If ant-farms are a bit old hat, and you’re the type of person that enjoys freaking out their younger sister then here’s some gadgety creepy-crawlies that should fit the bill.
HexBug’s range has featured robotic ants and cyber crabs but now here’s their latest future-insect.
The HexBug Nano Newtons are small enough for you to see in the corner of your eye and have you reaching for a rolled-up newspaper.
They sprint around on rubber feet and go careering around the place like amphetamine crazed cockroach.
Their realistic movements go as far as being able to flip themselves back over if they end up on their backs.
~shudder~
The Newtons come in collectible test tube packages with various different genetic “mutations” (or colours to you and I).
But none of them can really be described as being nimble, agile or elegant can they?
Japan-based Himeji Softworks looks like they’re on the right track with their funky JO-ZERO robot kit.
Whilst its not going to convince you that it is in fact a human it can still manage a range of movement that is quite breathtaking.
The reason why this small venture’s droid is remarkable is that JO-ZERO’s back is bendable like a humans (almost) which helps with the 30cm tall fella’s agility – that and the 20 joints in total (four in each arm, five in each leg and two in the back) and weighs just 800g.
He can even pick himself up after falling over, can get over obstacles and even crab under stuff.
To add to the cool factor JO-ZERO’s head was designed by a Manga artist – nice touch
You can program him by yourself (Nakamura-san, his inventor, says it’s pretty easy) and remote-control him via infrared.
If you fancy your own JO-ZERO it’s a steal at $1,300
Check out the vid below – keep watching and it keeps getting better!
Japan and their robots – it’s a love affair. Just as long as they don’t take over!
This clever little humanoid comes thanks to a collaboration between various Japanese companies and institutions – the Nippon Institute of Technology, Harada Vehicle Design, ZMP and ZNUG Design.
If you’re thinking that ZMP is a familiar name – well, [...]
I started my working life in the NHS.
First on the YTS (Youth Training Scheme) but left 13 years later as the Systems Manager and Admin and Clerical Supervisor in Medical Imaging.
So? Well, I have great respect for the NHS and the work all the staff perform on a daily basis: Porters, Doctors, Surgeons, Clerical [...]
Could this be the cutest way to share you music?
The adorable little robot works as a headphones splitter.
Logically names the Splitter Bot.
Shove your 3.5mm headphone jacks into his eyes….. ouchy! – but could’ve been worse
The helpful bot comes complete with a keychain fitted to its body meaning that the Splitter Bot will never [...]
This is kinda freaky and the soundtrack on the vid-clip doesn’t make it any better.
This is a little robot controlled via Bluetooth by the neurons from…………. a rat’s brain!
Not only that – the brain is kept in a bell jar someplace!
It gets weirder folks – The video goes on to explain that rats have unique [...]
A video of Hina, a cute, tiny female robotic figure with bunches, is currently causing a sensation in the Japanese interweblogosphere.
Perhaps it’s because the cute fembot is undertaking domestic chores – most importantly brewing up some fresh coffee!
It shows Hina first grinding coffee beans, then brewing coffee before finally serving it to her master. And [...]
You may be well aware that on Friday the 19th of June, the second Transformers film from director Michael Bay will be out to watch.
Well, as well as seeing Megan Fox in a pair of cut-off denim shorts you’ll also get to see a cute little addition to the robot arsenal: a Dyson vacuum cleaner.
Yup [...]
Here’s another clever robot that looks like a real 1950’s droid
Ninomiya-kun doesn’t read e-books – that’s too easy!!
This reading robot handles those old-skool paper and ink numbers.
Nino stands at 1m tall and weighs 25kg and was showcased yesterday for the first time at a robot show in Southern Japan. The robot was jointly [...]
How cute are these little fellas?
These clever RoboCars will be used by researchers to experiment with autonomous vehicle systems.
Each little bot is kitted out with a stack of sensors and clever tech including the likes of CCD stereo cameras, image recognition sensors, accelerometers, proximity sensors and Wi-Fi.
“We have received orders for nearly 100 units, [...]
Now, here’s something cool, albeit in a freaky kinda way.
A Japanese robotics lab has been showning off a chemical gel that is able to “walk” like a caterpillar.
Shingo Maeda and colleagues made the colour-changing gel by combining polymers that change size depending on their chemical environment.
The gel magnifies the small changes in size by building [...]
Ah, to be in charge of your own robot army eh?
Sat there on your cyberpunk throne; flick a switch and thy will be done…..
Better still, your commands are given to your automated troops by the power of your evil mind! MWAHAHHAhahahaahahahahahahahahahh!!!
Errrrrrrrrrrrm…….
Sorry……..
Not sure what came over me then.
This isn’t too far away from what Japan’s Honda [...]
We all love our tech.
It’s even better when it will do the jobs we hate – robots are great!
They’ll even be fighting our wars soon.
But, what happens when the bot armies rebel?
Best bet – hot foot it to Africa!!
The chart shows robot density which could be handy when the robots attack, which is, let’s face [...]
NASA has commissioned a feasibility study regarding a plan to use little tractor bots to work on a lunar outpost before the humans show up and start a colony or such.
So far, it seems, the research is pointing to this being a good idea.
The theory is for these 330 pound mower-sized bots to turn up [...]
Looking like a distant relation to Furbee this is the oddly named TOFU.
As far as I’m aware it aint for the eatin my vegatarian friends - TOFU is the “squash and stretch” robot with OLED eyes developed by the smart-party over at the MIT Media Lab.
More importantly – HOW CUTE IS IT!!!!??!!!!
TOFU uses those techniques of social expression [...]
Remember when R2-D2 was taken by Jabba and converted into R2-D-Tray with a drinks holder so that the little droid could serve the guests on the barge? (see pic)
Well, if Jabba had seen this beauty then R2-D2 could’ve stayed unmodified and Jabba’s party would have gone according to plan as I doubt that this robot [...]
Here’s a great idea for Christmas!
The tin can robot kit will help any budding bot builder to add motors, gears, legs and batteries to any empty drinks can.
When created, the robot “jitters around, buzzing and clacking” which sounds pretty great.
Everything is supplied, you just need to bring an empty can, an AA battery and a [...]
Yo! Check it bruv.
Dis ere is my dawg; G-Dog yo!
Ahem………..
Sorry but for some reason this robo-mut makes me wanna spit gangsta style.
Perhaps it has something to do with this robo-mut being called G-Dog.
Japanese robot maker HPI will start selling this robotic dog, the above named later this month.
The mainly aluminium pooch-droid is powered by a [...]
The Sony Rolly has always been an enigma to me.
Ok, it’s cute - It’s probably one of the cutest small speakers around.
But.
It’s a portable, trundling, dancing speaker – but the sound isn’t great for £250.
It’s a music player able to stream via A2DP Bluetooth or play from its internal flash but there’s no place to shove your [...]
Fancy yourself a butler/maid/skivvy but can’t afford the wages?
Well, a one off payment of around $10,00 could score you the “Home Assistant Robot”.
The housproud bot is the product of joint research between Toyota and the University of Tokyo. It stands 5-foot tall on its practical wheels and weighs in at 286lb.
The HAR uses five cameras and [...]
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If ant-farms are a bit old hat, and you’re the type of person that enjoys freaking out their younger sister then here’s some gadgety creepy-crawlies that should fit the bill.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e6824b41-1eb0-4b01-995c-35c5c62527df)
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