Hex Bug Crab - micro robotic creature

The Hex Bug Crab is a small robot with some simple autonomous behavior. The Hex Bug crab will seek out dark places to hide, and change its direction at the sound of a loud noise (such as a hand clap).

Here's the link to the Hex Bug Crab

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Teeny, tiny little remote-control robot with AI

In case you missed this over at BoingBoing.net the other day, you've got to check out this teeny, tiny little remote-control robot!

From the product description:

The World Smallest RC Robot with Artificial Intelligence (AI)!
The all-around control, you may never experience it! The 6 directions control plus 3 speed levels. Also the Robot can be controlled via Artificial Intelligence (AI) after you press the AUTO button, then the Robot can detect-and-escape from the barriers. What's more, after you press the AUTO button and Direction button, the Robot can detect-and-trace the objects. In the Trace mode, the Robot can be charged and run to the controller automatically! The controller as a Robot Station can be stored a Robot inside.

Here's a link to the product page with more images, varieties, and a somewhat hyper-active video of The World Smallest RC Robot with Artificial Intelligence.

Diminutive R2D2 Astromech Droid Robot

Hasbro's new R2D2 toy give me "a new hope" that we are not too many years away from having ACTUAL R2 units helping us out. This smaller robotic toy has some pretty impressive features.

R2D2 responds to voice commands when you alert the droid by saying "Hey, R2!" This is then followed by one of 40 voice commands it understands.The droid can also move along on his own, follow you, play music, and act as a room sentry with an alarm.

For a toy, we are off to a good start. I expect fully functional R2D2 Droids in the next thirty years.

Here is more info on Hasbro's Interactive R2D2 Astromech Droid Robot.

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Automomous Lawn Mowing Robot

Useful autonomous robots for the home are here to stay. You can get them to vacuum your floors, clear your gutters, wash your floors, and even cut your lawn. Shown here is a programmable robotic lawnmower that cuts grass up for three hours on a single charge.

The mower's path is constrained by a hidden wire boundary that defines the limits of your yard.

Because the robot uses an electric motor, the cutter spins at higher RPM than gas-powered mowers, yet produces far less noise (and no fumes). The mower detects ambient moisture, so it will return to its docking station if it is raining. As a safety measure, the unit automatically shuts off when lifted in the air.

All of this means you can program the robot to automatically trim your lawn on any day and pretty much any time you like. The robot will return to its docking station when it has completed cutting your lawn or when it needs to recharge itself.

Check out all the details on the Robotic Lawnmower.

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Automata May Judge Us Once Autonomous

Box of Men is a piece by artist Ken Feingold using animated ventriloquist dolls. The automaton is funny, creepy, and thought-provoking all at once.

From the Ace Gallery Web Site:
Box of Men is a work for display on a large flat-panel screen. The piece
is not pre-recorded. The dialogue is synthesized speech generated in real
time by a computer program that assigns a "character" to each of the
puppets. Their conversation goes on infinitely, as long as the program is
running. The narrative circles around an "unknown" crime. Those accused are anonymous. Those who judge are puppets, controlled by unseen forces, and assuming an uncanny life of their own.

Here is a link to the page featuring Box of Men, complete with transcript of their conversation.

Pleo, The Automomous Animatronic Dinosaur

Pleo is a animatronic baby dinosaur. Pleo is programmed with sets of complex behavior routines that are triggered in responds to different stimuli. This give each Pleo something of a unique personality.

Pleo has a impressive sensory system. The robot's sensor array is made up of a color camera, two sound sensors, two infrared sensors, 14 servos, 106 gears, eight touch sensors, an orientation sensor, and four foot switch sensors.

The animatronic dinosaur is responsive to light, sound, and touch making more autonomous and interactive than most robotic toys on the market.

The creator is a famed inventor Caleb Chung, who insisted that Pleo's bio-mechanical skeleton and servos deliver natural movement. Watch this video clip and I think you will agree he has succeeded.

Pleo is the Winner of the prestigious Nuremberg Toy Innovations Award.

Check out Pleo - The First Animatronic Dinosaur.