These wearable robotic limbs are a sneak-peak of future cyborgs in the making

Doctor Octavius, the infamous villain from the Spiderman movie might not be the aspiration of most, but still, he has superhuman powers aided by telescopic tentacles. Capable of moving at lightning-fast speed, the mechanical arms strike with a jackhammer-like force.

If already you’re fanaticized by the prospect of having these superhuman abilities, technology is where we need to look for answers. Indeed, true in the case of this newly developed set of robotic arms that can be attached or detached.

Designer: Jizai Arms

Japanese robotics outfit Jizai Arms wants to bring such superhuman powers to the average human with a contraption comprising six arms. The octopus-like arms are controlled by the person wearing them. The idea for this unique creation is triggered by the past. According to the company, “Half a century since the concept of a cyborg was introduced, Jizai-bodies (digital cyborgs), enabled by the spread of wearable robotics, are the focus of much research in recent times.”

The company is a team of scientists at the University of Tokyo who’ve created a wearable contraption with six sockets that can each be plugged with an individual arm. They can be controlled by the user’s arm and hand movement or remotely by another person. For now, the wearable rig is developed with social interactions in mind, but in the future, it could evolve into a tool for increasing productivity, or if in the wrong hands, it could give an evil mind undue advantage with 6 extra limbs to fire weapons or whatnot.

These arms are aesthetically designed to draw attention with slender hands to replicate any movement. The core idea is to have a smooth interaction of humans with AI and robots  – to feel as natural and comfortable as possible for the eventual future.  A group of volunteers put on the Jizai Arms for a role-playing experimental session. Here each one of them could exchange arms, receive them as gifts or even control the arms of other volunteers. The findings were encouraging as each volunteer’s body could accurately sense the removal or attachment of arms.

To conclude the study, researchers said that adding customizability to the robotic arms for a sense of social ownership could be the next phase of development. How long before we could see a Boston Dynamics-like robotic fleet of intelligent cyborgs is not known for now. Still, the idea of multiple robotic limbs to enhance one’s capabilities entices me already.

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The Future of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure? This Robot Charger Can Drive Up to Your EV and Charge It Anywhere

The problem with EVs is that adoption grows MUCH faster than infrastructure. It takes months or even years to set up an EV charging grid big enough to serve current needs, but tens of thousands of new people buy EVs on a daily basis. How does one solve for such a problem? Robotic Chargers, says one Seattle-based startup.

Dubbed the future of EV charging, AUTEV’s autonomous robot chargers move around, charging EVs wherever they are, rather than having the EV travel to a charging station. These autonomous chargers-on-wheels help cover areas where the charging infrastructure isn’t set up yet, given their ability to move around from car to car, charging each one. This, in turn, helps boost EV sales, allowing people who were previously hesitant to be more confident in taking up electric cars, knowing that they can rely on AUTEV’s charging services anywhere.

Designer: Autev

The AUTEV robot is a small, pod-like device on four wheels that can autonomously move around parking lots, charging EVs using the batteries that are housed inside it. Users can summon an AUTEV robot using an app, and when the robot reaches its destination, all you really need to do is plug its charging outlet into your car. You can then go about running your errands, knowing fully well that your car is being charged in the meantime.

AUTEV offers a mobile power solution that can be rapidly implemented to address the increasing demand for electric vehicles without the need for extra permanent infrastructure, resulting in greater cost-efficiency and scalability. “Our market research has shown that there is a huge gap in the market between the increase of EVs on the streets and how EV charging infrastructure is growing. Building new public charging stations or dedicated EV charging parking spaces in areas of shared parking presents logistical challenges,” says Founder and CEO of AUTEV, Osama AlSalloum. Cofounder and COO Syd Manna adds, “We have developed an autonomous charging robot that can provide on-demand charging wherever it is needed. Our technology reduces the need for a fixed charging infrastructure and makes EV charging more convenient for EV owners.”

AUTEV is aiming to make fleets of these robots available for garage operators to use commercially by the beginning of next year. These operators will be charged a monthly fee and will generate revenue from both customers who use the robot chargers, as well as advertising that runs on the robot’s displays.

