This robot may not be well versed enough in sports to partake in Robot Soccer, but it’s certainly lazy enough to be a sports fan. With three different modes of control: universal remote, beacon navigation, and thermal sensor following, the RoboStool tries its best to find you, so it can take the weight off your feet or die trying.

Labeled as furniture on demand, the RoboStool was created by Norris Labs, which was kind enough to post schematics to build your very own RoboStool.  You could have it eerily stalk your guests, unwilling to let anyone take a seat without having a comfortable footrest, but you’ll probably turn it into something that can make drinks, like a robot bartender.

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iXs Research Corporation unveiled the prototype robot teddy that provides spoken directions to the driver while making distracting gestures. It’d be cool if it did pelvic thrusts every time you came to your exit but no, this bear isn’t down to party. It’s got an alcohol detection sensor in its neck and will snitch on you in a moments notice. If you’re driving too fast, it’ll complain. If you rub his head he provides nearby landmark info; but he’s still a snitch and a pain in the ass.
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One major issue that has plagued the virtual reality market is its inablilty to create a realistic navigational environment. Even when you don those VR goggles, there are always limits to how far you can move, which really puts a damper on the whole virtual experience. We’ve seen attempts at solving these problems before, but never in such an advanced stage of development.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics have been developing a new way for VR users to navigate virtual environments realistically, while still maintaining the limitations of electronics. The EU-funded CyberWalk campaign has yielded a cool method for this problem. The CyberCarpet is a system which emulates natural walking conditions with omni-directional capabilities. Allowing yourself to feel limitless in a controlled environment. — Andrew Dobrow

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While we’re still waiting for the PSP GPS module to be released in North America, we can take a look at what it can do in Japan. The guys at NikkeiBP have taken the PSP GPS module for a spin this weekend, this time they’ve used the MaPlus Portable Navi software. Data stored in the 1.8GB UMD is enough for people living in large cities, but it’s always impossible to include absolutely everything.

The map is pretty updated, convenient stores that were opened for just a few months were shown properly. So click on the GPS module to your PSP and attach it to your bike and you’ll have a satellite navigated bike. You can set your destination and the PSP will figure out the best itinerary on foot (and by bike) or by car; with a female voice telling you to take turns when you are at junctions.

The program has over 10,000 different destinations for you to choose from, sorted out by genres; it also contains basic touristy information for the bigger attractions. Eventually the NikkeiBP dude managed to get to where he wanted to go, the biggest problem he reported was the poor screen visibility under the sun. We have more screenshots after the jump.

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The MG-920 seems to be a device that could be useful, but also seems like it could be just another device that gets big and in the way. It is a Bluetooth GPS receiver and a FM transmitter coupled into one (ugly) device. What good does this do you? Here’s what it does, you judge for yourself.

The FM transmitter can play the music by outputting devices such as
MP3, MP4 and Mobile phone. The only wire you have to connect is from the
FM Transmitter to your gear. The transmitter with high clear stereo
sound shows music perfectly. The product of conformity with navigation and
multi-media function makes you whole brand-new feeling whether in driving or
using other function of receiver.

–Nik Gomez

MG-920 bluetooth GPS receiver with FM transmitter [via NaviGadget]

No, it’s not a Chihuahua. This Guide Dog is actually a hand-held GPS navigation system. It has a super bright 4″ TFT LCD touchscreen display, built-in antenna, and can even play games. More importantly, it’s extremely portable, as it’s the thinnest GPS device on the planet. It also comes with support for SD, MMC, MMCplus, and Personal Storage Disc formats (a new storage format, presumably designed by Power Digital Card, the company that developed the Guide Dog), VoIP capability, and an integrated Web browser. The Guide Dog has not been released yet, but will be introduced at CES 2007. — Mike Payne

[via Navigadget]