Robotics Trends

Unmanned Helicopter Would Investigate Nuclear Disasters Autonomous helicopter built by Virginia Tech’s Unmanned Systems Laboratory is designed to fly into cities after a nuclear attack in order to detect radiation levels, map and photograph damage. Students at Virginia Tech’s Unmanned Systems Laboratory are perfecting an autonomous helicopter they hope will never be used for its intended purpose. Roughly six feet long and weighing 200 pounds, the re-engineered aircraft is designed to fly into American cities blasted by a nuclear weapon or dirty bomb. The helicopter’s main mission would be to assist military investigators in the unthinkable: Enter an American city after a nuclear attack in order to detect radiation levels, map and photograph damage. “It’s for a worst-case scenario,” said project leader Kevin Kochersberger, a research associate professor of mechanical engineering and… View this post
Filed in: Academics and Research • Feature • Robotics Features
Tagged: Autonomous, Unmanned aerial vehicles, Camera system, Imaging technology, Mechanical engineering, U.s. defense threat reduction agency, Flight control software

MobileRobots Rolls Out Low-Cost Seekur Jr UGV Producer of standard robotic platforms releases the Seekur Jr unmanned ground vehicle, an affordable, highly customizable, robotic platform suitable for variable weather conditions (IP 54, from -5 to +35°C), 45-degree grades and variable terrain. New Seekur Jr Unmanned Guided Vehicle (UGV), from MobileRobots Inc, jump-starts industry-of-the-future inventions like self-driving cars, soldier-following carts, fruit-picking wagons and teams of reconnaissance scouts. Before Seekur Jr, roboticists needed to jerry-rig a standard vehicle, build their own, or seek the rare six-figure grant to buy a typical UGV. Seekur Jr changes all that. This is not the first time MobileRobots succeeded in advancing research while growing the robotics market. Back in 1995 when the company was founded, most researchers had to build any robot they wanted to study. With luck, the… View this post
Filed in: Service Robotics • Opinion
Tagged: Autonomy, Unmanned ground vehicle, Mobilerobots , Autonomous, Seekur, Ugv, Platform

Nissan EPORO Robot Car “Goes to School” on Collision-free Driving by Mimicking Fish Behavior Advanced robotic concept cars inspired by anti-collision abilities of schooling fish debuts at CEATEC Japan 2009. In 2008, it was the flight of the bumblebee that inspired Nissan’s Biomimetic Car Robot Drive “BR23C” concept. In 2009, fish-inspired technology takes center stage in Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.’s new Nissan “EPORO*1” robot car concept, which is designed to travel in a group of like-vehicles, mimicking the behavioral patterns of a school of fish in avoiding obstacles without colliding with each other. Nissan will demonstrate this breakthrough technology with a group of six EPOROs when they make their world debut at the CEATEC JAPAN 2009, October 6 - 10 at the Makuhari Messe. CEATEC Japan is an annual exhibition showcasing cutting-edge electronic and information technologies. Nissan is the only… View this post
Filed in: Personal Robotics • Feature
Tagged: Robot, Autonomous, Eporo, Eporo*1, Car, Nissan