Robotics Lab Helps TIRR Stroke Patients With Recovery

Rice engineers, University of Texas Health Science Center doctors kick off two-year study of robotic rehab system.

Industrial Robotics Leader Diversifying into Service Robotics:  A Conversation with Kevin Kozuscek

In this Q&A session with Robotics Trends’ Contributing Editor John Desmond speaks with Kevin Kozuscek, Director of Marketing of KUKA Robotics, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial robots, describes how KUKA is moving into service robotics markets.

Gary Rost Bradski Joins Willow Garage Management Team

Researcher, Author and Industry Speaker Becomes Company’s Senior Scientist

Software Helps Mars Rovers Find Winter Havens

New software is helping NASA find safe places for the Spirit rover to ride out future Martian winters—and also plan where Spirit and its companion rover, Opportunity, will explore in the future.

by Pam Frost Gorder

New iRobot PackBot Payload Offers Ruggedized Situational Awareness

Real-Time Mapping and Semi-Autonomous Teleoperation Capabilities Advance Mission Readiness of Combat-Proven Robot

CoroWare Announces Distributorship Agreement with RobotShop

CoroWare announces the first distributor for selling the CoroBot

RE2 Awarded SBIR Grant to Design a Robotic Nursing Assistant

RE2 Leverages Intelligent Manipulation Expertise to Venture into Healthcare Robotics

Ten VA Hospitals to Deploy 27 Aethon Autonomous Mobile Robotic Systems

VA Hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Midwest to use TUG to transform pharmacy, laboratory and materials management functions.

VIA Launches ARTiGO Builder Kit for the Pico-ITX

VIA ARTiGO A1000 Builder Kit is the first mainstream oriented DIY kit for the VIA Pico-ITX form factor, allowing enthusiasts to build their own tiny PC.

NAVSEA Awards Bluefin Phase Funding in Hull Inspection Contract

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Indian Head Division has awarded Bluefin Robotics Corporation funding for further development of Bluefin’s unique Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HAUV) as part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Hull Unmanned Vehicle Localization System (EOD HULS) contract. Having participated successfully in the Demonstration Phase of the contract, Bluefin was awarded approximately $2.7 million to provide two HAUV prototype vehicles and associated equipment in the Prototype Phase.

Carnegie Mellon’s NRE Center Receives $14.4 Million To Develop and Demonstrate AGV

Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering has received a contract from the US Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center to build an updated version of the center’s successful ‘Crusher’ UGV

NIST Measures Performance of Auto Crash Warning Systems

Truck cab have been instrumented for NIST tests of collision warning systems.  The preliminary tests of prototype collision detection systems have revealed both potential benefits of the systems and areas that need improvement

A Review of Robotics Software Platforms

Software platforms for the design and development of robots and robotic technology are proliferating.  The various platforms can be distinguished by the features and functionality they provide, we well as the environments they run under and support.  This article provides a guidebook for the uninitiated. - by Michael Somby

Military and Commercial MicroUAV Efforts Picking Up Worldwide

Like their big brother counterparts, unmanned aerial vehicles, Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or MicroUAVs, are expanding into many different markets.  Both MicroUAV research efforts and deployments are increasing. - by John P. Desmond

Don’t Send a Man to Do a Machine’s Job

Military robots can save lives and perform other valuable functions.  However, optimal performance and usage requires that new systems on line much faster and be much lower in cost. - by Brian Hart

Robotic Ankle Research Gets Off on the Right Foot

Army vet demos MIT prosthesis; device is first of its kind

‘Flying Fish’ Unmanned Aircraft Takes Off and Lands on Water

Flying fish were the inspiration for an unmanned seaplane with a 7-foot wingspan developed at the University of Michigan. The autonomous craft is believed to be the first seaplane that can initiate and perform its own takeoffs and landings on water.

Remote Presence Robots Penetrating Healthcare - A Conversation with Dr. Yulun Wang

In this interview, Robotics Trends interviews Yulun Wang , Founder and CEO of Santa Barbara based InTouch Health, a provider of remote presence robots.  The systems are positioned as a win-win-win for patients, the healthcare industry and individual healthcare professionals.

Small UAV Again Achieves Record Flight Time Using Protonex Fuel Cell System Technology

In recent demonstrations, Protonex’s ProCore UAV system substantially increases MicoUAV flight time over previous records on similar platforms. 

QinetiQ Delivers a Robotic Solution for Fires Involving Acetylene Cylinders

Fires involving acetylene gas cylinders present a unique challenge as the risk of explosion following heating can remain for 24 hours, unlike all other gases which are safe once the initial fire has been extinguished.  Trials involving firefighting remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) by QinetiQ have proven effective at fighting acetylene fires, thereby reducing losses speeding the provision of services.

New Uses for Industrial Robots

More Powerful and Agile Smaller Robots, And Stronger, More Flexible Bigger Robots Extending Functional Ranges for Industry - By John P. Desmond