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All-in-one modular robot mower with 3D vision keeps your lawn clean without fuss or wires

Robot vacuum cleaners have become more common these days, but indoor spaces aren’t the only ones that need cleaning. Maintaining a lawn is even harder work, especially since the tools available haven’t exactly been the easiest to use. Gasoline-chugging lawnmowers are noisy and dangerous, but robot lawnmowers with perimeter wires are only a step less inconvenient. More than just their efficiency, however, these supposedly smart lawnmowers turn out not to be that smart at all and require a bit of human intervention just to make sure they stay within boundaries. Fortunately, you can finally stop wishing for an effortless way to keep your lawn clean and green with this truly smart mower that makes lawn care not only easy but also safe for both people and animals alike.

Designer: Heisenberg Robotics

Click Here to Buy Now: $999 $2499 ($1500 off). Hurry, only 19/285 left! Raised over $1.2 million.

Compared to a vacuum cleaner, a robot mower needs to juggle a lot more responsibilities. Cutting grass is actually the easiest part, but a hands-free mower also needs to know where it should and shouldn’t go, avoid obstacles that may come in the form of unexpected furry critters, and more. Keeping within boundaries is already a difficult task, and most robot mowers require setting up wires around the area, which means digging up the ground to set these up.

With today’s technologies, especially AI and machine learning, that shouldn’t be the case anymore, and the Heisenberg LawnMeister demonstrates how to utilize these to free up our time and energy for the more important things in life. Calling this robot mower “smart” might even be an understatement because of how many features it packs inside to keep your lawn looking beautiful, no matter the time of the year.

Set Virtual Boundaries – Its smart navigation uses vision AI and GPS to learn your whole lawn – so you’ll never have to dig up dirt and lay wires around your yard.

Avoid All Kinds of Objects – LawnMeister can recognize all types of objects from a hedgehog to a lawn chair, then use its AI-powered system to steer around.

Instead of using cumbersome and intrusive boundary wires, the LawnMeister utilizes a combination of vision AI and GPS to know its location and its path. It creates a 3D navigation guide of your lawn and detects the edges, so it knows where to go and where to keep off. It sees and learns in real-time, avoiding obstacles like chairs and toys even if they change locations every day. Of course, it also avoids people, pets, and even unexpected furry visitors, so everyone and everything is safe, except for unmanageable grass, that is.

Custom Mowing Schedules – Customize your mowing schedule to fit your routine, giving you the freedom to have a great lawn on your time.

Set Up No-Go Zones – Simple lawn zone management means you can protect certain areas of your lawn, like a vegetable patch or a spot your dog likes to nap.

Conquer Any Terrain – They designed LawnMeister to handle slopes, bumps, and divots while still delivering the same even cut.

Th LawnMeister is so smart that you can immediately start using it right out of the box, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have any control over it. Using its companion app, you can set no-go zones or even have different settings for different areas, trimming grass short in one place while letting it grow in another. The robot mower can also take into account the season and the weather so that it can offer mowing schedules tailored to the grass’ needs.

Fertilizer – LawnMeister’s vision AI enables it to see yellow spots on your lawn and to sprinkle a trail of nourishment over the patches of stunted growth, giving your grass what it needs to grow back stronger and healthier.

Edge Trimmer – LawnMeister tidies up around gardens, patios, and driveways to cut loose ends and make your lawn look perfectly manicured.

Leaf Blower – Not only does it blow away fallen leaves so they won’t clog up the blades, but it also gets rid of grass, debris, and other fallen bits to give your lawn the neat and tidy look you want.

But wait, there’s more! LawnMeister can do more than just cut grass, which is really just one part of lawn care. With the fertilizer sprayer add-on, it can also apply fertilizer on grass by manually setting the areas that need to be sprayed on the app. Are fallen leaves messing up the scene? The rolling robot can blow them out of its way, along with debris, dust, and dirt. There’s even a driveway sweeper add-on to clean those grass clippings to ensure a thorough mowing session. The single 5Ah battery is enough for two hours of yard work on a single charge or four hours with the 10Ah dual battery option. And when it’s time to charge, the robot drives itself to its docking station and then returns to the exact spot where it left off. Say goodbye to noisy weekends, intrusive boundary wires, and uneven grass with the smart and safe Heisenberg LawnMeister All-in-One Robot Mower, starting at $999 only for a Super Early Bird discount.

