me a sneak peek at a new humanoid, or give me the inside track on a new...

via Www.jetro.go.jp JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization, is offering free business incubator services in the US and UK to qualifying Japanese high tech start-ups. Targeted market sectors include IT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, environmental and process technology, and others. The JETRO services include both hard (physical space and facilities) and soft (consultation on visa, business incorporation, legal agreements, business plan review, marketing research support, business process advice, lodging and transportation guidance,...

Really interesting concept for using the human body as an input device. More info from the website “Appropriating the human body as an input device is appealing not only because we have roughly two square meters of external surface area, but also because much of it is easily accessible by our hands (e.g., [...]

The Japan National Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) announced the development of an ultra-small 'neuro communicator' that will facilitate practical brain-machine interface development for a number of different portable applications. "The device combines an ultra-small mobile EEG, a fast and accurate decoding algorithm, and the integration of more efficient communication applications..." via moriyama.com The current prototype utilizes a skull cap equipped with eight EEG sensors to monitor brain...

"The Honda U3-X Personal Mobility device seems kind of strange, shaped a little like a boom box, has a new promotional video." via Moriyama.com

Researchers from the University of British Columbia have designed a personal cubic head-coupled 3D display that shows reactive 3D scenes. The cube automatically adjusts to movements and allows users to interact with objects inside a virtual 3D world rendered inside the cube. More information on the research website.

Looks like there may be a live action remake of Gaiking, an anime series popular just over 30 years ago. According to the Anime News Network: "...posted the 95-second Gaiking computer-graphics/live-action pilot that Toei Animation premiered at Tokyo International Anime Fair this past week. The pilot is for a proposed remake of the Gaiking classic anime series from Toei. The American toy company Mattel imported toys from several Toei series,...

via www.hobbymedia.it Our friends over at the Italian Hobby Media blog gave us the heads-up on an incredibly cute HoiHoi-san manga figure that's been hacked into motion. Their post also includes a Nico Nico Douga video showing exactly how it was all done.