Spatial Robots

Chevrolet - Transformable Truck Commercial

admin — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:26:03 +0000

Amazing transformable robot shows you how the geometry and style of the orginal design has transformed over the years.

MIT Media Labs - Siftables

admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:42:18 +0000

Siftables aims to enable people to interact with information and media in physical, natural ways that approach interactions with physical objects in our everyday lives. As an interaction platform, Siftables applies technology and methodology from wireless sensor networks to tangible user interfaces. Siftables are independent, compact devices with sensing, graphical display, and wireless communication capabilities. They can be physically manipulated as a group to interact with digital information and media. Siftables can be used to implement any number of gestural interaction languages and HCI applications.

see website here

James McLurkin - Swarm Robotics

admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 06:32:07 +0000

To create robots that can explore caves, landmines or even Mars, the robots must be plentiful and autonomous. The Swarm, a fleet of 100 robots, runs on the Swarm Operating System (SwarmOS), which is based on distributed algorithms that allow the input or commands to be divided among multiple recipients. This software is also scalable, so that the number of robots in the swarm can increase or decrease without affecting the work accomplishments of the group. While a centralized system is easier to program and control, it is not readily scalable and thus does not react well if one member of the group fails to perform during the task. Distributed algorithms also set the platform for local communications among the robots so each can work independently toward achieving one common goal.

website here

Bumptop - Bumptop 3d

admin — Sat, 03 May 2008 06:46:03 +0000

Now a 3d Multi-touch version…of course.

BumpTop is different from things like Surface for the simple reason that it’s software driven and requires no special hardware. You can use it with your mouse, or two mice to emulate a multitouch display. ‘Course, ideally you’d have a touchscreen to get the most out of the system, and by the time BumpTop launches later this year, hopefully we’ll have some affordable touchscreen computing platforms to choose from. I’m looking at you, Asus.

see website here

Modlab (U Penn) - ckBot

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:19:36 +0000

Finally…a self assembling robot for real. OMG!

This project introduces a new challenge problem: designing robotic systems to recover after disassembly from high-energy events and a first implemented solution of a simplified problem. The Self-reassembly After Explosion (SAE ) problem involves a system putting itself back together after being exploded. Explosion in this context is defined as the rapid, randomized disassembly of a system from a high-energy event. Vision-based guided localization is used here for self-reassembly. Integration of various communication schemes (CAN-BUS, local IR) are incorporated at the various states of the reassembly sequence (e.g., localization, docking, walking).

See link here

Michael Fox (Cal Poly Pomona) - Viral Structures

admin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:01:10 +0000

I was fortunate to attend the final review as a member of the jury. A number of really interesting reconfigurable robotic projects were presented.

The central issues explored in this studio will be on Space Manufacturing which is carried out by small modular robotics at a variety of scales. Such systems will demonstrate value for three primary reasons: 1)The required quantity of structural material resources is far in excess of what can be sensibly be launched from the Earth. 2) The required civil and structural engineering tasks dictate machinery requirements far in excess of what can be sensibly launched from Earth. and 3) the requirement of fabricating the components and building and maintaining the facilities. Issues of embedded computational control structures, communication and kinetic engineering are therefore paramount. The environment on the moon will be seriously considered including: gravity, pressure, radiation, and the mass balance of resources and waste required for sustaining human life at such a scale.

see website here

Nissan - Car Ad

admin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:56:36 +0000

Nissan produced this amazing ad for their 2006 model year. Amazing transformational objects.

If you know who made this please let me know.

Unknown - “Lonely No More” Music Video

admin — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:47:06 +0000

Here it is, the Rob Thomas, “Lonely No More” Music Video I have been looking for forever. Amazing re-programmable space. Just leave the sound off.

If you know who made this please let me know.

Chuck Hoberman - Expanding Geodesic Dome

admin — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:41:11 +0000

I know…you have seen it a million times. Not yet a robot, but it is still so amazing in motion.

Novint - Falcon

admin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:40:28 +0000

The Novint Falcon lets you control a game in three dimensions, and also lets you feel high-fidelity three-dimensional force feedback. The Falcon controller moves right and left, forwards and backwards, like a mouse, but also moves up and down. When you hold the Falcon’s detachable Grip and move your cursor to interact with a virtual object, environment, or character, motors in the device turn on and are updated approximately 1000 times a second, letting you feel texture, shape, weight, dimension, and dynamics. The Falcon lets you control and interact with games in more realistic way, allowing you to develop real physical skill and muscle memory, adding a new dimension to gaming.

see website here