Click Here to Buy Now: $999 $2499 ($1500 off). Hurry, only 19/285 left! Raised over $1.2 million.

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AI-powered crop scouting robot promises better yields with sensible farming

Monitoring crops and taking care of them over a period of time is not an easy task. Right from the moment the seeds are sown to their harvesting time. A lot can go haywire if the right surveillance is not done.

Things like pest infestation, the spread of disease, and unwanted weeds can undo all the hard work done for months. Manually checking all the plants on big fields can be a tedious task with scope for human error, so the next best thing is a crop monitoring robot. One that autonomously navigates the fields without damaging the crops in the process.

Designer: Meropy

The France-based startup wants to address the bottlenecks of resourceful farming with their AI-powered farming robot dubbed SentiV. The bot inspects the fields on rimless spoked wheels that have very less contact surface on the ground, thereby scouting any crops for signs of early infestation or disease. The intelligent machine navigates forward in a marked territory, scanning the area effortlessly without any chance of error.

SentiV is capable of moving 20 hectares per day, keeping an eye on the crops with its dual camera system. One camera is placed on the top and the other at the bottom of the bot – keeping a tab under the crop canopy, soil and leaves. The AI-driven software analyses the data from these cameras to identify threats, and any signs of crops demanding more nutrition. SentiV is designed to work with different types of crops and the physical form can be modified for specific requirements. The mode of motion, the height of the machine, or the size of the wheels can all be adjusted without any hassles.

The advanced data from the robot can be ultimately used to increase the yield and crop quality. According to Meropy, their flexible robot weighs just 33 pounds, and the high-resolution images it sends back can be analyzed in detail before even stepping manually on the field. With the backing of advanced data, the farmer can spray pesticides or other chemicals only where required, thereby saving the environment as well. The design team at the startup is working on adding another sensor to scan the fields better than any human eye can do.

Currently, the robot is in the prototype stage and the startup has not mentioned any release date for the commercially available version. Once there is a clearer picture of the pricing SentiV will be sold at, the offset savings sone on the pesticides and the increased yield will decide its usefulness.

 

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Robot can detect and paint over “unwanted” tags on walls

Not all wall graffiti are works of art and not all places probably appreciate having public walls defaced with various tags and sometimes graphic illustrations. There’s probably a fine line between street art and vandalism that really depends on the community around it and on the eye of the beholder. For those communities that are beset with vandalism issue, having a device that can help out in detecting and painting over these unwanted tags may be a good thing to have.

Designer: Valerio Cometti + V12 Design

T.R.S. 001 or Tag Removal System is a robot that can geometrically and chromatically analyze a wall through the color-detection cameras in front of it. It is able to record the size and position of the various elements of a wall or building like doors, windows, gutters. It is also able to detect the colors of the wall, which is pretty important for the other main feature of the robot. Not only can it detect the tags, it is also able to cover them since the system includes paints and nozzles.

The robot is able to detect the color then mix the color needed to paint over them. The stem is able to raise itself up to 1 meter and can reach a maximum height of 3 meters, enough to cover the ground floor. It also has RGB LED strips so you know if it’s working. It also has proximity sensors so it will be able to detect if there may be obstacles they have to work around, kind of like with a lot of robo vacuums now. To move around properly, the robot has omnidirectional wheels.

Depending on how you feel about graffiti or vandalism, the T.R.S 001 can be a useful tool or something that can be used to stifle freedom of expression. It looks just like a humidifier or an air cooler so it doesn’t have the menacing look of a future robot overlord that is trying to erase any sense of creativity or non-conformity in a city.

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Meet DEX, an autonomous quadruped cargo robot that can navigate factories in the future

It’s like Boston Dynamics’ robot dog… but with the actual ability to ‘fetch’ cargo within factories and warehouses!

Named DEX for its Dual EXtendable legs (as well as a play on the word dexterity), this purpose-built robot from Schaeffler is a champion of mobility, with jointed legs as well as wheels that allow it to move across flat or uneven surfaces, work up and down ramps, and even climb stairs to get to different parts of a factory floor. Equipped with a flat platform on top and a host of sensors immediately beneath it, DEX can autonomously move around, carrying cargo from point A to B while easily avoiding obstacles that may come in its way.

