A video of Hina [JP], a small female humanoid, is currently causing a sensation in the Japanese blogosphere. It shows Hina first grinding coffee beans, then brewing coffee before finally serving it to her master. And the little robot does it all by herself.
I have no idea how they did this, but the video (essentially a silent mini movie) is the best thing you’ll see all day. → Read More
These must be the cutest robots since the thumb-sized Robo-Qs: Takara Tomy (Tomy in the US) today announced the Micropet-i series [JP, PDF], which consists of nine different (very small and adorable) robotic animals. This is the same company responsible for said Robo-Qs. → Read More
Tokyo-based robotics venture ZMP has developed a mini vehicle that is about one-tenth the size of a real car and able to drive autonomously. Equipped with a CCD camera and an infrared laser system, the robo-car is able to detect obstacles and calculate their distance. → Read More
We covered them all: Teaching robots, kissing robots, space robots, modeling robots and even sensitive robots. But Ninomiya-kun, a book-reading robot, is a new one. He might get along well with Booktime, a page-turning robot (just saying). And needless to say, all of these robots are Japanese. → Read More
As the world’s leading country in robotics, Japan is producing one robot after the other. Some of them are funny and some of them are for serious purposes. I assume the so-called “Chef Robot”, made for handling Nippon’s national dish sushi, is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. → Read More
Humanoid robots are being developed all over the world (but especially in Japan) with many purposes in mind, with assistance to the sick and elderly as two of the most important areas. The problem is that sick and elderly people are usually confronted with robots having a cold, emotionless aura. And this is where a new robot called KOBIAN comes in. → Read More
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4703152&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1 Snoozy the Sloth from Justin Blinder on Vimeo. This odd little sloth has a real rubber diaphragm inside its tiny slothy guts allowing it to breathe gently as you hold it. Why would its creator, Justin Blinder, make such a thing? Perhaps he is… → Read More
Japan-based Tohoku Kankyo is selling the Samu [JP], a robotic trash can that’s shaped like a dog and can get rid of “natural garbage” like food leftovers and pet poo in a biologically acceptable way. Users can turn 600 to 1,000g of bad stuff into compost each day. → Read More
Want cool fun? Need a robot? Get this AI robot. That can be controlled via artificial intelligence and can detect-and-escape barriers and detect-and-trace objects in its surroundings. Cool! Fun! Team them up and they cost $42 with 4 extra batteries! What fun! You can also get full set for $168 including four AI robots!
What great robot fun you can have with this! → Read More
CB2, Child-robot with Biomimetic Body, is slowly learning how to recognize facial expressions. He’s already taught himself how to walk by observing humans do it. Hopefully no one’s using a machete around this thing, else we’re all in really big trouble. → Read More
Honda today announced a “brain machine interface” (press release in English), which makes it possible for human beings to control robots by thought and does away with all the button pressing and joystick holding that usually gets on our nerves when we control our robots. The technology was developed jointly with Japanese tech company Shimadzu and Tokyo-based research institute ATR. → Read More
Two weeks ago, Bandai announced that it gives a 60-foot tall Gundam robot suit to the city of Tokyo, now the Japanese toy giant plans to build robot action figures that cost a whopping $20,000 apiece [JP]. The figures are based on an action anime called Mazinger Z (Tranzor Z in North America). → Read More
“Next up, the always lovely HRP-4C modeling the very best in this year’s faux industrial designs for the discerning robot. Soft curves accentuate the feminine side, while polished chrome reminds us that this line is as functional as it is sexy!” → Read More
Meet Saya, a robot “teacher” in Japan. She can express the six emotions most commonly displayed by human teachers: surprise, fear, disgust, anger, happiness, and sadness. She can call out the students’ names, offer a polite “Thank you”, and admonish the pupils to be quiet. Saya’s developer, Hiroshi Kobayashi, a Tokyo University of Science professor, reports… → Read More
