Scientists merge rat, car, to create Ratcar
Brain-machine interface researchers at the University of Tokyo were apparently successful at combining rat and machine, creating the RatCar.
Robotics
Making a robot can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s the perfect combination of creativity, engineering and problem solving. However, if you’re just getting started in robotics, it can also be overwhelming. To make things easier for those who are just starting out, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help makers bring robots to life! From the basics of assembling your robot to software implementation, these pointers will give you everything you need to get started on your robotic adventure!
Behold Your Doom: Children’s battle mech
In point of fact, this “Kid’s Walker” from Japanese firm Sakakibara Kikai, like every real-world mecha prototype I’ve ever seen, is considerably more impressive when standing still than when in motion. There’s embedded video here. If you are actually concerned about the possibility of the world being stomped to rubble beneath the armored galoshes of a Pokémech revolution, you should watch it and put your mind at ease. If, like me, however, you were excited by the photo and are enjoying dreaming about buying or making one of these for your own outer or inner child, you may want to keep that dream alive and pass on the vid. [via gizmag]
Giant fluid dynamics sculpture made of robot-glued plastic balls
Um, wow. Geometric death frequency-141, as its called, was created by Czech artist Federico DÃaz. It consists of 420,000 plastic spheres, each of which appears to be about 1.5″ in diameter, glued together by industrial robot arms. The subject is a simulated liquid splashing inside an imaginary 50x20x20 foot box. Reportedly, DÃaz wrote the software to perform the simulation himself, and the software to drive the assembly process, as well. More details over at designboom. [via Gizmodo]
Life-sized robotic android running Android
Check out this fantastic life-sized robotic RIC Android from RT Corporation and Brilliant Service. The arms and head are controllable, walks on two legs, and can be controlled via an Android smartphone.
Motorized iris based on Chris Schaie’s design
Thingiverse user overflo reverse-engineered Chris Schaie’s renowned mechanical iris peephole design and added a rack and pinion so that it can be operated with a motor. His is executed in laser-cut plastic, controlled by an Arduino, and opens onto an LCD display that shows a giant freaking eye staring out of it. Deets are here.
2nd-generation Raytheon exoskeleton prototype vid
I remember awhile back when video of the original XOS prototype made the rounds. Well, now, defense behemoth Raytheon is back with another somewhat cheesy testosterone-fueled video showing the new lighter, stronger XOS 2 prototype performing various feats of strength in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. There’s heavy metal music and one of the actors from Iron Man who is not, ah, actually Iron Man.
Robotic swarm over Switzerland
Subscriber RocketGuy tipped us off to this EPFL School of Engineering project involving a fleet of swarming flying robots. Using an ant-inspired swarming algorithm running on a Linux SBC, this network of swarming micro air vehicles is purportedly the largest of its kind.