Designer: Schaeffler (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Best described as an AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot), DEX works in conjunction with human workers, aiding them and understanding their needs and requirements to improve efficiency. Through its unique design that can autonomously navigate a wide variety of surfaces, DEX “reimagines the dexterity and intelligence of collaborative robots”.

“DEX has a seamless way of understanding both non-verbal and verbal communication”, say the designers at Schaeffer. “With other robots, they work collectively to reduce the strain on workers. DEX can also be controlled using hand gestures and voice commands, thereby reducing the complexity of interacting with robots.”

While autonomous robots have been around for years now (in warehouses, if not the streets), what makes DEX so incredibly innovative is its format. Sure, anyone can attach sensors to a forklift truck, but DEX’s ability to conquer terrains, maneuver tight spaces, and also avoid obstacles with great reflexes is something not every AMR can boast of.

DEX does this through its uniquely designed bi-directional extendable legs that allow the robot to move up and down and even forward and backward. 4 sets of 360° wheels give it even more maneuverability with multiple degrees of freedom, along with the ability to move smoothly and rapidly across flat surfaces. When DEX encounters slopes, terrain, or stairs, the wheels take the proverbial back seat and the 4 legs kick into action, making it go from a rolling robot to a walking one. All throughout its use, a ring of lights around it synchronizes with the robot’s movement, communicating intention clearly to ensure seamless human/robot collaboration.

The DEX is a Best of Best winner of the Red Dot Design Concept Award for the year 2022.

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This omnidirectional robot capable of ferrying 150 kg load is made for autonomous home deliveries

While Alibaba’s Xiaomanlv robots have delivered more than a million parcels and the Amazon Proteus warehouse robots for fulfillment centers, the scope for streamlining e-commerce packages is hugely unexplored. The smooth movement of logistics plays a pivotal role and the automated robotics involvement can be of huge advantage when we talk of huge volumes.

Into the picture comes the AgileX Robotics RANGER which is an unmanned platform for the movement of logistics under the roof or even deliveries in not-so-ideal terrain outside. According to the makers, the electric-powered rig will be useful for inspection, agriculture, security and energy sectors. So, the intent here is to make RANGER capable of most industrial applications and carry loads weighing up to 150 kg anywhere in the city or suburbs.

Designer: AgileX

The omnidirectional navigation robot propelled by a 48V brushless geared hub motor fed by the 600W*4 battery gets a 560 mm track and an 890 mm wheelbase capable of orienting in any direction. Mind you, the platform robot can go at a top speed of 2.6m/s which is impressive. Add to that the IP5 water resistance, and the RANGER can tread any terrain with ease. So, we can add autonomous home deliveries also to the equation.

AgileX Robotics has tested the four-wheeled autonomous robot in a diverse set of conditions – for example, hilly roads, gravel paths, and even stairs. In the prototype test runs, the RANGER easily took on slopes of 10 degrees and 10 cm high obstacles.

The flatbed platform EV has a very good prospect of turning into a widely used commercial robot for a wide array of applications in the industrial avenues as well as routine applications. How it will be priced is ultimately going to determine the adaption in B2B models.

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Loved Sox in ‘Lightyear’? Well, this remote-controlled robot cat can respond to your commands too!

Dubbed the Nybble, this adorable little steampunk cat is the perfect companion for curious people looking to build and learn something new every day.

Just like Sox from the Pixar movie Lightyear (in cinemas now), Nybble is a clever, compact compadre that’s much more friendly than your average house cat. With 11 servo motors, a proprietary NyBoard processor, and open-source software OpenCat, Nybble can sit, stretch, sleep, balance, greet, and do pushups. Try getting your regular cat to follow those commands… I dare you!

Designer: Rongzhong Li (CEO & Founder of Petoi)

Click Here to Buy Now: $223 $279 (20% off). Take an additional 5% off with coupon code “yanko5”. Hurry, deal ends July 18th.