The Japanese government said Friday the nation should do everything it can to send a robot to the moon by 2020 followed by a human astronaut 10 years later in order to explore the moon’s natural resources. Japan, a country famously poor in natural resources, has a space development strategy task force in place that’s ready to execute the plans and is headed by the Prime Minister. → Read More
Tokyo-based security and electronics company ALSOK announced An-9RR [JP] today, a pair of two robots that can be used for security purposes and are also able to replace human receptionist. The An-9RR consists of a “parent” robot that stands 76.5cm tall and its “kid”, which is just 26.4cm tall. → Read More
Tokyo-based Robo-Engine started selling a mini robot [JP] that’s supposed to become your sidekick and keep a record of your daily life. The so-called pyuuun is marketed in Japan as a “life log robot”. Contact either the Japan Trend Shop, Gizmine or Rinkya if you want to get it, too. It costs a whopping $3,100 though. → Read More
If you have always thought Japan is the country of robots, you might have to think again as it now turns out that South Korea will get the world’s first robot theme parks. The Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy is ready to invest a whopping $1 billion into two so-called Robot Lands that will be built in two cities. → Read More
If you thought you have seen your share of creepy Japanese robots, think again. During last week’s Tokyo International Gift Show Spring, a robot venture called Little Island showcased their Sokkuri Werukamu Robotto [JP], little robots that look just like you or whoever you want them to look like. And the best thing is Non-Japanese can order them, too. → Read More
Japan-based tech powerhouses Shimizu and Yasukawa Electric think that robots can make life easier for all of us and initiated the “Smart Robotics Building” project to prove it – even if at this point, a show room must do. → Read More
This robot uses a standard off the shelf webcam for eyes and solenoids for fingers to play pong. It also has the menacing look of a one-eyed tentacle monster. → Read More
I don’t know when and if mankind will ever get robotic postmen but I am sure that if, they will come from Japan, just like this mini robot recently presented by Tokyo-based company Kyosho [JP]. → Read More
Tokyo-based robot maker Tmsuk and security firm Alacom [JP] jointly developed the “T-34,” a compact patrol and security robot that can launch a net to catch intruders. As this is a Japanese robot, it goes without saying it’s controllable via cell phones. → Read More
Aren’t you a little tired of seeing nothing but Roombas for sale at woot.com? Sure, the little robots do a great job cleaning up after us filthy humans, but come on! Robots need faces! Why is it that in 2009 our robots have no faces, when twenty years ago you could get a floor-cleaning robot with a face? → Read More
As CrunchGear’s Japan correspondent, I have come across many robots both off- and online in my time: small ones, big ones, cute ones, ugly ones, useful ones, even some sexy ones. But this one beats them all. → Read More
The Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has developed a robot suit, which is tailormade to improve the efficiency of agricultural work, i.e. pulling radishes out the ground or collecting oranges from trees. → Read More
We all would have guessed it and now IIEE Spectrum Online has come up with some detailed and up-to-date statistics (from last month): Japan boasts the world’s highest density of robots. → Read More
Wow, this is pretty sweet. Oomlout, creaters of the OAWR and SERB robot projects, are using a Wii Nunchuck to control their SERB robot. Too bad it’s not wireless. → Read More
http://blip.tv/play/ih_hsHqJ5FQ Osaka-based robot maker Vstone today unveiled a humanoid called Robovie-X Pro, an update of the Robovie-X the company presented back in September. The new model stands 38cm tall (the former one was 34cm high) and weighs about 2kg. It features 19 joints (one in the arm, six in the arms and 12 in the legs), a USB port and a special robot CPU (VS-RC003HV). The robot is… → Read More
I have no idea what on earth makes a company, in this case Japan-based Cube Works, produce a mini robot that wears diapers but it actually exists. And the so-called Cam Baby has some amazing skills. It walks when you clap your hands. Its eyes flash. It moves its head. It walks. It makes sounds. It starts crying when it stumbles and falls down. And it’s pretty ugly, too (please watch the… → Read More
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