Archive for November, 2010

WowWee Spiderman Robosapien

  • Spidersapian walks, dances and grooves
  • He picks up and throws objects
  • Watch out! He delivers karate chops

Product Description
Sing away while the animals play! Through rhythm, rhyme and sing-along songs, little ones can rock out and sharpen learning skills like counting, numbers and animal sound recognition. Younger learners can play with the guitar on the floor, pressing the fret buttons and turning the knob in the center. Older tots can engage in true rock-star style, holding the guitar while it plays. Three fun learning modes can be used in both English and Spanish. In Number Mode, whim… More >>

WowWee Spiderman Robosapien

Cody Robot Gives Bed Baths

A few weeks ago, my labmates from Georgia Tech’s Healthcare Robotics Lab presented a paper at IROS 2010 entitled, "Towards an Assistive Robot that Autonomously Performs Bed Baths for Patient Hygiene."  Their work used Cody, a robot with compliant arms, and a specialized "bath mitt" end effector to perform wiping motions that could clean selected areas of an actual person’s body, including the upper arm, forearm, thigh, and leg.  In this robotic cleaning task, the robot initiated and actively made contact with a human.  The psychological impact of such robot-initiated contact is an interesting question — one I believe will be important for future healthcare and human-robot interaction (HRI) tasks.  Read on for a video and discussion by the authors.

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WowWee Alive Mini – Apricot Poodle Puppy

  • This 8″ small and cuddly plush baby animal makes soft, endearing sounds—from snoring to gurgling and feeding sounds
  • Pick him up or lay him down and see how he reacts
  • 7 adorable baby animal sounds indicate the pup’s mood
  • He knows when you pick him up
  • Manufacturer’s Suggested Age: 3 Years and Up
  • Dimensions: Length: 6.0 “; Height: 9.0 “; Width: 6.0 “
  • Product Weight: 1.06 Lb.

Product Description
WowWee Alive Mini Apricot Poodle Puppy Furry and friendly, this precious pooch is eager to be adopted and taken home. He responds to your love and attention, so be sure to pet his head to hear his sweet puppy sounds. Leave him alone, and he snores himself into a satisfied slumber. Whether nuzzling or napping, this is one plush pet you’re sure to be wild about! What You Get Plush apricot poodle puppy Bottle Manufacturer’s 30-day limited warranty WowWee Alive Mini Apr… More >>

WowWee Alive Mini – Apricot Poodle Puppy

iBOTZ InsultaBotz Robot Kit

  • Detects and avoids objects in its way by stopping, reversing direction and then insulting you
  • Record one or more messages up to fifteen seconds long, and hear Insultabotz play them back
  • Six-legged insect action is nearly as creepy as the things you record
  • Warning: Parents can hear what Insultabotz is saying just as easily as you can
  • Easily built with common hand tools-a fun learning experience

Product Description
Robot Kit. Ages: 14 Years & Up. Made by iBOTZ.The InsultaBOTZ walks forward with its six insect like legs and will avoid objects in its way. The InsultaBOTZ can detect objects with its infrared eye and move accordingly, and while it does so, it insults you! The robot comes with a re-recordable voice chip that allows you to pre-record any message or multiple messages (up to 15 seconds) and InsultaBOTZ will repeat them in sequence every time it comes to an obstacle. O… More >>

iBOTZ InsultaBotz Robot Kit

WoWWEe Alive Husky Pup

  • Try Me function
  • Activate the pup sensors when you pet him and he will respond with sounds and motion
  • He can tell when he is being turned over
  • Makes real baby animal sounds
  • Moving mouth and blinking eyes

Product Description
Meet Husky Puppy, one of the most loveable and huggable baby animals from WowWee Alive. Playing with Husky Puppy is as close as you can get to having a real baby animal to nurture. Husky Puppy has blinking eyes, an animated mouth and an array of sounds. Listen to him react when you pet his back, pat his head or cradle him. Leave him alone for five minutes and he will snore as he enters sleep mode. Responds with sounds and motions Makes real baby animal sounds… More >>

