Ampbot: Kicking Out Jams and Burglars

Filed under: Robots

It’s a shame that Sega doesn’t manufacture gaming consoles anymore but it’s good to see the company can still churn out some interesting product.

Ampbot is Sega’s latest creation and it’s a weird one. Ampbot follows you around blasting music from 12W speakers. It dances to the beat, busts a move and will set you back $500. Yeah, I know. Ampbot seemed like the coolest fucking thing since Purple Rain until you found out he was $500. Cool idea, bad execution.

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Surgeon Robot Used To Make Origami

Filed under: Robots, Science, Software

A Japanese surgeon demonstrates the precision of a DaVinci surgical robot with its ability to practice the art of origami. Dr. Norihiko Ishikawa of the Department of Telesurgery has the robot folding a crane no bigger than a penny using nothing but it’s robotic pincer-like hands.

I’d gladly let this robot slice me open to deprive me of a kidney if it’s precise enough to fold paper into a miniature crane. Who knows? Maybe it is capable of doing other Japanese recreational activities such as Bonsai. It may save lives and due neat arts and crafts but is it Johnny-Five?

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Robo Crazy Flickr User

Filed under: Design, Robots

Flickr user Agustina loves her felt and possibly robots. And while Felt Robots are cool, we want fire-breathing, horseback riding, begging, swimming, cooking, killer robots that come equipped with the ability to give us hand jobs.

While it might not be a traditional, metal robot, Agustina’s felt robots really reflect what DIY is all about. Sometimes you have to reinterpret traditional art on a new medium for people to really see your creativity. Enough hippie mumbo-jumbo, I’m watching “Lost in Space”.
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Build A Robot For $50

Filed under: DIYs, Hacks, Robots

If cheap thrills and teenage kicks are right up your alley, you may be interested in this tutorial that shows you how to build a robot for $50. The kind of robot you can get for a measly $50 is actually pretty cool. It will stay inside a patch of sun and move around randomly until it’s brought out of the light.

Looking through the tutorial, I’d probably say the hardest part of this project is the electrical wiring or the programming if you’re not good with code. There are a few upgrades you can make to your robot too, just in case you found an extra $20 in your dirty laundry. Check it out and build one for your kids. I’m sure they’ll never stop thanking you.

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RepRap Machine = Grey Goo?

Filed under: Robots, Science

Some theorists worry that in the not-so-distant future, self-replicating machines will continue to reproduce until the entire world is overrun by machines. While this makes for a great addition to “The Matrix” trilogy, it’s probably not going to happen in our lifetime. If there were anything to worry about though, RepRap would be it.

RepRap is a rapid-prototyping machine that allows for the 3-D printing of objects. As of writing, it can currently reproduce every piece of itself, including its brain. Now keep in mind, it needs plastic to build parts, so with that said, I think we’re going to be OK.

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The “BeggingBot” Is The Worst Kind Of Hobo

Filed under: DIYs, Hacks, Hardware, Robots

Alexander Gurko went and turned an old, useless computer into a poverty-stricken jukebox. Using 3.75 and 2.5 inch floppy drive and a very old hard disk, the run-down PC chooses it’s own tunes. The Catch? “BeggingBot” plays some DJ Techno/House beats but if and only if you pay it via the CD-ROM tray.

We’ve seen PCs playing music with their guts before, but begging for money? That’s an all time low for PC hardware everywhere. Originality at the cost of some change isn’t so bad but will someone get this damned panhandler out of my house? Get a job!
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Roomba Turned Pac-Man

Filed under: DIYs, Gaming, Hacks, Robots, Wireless

Some Japanese kid used his incredible smarts and made himself a real Pac-Man from a Roomba. 448 LED lights scatter the top surface of the robot, emulating Pac-Man’s movements and chomps. He even included the old-school sound effects too!

The vacuum can be controlled via Bluetooth, allowing for an impressive wireless display of gaming. Too bad it probably becomes the most annoying robot ever after 10 minutes.

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Congrats! You Got Laid With A Robot


Finally, a self-proclaimed “perfect woman” robot. AI Robotics has created a fully functional robot woman who won’t get tired of your sloppiness, leave you for another man or stop giving head just because you got married. The robot’s name is LISA and she can cook, shop, clean, give back rubs, get naked, get dressed, suck a mean dick, recharge herself automatically and to top it all off: she’s got an IQ of 130. You’d be lucky to find an organic woman with an IQ of 130.

Sure, she has a creepy look to her, but when did that ever stop you from knocking boots with someone? You’ll get your chance to bang one come June 11.

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Robots Can Make Larry Look Like Moe

Filed under: Robots, Science

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Larry Ludlow might not be completely bald, but if he ever wanted to sport Moe’s haircut, this robot is his ticket. Restoration Robotics of Mountain View, a California-based company, has created a robot that has the ability to perform hair transplant surgery quicker and less painfully than doctors.

Once it’s plucked enough hair from your head using a hollow needle that just plain sucks, the robot begins to “plant” the follicles in the patient’s head. And to add the cherry on top: the robot has the ability to design the perfect hairline for a patient in which doctors scratch their heads and say, “What the hell would this ‘baldie’ look like with hair?”

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The Tin Can That Shoots Fire!

Filed under: Robots, Science

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The big buzz this week at the Roboexotica event in San Francisco are robots that mix drinks. Specifically, a robot dubbed “Chapek” is capable of making a small variety of mixed drinks: gin and orange juice (laid back), a gin martini, a vodka martini and a screwdriver. Hilarity ensued during a press run when Chapek spills a screwdriver all over himself and his circuitry.

Other robots that can be seen at Roboexotica include: a mind reading martini maker, which measures the alpha waves in ones brain to determine how dry the martini should be, as well as a robot that has the ability to flip cigarettes into peoples mouths. Awesome. Robotic cancer rules!

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