Designed to be a robot that you can build, play, and explore with, Nybble comes with a laser-cut plywood body that you must put together first. The entire process takes about 4 hours including the assembly, software and calibration configuration time, and once you’re done, Nybble is ready to play with! Nybble’s architecture makes it a rather nimble, flexible little cat, as it borrows bionic concepts from a cat’s skeleton. The robot cat comes outfitted with two ultrasonic sensors on its front that act as the robot’s “eyes”. It sports a USB input that lets you connect it to a device to tinker around with its open-source code and teach it new tricks (in Python, C++ or a graphical user interface via the Petoi desktop app), and even comes with Bluetooth and WiFi dongles as well as an infrared remote controller. Other parts include a holder for two 14500 Li-ion rechargeable 3.7V batteries that give Nybble up to 45 minutes of play-time, and even silicone covers for the cat’s feet, to give it friction as well as prevent it from accidentally scratching your furniture!

While Nybble can’t do as much as Sox can in the movie, it’s definitely a step in the right direction given that it’s one of the few robot cats that have such flexible movements (the official Sox plush toy can’t move). However, just like the Pixar feline, Nybble too is a personal companion robot capable of delighting you with its antics. It can be trained via its open-source programmable API, and even physically modified to give it a different character or unique abilities.

The cat is highly extensible with support for Raspberry Pi and Arduino ecosystems to make your robot cat even more advanced! A perfect toy for youngsters, animal/animation lovers, or anyone with an inclination toward coding and robot-building, you can bring home your own Nybble for just $223 during the OpenCat 6th Birthday sale. That’s 20% off the MSRP. Take an additional 5% off with coupon code “yanko5”. The sales end on July 18th, 2022.

Click Here to Buy Now: $223 $279 (20% off). Take an additional 5% off with coupon code “yanko5”. Hurry, deal ends July 18th.

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Pudding Beansprout Robot can teach children proper English at home

Concept Pudding Beansprout Robot

A future with robots as trusty companions may happen. It’s already happening these days as we are more glued to the mobile screen and computers than ever. It seems to be inevitable as technology advances and as society evolves. We’re not sure if we’ll ever live until that Terminator-like era but robots, no matter what form, may someday rule the world.

It doesn’t mean we’ll go on hating robots. We love robots and related technologies as they’ve become really useful. We just need to draw the line and put boundaries on what such machines can do. The Pudding Beansprout Robot is a concept device meant for kids. It’s a smart robot that can help children learn English at home.

Designer: InDare Innovation

Pudding Beansprout Robot Design

The robot can be a learning partner for a child who wants to learn English. The Beansprout device can teach the language efficiently and systematically. It can also deliver a lot of information, lessons, and facts that will help in any kid’s education.

Pudding Beansprout Robot Sketches

The cute light green robot features a chubby body. It will remind you of Big Hero 6’s Baymax because it’s one of the inspirations apart from a beansprout. It looks like a toy so children will be attracted to it. Its head can do a 300° rotation angle so it can turn different ways. It offers a more immersive English education to the children the whole day so learning is truly fun.

Pudding Beansprout Robot Concept

The industrial design of the robot may be similar to other robots for kids but this one is more intelligent. It’s mainly to teach English to children who want to learn. It takes advantage of AI technology as it “talks” to the kids just like a teacher would. With the robot, the children can know the correct pronunciation of words and learn spoken English in the most authentic way.

Pudding Beansprout Robot Smart Screen

Kids can listen to the robot. Just don’t expect the robot to do things for you because its features and functions are limited. The Pudding Beansprout Robot comes with an LCD screen with a camera and a speaker on the body. Its eyes light up in robot mode so the screen looks like a face.

The Pudding Beansprout Robot was designed by Shenzhen-based group inDare Innovation. It’s the same group that worked on the EtsMe personal and private cloud storage tool from last year. The company has a number of other innovative projects that have the potential to go really big and the Pudding Beansprout Robot is just one. It can deliver a pure English conversation environment with the children at home. Learning shouldn’t stop at school so this kid-friendly robot will be more than useful.

Concept Pudding Beansprout Robot Details

Concept Pudding Beansprout Robot Design Details

Concept Pudding Beansprout Robot Parts

Pudding Beansprout Robot Tablet

Pudding Beansprout Robot Tablet Design

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