ArmedRobots.com

Robots will detect your human heartbeat through walls, doors, floors, concrete

DARPA is developing a program called “Biometrics-at-a-distance” which will enable sensors to pick up a heartbeat using electrocardiography. It will be able to track up to 10 humans at once, at a distance of over 10 meters, even through walls, doors, floors, or concrete. This will be an incredibly useful tool for soldiers in urban [...]

Land- and ground-based robots communicate to track down targets

“Two small planes fly low over a village, methodically scanning the streets below. Within minutes, they spot their target near the edge of town. With no way to navigate through the streets, they radio for help. Soon after, a metallic blue SUV begins moving cautiously but purposefully along the dirt roads leading to town, seeking [...]

We all knew these were coming – agile, articulate robot spiders

If the Worm-Bot can’t slither its way to you in time when you are trapped in a cave-in, perhaps this robot spider could get to you more quickly. (And who doesn’t want to see something like that coming at them when they are already scared and confused?) This spider body prototype is created using a [...]

Robot Bill of Rights

We create robots in our image, intentionally making them more and more like ourselves. Making them look more like us, act more like us, think more like us, be more like us. One day, they will be many times more intelligent than we are. If we are going to endow them with human traits, human appearance, [...]

Robots Will Rule Men

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$70 Million ‘National Robotics Initiative’

Posted by Eric on June 28th, 2011

Skynet still has a bit more work ahead of it before the walking, shooting cyborgs from James Cameron’s Terminator movies become reality.

“You might not know this, but one of my responsibilities as commander-in-chief is to keep an eye on robots,” said President Obama in a speech at Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center Friday. “And I’m pleased to report that the robots you manufacture here seem peaceful. At least for now.”

The President went on to outline the “National Robotics Initiative” which will infuse United States robotics research with $70 million “to accelerate the development and use of robots in the United States that work beside, or cooperatively with, people.”

For full article and video of the President’s speech, click PCMAG.COM

ArmedRobots is paused

Posted by Eric on August 4th, 2010

ArmedRobots will be back.

Its human host is otherwise preoccupied presently.

Updates will resume.

Dude.

Posted by Eric on August 2nd, 2010

Okay, this abomination is a new telepresence robot with skin. In other words, if you are having a teleconference with someone, this thing is supposed to add a “human” element to the proceedings. Ummm… I hope they didn’t sink a lot of capital into this idea. Although I’m sure it will be great fun in someone’s haunted house eventually. Yccch!

From [designtaxi]

C.R.A.B. Police robot

Posted by Eric on July 30th, 2010

C.R.A.B. (Cybernetic Remote Autonomous Barricade) police robots are just a concept for now.

They will probably be more than a concept soon. And why shouldn’t they? What could go wrong? Something like this?

[yankodesign] via [slashgear]

Artificial Intelligence is changing everything

Posted by Eric on July 29th, 2010

“When compared to other branches of engineering, like electrical, chemical, nuclear, and mechanical engineering, AI’s impact on the world is admittedly modest… but this is mostly accounted for by the fact that AI, as a field, is only fifty-five years old. Fifty-five years after its discovery, electricity was still mainly seen as a laboratory curiosity. A hundred years later, it formed the backbone of our industrial civilization, and if anything, AI has even greater potential.”

Full article at [hplusmagazine]

What would make ArmedRobots.com better?

Posted by Eric on July 28th, 2010

If you had a chance to change something about this site, what would it be? What would you like to see added, removed, or changed? If you have any suggestions, please post them in a comment. (If you do not want it to be public, just specify that in your Comment.)

P.S. Comments like, “It would be better if it didn’t suck!” while witty, are not very useful. So be nice! Or at least civil. Thanks!

Army uses snake robots to form claw

Posted by Eric on July 28th, 2010

No video available at the time of this posting, unfortunately. The Army’s Robotic Tentacle Manipulator will likely be useful for rescue missions, diffusing IED’s and capturing humans working with the Resistance.

On a related note, here is a single robotic snake being used as a tentacle, or elephant trunk:

[Army.mil] via [Cnet] via [Gizmodo]

Armed robots to keep us in line

Posted by Eric on July 27th, 2010

“Robotic sentries are presently patrolling Israel’s 70-kilometer Gaza border, and South Korea’s 250-kilometer DMZ. Russia has developed a remarkably lethal beast — the MRK-27-BT — touted as superior to the USA’s SWORDS in Iraq, and Australia shot into the market with its ferociously-named Redback Metal Storm.”

Full article at [h+online]

Drone deployment in U.S. skies

Posted by Eric on July 23rd, 2010

“In June, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) agreed to expand flights of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, along the Texas-Mexico border for surveillance purposes. Although unmanned aircraft have been used extensively by the military in Afghanistan and Iraq, the FAA has been hesitant to issue flying rights for the pilotless vehicles in the U.S. other than on a case-by-case basis, such as for border patrol. Last year, the agency promised defense officials it would unveil a plan for regulating unmanned planes this year, and it recently opened a new lab to explore how air traffic control systems can control unmanned aircraft for civilian and law-enforcement purposes. “

Article at [PhysOrg]

Robot learns to flip pancakes

Posted by Eric on July 22nd, 2010

This robot arm doesn’t have much to do with armed robots.. but the failed attempts are pretty funny. And it does show that robots can be taught to do pretty much anything people want to teach them to do. So far this year, robots have been learning to play soccer, fetch beers, iron clothes, fold clothes, wash dishes, play pool, seal off underwater oil leaks, teach kids English, and inspect the power grid. They already have robots that mow the lawn, sweep and vacuum floors… not to be impatient, but where is the robot that will take out the trash?

via [wired]