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Stanford University has invented a lizard robot, an improved version of its previous prototypes (Stickybot), Stickybot III.

StickyBot 3 is a lizard robot (gecko) which can climb up windows thanks to its special suction cups installed on each of its feet.

These suction cups are not adhesives in the normal sense but rather are made up of mini particles which are able to cling to material by using van der Waals forces.

The genius of this concept lies in the fact that the feet can stick to the window and even come off without force (unlike sticky tape, for example) allowing the lizard robot to climb up windows like a real gecko.

via botjunkie and hackaday

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Simon the Robot made its first appearance during The Atlanta Conference on Human-Computer Interactions.

Simon is the result of 3 years of research on Technology institute of Georgia.

The prototype understands what is being said (voice recognition) and has a OpenCV [Open Source Computer Vision] for facial recognition.

The idea behind Simon is to build robots that can learn from each other without pre-programmed tasks, and they can interact with humans who are not experts in robotics (the general public).

In the video below, a person is teaching the robot to place a coloured item in the corresponding colored cup. Then after a few tries, Simon continues alone without human interaction.

via pcworld

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Roboplant is a decontaminating plant robot prototype by Gilberto Esparza, a Mexican designer.

The prototype feeds on contaminated water. Then it transforms this water into energy needed by the robot to move via a microbial fuel cell.

Then the surplus is used to feed the plant which then grows normally.

The futurist idea by its designer is to be able to create species which can adapt to hostile land. On a planet that’s increasingly abused, it’s a commendable idea.

For now plant robots, but in the future why not bionic men developing on land which would otherwise be unbearable?

Plantas Nomadas by Esparza can be seen in Spain until 7 June in Laboral, Gijón.

via technabob

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We’ve already told you about Tsutenkaku, the tower robot from Osaka in Japan.

This miniature robotic replica of Osaka’s broadcasting tower, which measures 103 meters in height, is 1.70 m tall.

This symbol of Osaka recently made its appearance in public as the master of ceremonies at the Electric Town Festival.

The robot has been put on a pedestal and seems to be adored by the public!

Watch it below play its role of spokesperson to perfection; it seems to love the task : -)

via Robots dreams and Robot Force

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After the Runbot created in 1999, there’s now Runbot2, developed by the Tokyo Polytechnic University.

Even if it still has loads of wires connected to its body, this quadruped robot moves very naturally.

It can run like an animal (a dog or a cat for example) in a way that clearly shows us the rapid advances of robotics.

Runbot has its own internet site: www.runbot.jp

via pp

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Here’s a robot which looks like the Loch Ness sea monster but which comes to us straight from Japan.

A hybrid between a kind of worm and prehistoric monster.

It has to be admitted that the prototype is pretty successful and you would easily say it looks like a real sea mammal.

You can see other aquatic robots in action on Youtube youtube.com/user/EBIMAYA

via r-d

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Pirobot is a robot prototype which can focus on a ball of a specific color until it gets it and then concentrates on a second ball.

In the video below, Pirobot only sees the green ball; it follows it with its eyes (with its camera) until it can finally hold it in its hands.

Immediately afterwards, it concentrates on the red ball and starts tracking it.

Unfortunately for Pirobot, it cannot carry both at the same time.

It’s made to release the green one and straight away refocuses on it, ignoring the red one.

This is very similar to animal behavior, for example dogs who are presented with two balls at the same time.

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Do you remember Truckbot HTC G1 which we told you about in early March?

Well, here is a new version of this little robot from Tim Heath and Ryan Hickman, this time flashier, in green transparent plastic and mainly, with improved capabilities.

Truckbot used to respond to commands via a laptop. Now it boasts an update and can execute voice commands via mobile phone HTC Android.

More information at: Cellbots

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