Check out this robot Humvee that transforms into a full-function biped. I love how convincing the auto mode is on this one. It's more of an artistic detail than a technical one, but most of the other transforming robots I've seen just look like a folded up robot with wheels.
HUBO-FX1 is the human-riding robot having 12 DOF. The development concept is that the robot can walk naturally with carrying a person or a load of 100kg, so the lower body takes after legs of human and the upper body takes after a chair.
One of the long term plans for the FX1 is to have it carry its power source and be able to climb stairs with its human occupant.
It seems like it could be a pretty empowering technology for the disabled. Heck, I'd feel pretty empowered driving it... especially if it could be painted yellow and equipped with some big fork lift arms, suitable for fighting aliens.
Watch as poor Asimo takes a spill during a presentation in Japan. The operating team doesn't skip a beat, quickly pulling out a screen to give Asimo some privacy.
Poor little guy. His voice just keeps on talking while he's all piled up on the floor.
I saw Asimo at the University of Minnesota a couple years ago. While the robot's ability to balance and maneuver stairs is interesting, I was a little bummed to see that everything was orchestrated from behind the curtains, Wizard of Oz style. It didn't appear that Asimo was equipped with any autonomous behavior. So really-and feel free to disagree-I think falling down a flight of stairs is probably the most human thing he's done to date.
I'm not sure if it's the pop and hiss of pneumatics as this robot cracks a fast solution to a Rubik's Cube, or if it's his WOPR "would you like to play a game" voice, or perhaps its the Cylon face singing dischordant techno music, but DAMN!! This robot freaks me out.
I don't even want to be in the same room as this robot. No sir! I'm perfectly happy solving these puzzles the old fashioned way. You know, peeling off all the stickers and replacing them all orderly-like.
In the Spring of 2005, I was surprised to see a sexbot posting on hackaday.com. I was even more surprised to see that Lego Mindstorm robots were being used to mimic evolution. As an AI researcher, I became extremely interested in the topic, especially because of genetic algorithm work in Artificial Intelligence studies. Needless to say, I just HAD to try this out for myself. After a great dialog with the creator of the sexbots, i.e. Robot God, I began to work with NQC and a Java OS to expand this project. Thanks to Jason for all of the guidance with the creation of my sexbot farm...
Jason and I are Currently collaborating about coming up with some inexpensive robotic modules that could be made for under $40-$80 depending on components. One point of discussion we have had is the brain component.
In the Spring of 2005, I was surprised to see a 