WoWWEe Alive Husky Pup

Spiralift telescoping linear actuator

After many years of searching for the perfect telescoping linear actuator, I would like to share my discovery of the I-Lock Spiralift 75 (ILS75) prototype by Paco Spiralift.  The ILS75 has a compact form factor (10x15x15 cm) that can telescope out to 1.6 meters while lifting a 175kg load (350+ lbs).  It relies on a system of interlocking horizontal and vertical metal bands that "unroll" to lift a load, a process best illustrated in the videos embedded below.  The ILS75 is just one Spiralift offering; others range all the way up to a goliath version (Spiralift ND18) that can lift an 11,000 kg load 12 meters
(25,000 lbs to 40 ft).  To date, Spiralift mechanisms have been applied to theater stage-lift systems and automotive lifts.  At Hizook, we believe robotics is a compelling application, especially as a robot’s vertical spine (eg. on EL-E, Cody, and PR2) — increasing the robot’s effective workspace to include floor and tables, and also for compact and easy transportation.  As such, we’re working with Paco Spiralift to gauge roboticsts’ interest and vet the technical specs of the ILS75 — tell us what you think in the comments.

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Cody Robot Gives Bed Baths

A few weeks ago, my labmates from Georgia Tech’s Healthcare Robotics Lab presented a paper at IROS 2010 entitled, "Towards an Assistive Robot that Autonomously Performs Bed Baths for Patient Hygiene."  Their work used Cody, a robot with compliant arms, and a specialized "bath mitt" end effector to perform wiping motions that could clean selected areas of an actual person’s body, including the upper arm, forearm, thigh, and leg.  In this robotic cleaning task, the robot initiated and actively made contact with a human.  The psychological impact of such robot-initiated contact is an interesting question — one I believe will likely be important for future healthcare and human-robot interaction (HRI) tasks.  Read on for a video and discussion by the authors.

read more

View full post on Hizook

Toysmith Smart Robot # 3658

  • Recycle a soda can to make this robot-soda can NOT included
  • Moves like it has a brain
  • A unique experimental kit that inspires young scientists
  • Turn the kids onto the notion of leaving a smaller carbon footprint
  • Requires 1 AA battery-NOT included

Product Description
Build your own “smart robot” with this mechanics kit. Assemble the housing, motor, gears, frame, battery, and body, then watch as the domed robot rambles around your house. Create a maze to see if the robot can escape! Illustrated assembly instructions are included.

Also required but not included: 1 ‘AA’ battery and a small Phillips-head (crosshead) screwdriver.More >>

Toysmith Smart Robot # 3658

WowWee Roboreptile Robotic Reptile

  • The ultimate herpetological species. Don’t be fooled by this beast’s size — he is fast, ferocious, cunning and intelligent
  • A sly and ruthless creature, Roboreptile uses advanced technology for greater intelligence
  • Roboreptile’s powerful infrared vision and sonic sensors swiftly alert him to disturbances in his environment
  • Roboreptile can be extremely hostile or harmless, alert or asleep
  • He can be programmed with movements and animations and is packed with personality
  • Can be controlled directly, programmed or put into Free Roam, Demo Mode, Guard Mode or Sleep Mode.
  • He has four moods aggressive, ferocious, passive or tammed
  • In Guard Mode they make him a formidable sentry. In Free Roam his sharp sensory systems make him a ruthless predator

Product Description
With his low menacing stride and striking animation, Roboreptile is an impressive mix of mobility, multi-sensory technology and fiery personality. This adventurous beast awakens with a jump, whips his long tail and springs into action. He’s capable of high-speed running on all four legs, and he can turn on a dime on two legs. Roboreptile moves in many ways. He can be controlled directly with the remote, programmed to perform a sequence of functions, placed into guar… More >>

WowWee Roboreptile Robotic Reptile

KUKA Titan Robot Arm on OmniMove (holonomic) Mobile Base

KUKA has developed an impressive array of omnidirectional robot platforms: OmniMove, OmniRob, and youBot. A new video on the youBot Store shows how an OmniMove holonomic base (containing eight mecanum wheels) can be transformed into a seriously heavy-lifting mobile manipulator through the addition of a huge Titan robot arm, which has been called the "world’s strongest robot arm" and is capable of lifting 1000 kg.  The video (embedded below) shows this latest platform towering over the smaller youBot platform. I wonder if this new platform would qualify for BattleBots…?  It would make for a fun exposition match!

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