Robots Everywhere » companies

Human Exoskeleton Helps People Walk

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:36:07 +0000

An Israeli company Argo Medical Technologies has developed a human exoskeleton that can help people with lower limb paralysis to walk. The technology is called ReWalk and “enables wheelchair users with lower-limb disabilities to stand, walk, and even climb stairs.” It is a robotic suit that can be partially concealed by clothing. The users walk with crutches, and the suit senses changes in the center of mass and the limb position to detect and respond to user intentions.

A Reuters article on the topic can be found here.

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Prof. Robert Full discusses Locomotion

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:37:43 +0000

Professor Robert Full from UC Berkeley studies feet.
He studies how animals use feet to perform locomotion.
If you think you know feet… think again.

Robert Full gives a talk on TED titled: Secrets of movement, from geckos and roaches
Watch Robert Full’s talk on TED
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/robert_full_on_animal_movement.html

His findings and ideas are currently being used to design new robots that can scale walls and dive through underbrush… again at Boston Dynamics:

RHex from Boston Dynamics

Heartland Robotics

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:40:53 +0000

Rodney Brooks, co-founder and chief technology officer of iRobot Corp., has stepped down from his position there to found a new company Heartland Robotics. Heartland Robotics will focus on industrial worker robots.

More here…

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Hierarchical Temporal Memory

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:08:02 +0000

In April of 2008, Jeff Hawkins founder of Numenta presented their biology-inspired Hierarchical Temporal Memory as keynote speaker at the 2008 RSA Conference.

This link points to the start page. You will have to register to watch the 45 minute talk online, but the keynote talks are free.

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The Rise of the Robots

admin — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:12:00 +0000

Microprocessor developers are acknowledging that the advances in microprocessor technology may soon enable artificial intelligence systems to be as or more intelligent than human beings.

At the Intel Developer Forum, Justin Rattner, Intel chief technology officer announced:

The industry has taken much greater strides than anyone ever imagined 40 years ago.

There is speculation that we may be approaching an inflection point where the rate of technology advancements is accelerating at an exponential rate, and machines could even overtake humans in their ability to reason, in the not so distant future.

Full story here… The Star Online written by M. Madhavan

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Boston Dynamics Little Dog

admin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:58:17 +0000

Boston Dynamics’ Little Dog is in my opinion more impressive than their Big Dog.
I think it is because it seems to be taking more deliberate steps, although, I expect that it is the same basic control software in operation.

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Boston Dynamics Big Dog

admin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:55:31 +0000

By now, almost everyone has seen Boston Dynamics’ Big Dog.
This quadruped robot is dynamically stable enabling it to accommodate a wide variety of terrain as well as changes in the dynamical environment, such as slippage or being kicked (my favorite!)

Here are some older, but fun, videos…

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Launch of Autonomous Exploration, Inc.

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:45:04 +0000

Autonomous Exploration Banner

Autonomous Exploration Inc. was created in 2008 by former NASA scientist and academician Kevin H. Knuth and the former president of Creative Research Inc. Julian Center.

This company is focused both on practical machine learning solutions for autonomous systems, as well as, novel computer circuitry designs based on the invertebrate ganglia.

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