Future Files:Robot Update
Posted On: 19 April 2005 By: Jay Oatway Filed Under: Future-Stuff-That-Goes-Ping | Robot Revolt
Not a week goes by without more robots making the news. This week’s highlights:
Robot walks, balances like a human
If you nudge this robot, it steps forward and catches its balance–much like a human.
The machine called RABBIT, which resembles a high-tech Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz" minus the arms, was developed by U-M and French scientists over six years. It’s the first known robot to walk and balance like a human, and late last year, researchers succeeded in making RABBIT run for six steps. It has been able to walk gracefully for the past 18 months. [via Endgaget "They're def keeping it real to the harsh robot aesthetic you just don't see in the cutsies like QRIO"]
And then there is this one [via Near Near Future]
Japanese company Secom has released the "SECOM School Security," a system which monitors kids using RFID tags while they are commuting to and from school but also uses robots (the good old "smoking robots") that move around and monitor school properties. The robots can also "scare" suspicious people by fast movements, light and smoke.
The system includes surveillance cameras and metal detectors installed at school gates. RFID tags are attached to KoKo Secom Terminals (carried by kids) which will be read at school gates and elsewhere. Parents receive status of kid’s commute on their cell phones. KoKo Secom terminals also has a GPS functionality that track kids’ whereabouts outside school properties. Video.
[Also concerning same robot via Engadget: "Say goodbye to your days of heady power as hall monitors, kids--like many jobs in the real world, a robot's going to do what you do, but better."]
Here’s another [via Near Near Future] that puts a robot in your mouth, portending that dentist, along with the aforementioned hall monitors, might have competition (or at least an easier time getting their jobs done well):
Recent technological advances in tactile sensing technology, three-dimensional radiological visualization and miniaturized robotic control are now changing the dental landscape.
Tactile Technologies introduces the Implant Location System (ILS). ILS provides a solution for both patients and dental practitioners. With the ILS clinical and esthetic outcome of dental implantology will significantly improve in safety and accuracy, while reducing the need for traumatic flap surgery.
With the ILS dental practitioners will boost their performance, without drastically changing their personal techniques and equipment preferences.
The future screams: "Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!"
