DARPA Nano Air Vehicle Programme

DARPA has just released this video chronicling the development of a “hummingbird” flyer by Aerovironment from concept to prototype demonstration and introduction to the public.A number of difficult design and engineering challenges were overcome in the course of the programme, particularly in the wing structure, propulsion and control actuators. Numerous complete prototypes were built and tested to assess and improve the performance of the systems shown in the video. The final prototype achieves the noteworthy milestone of 2-wing flapping hovering and fast forward flight with all power sources on the aircraft and all controls implemented through...

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Posted in: Robotics

kiva robot for warehouse automation

Kiva Systems creators of kiva robot, is a company that makes order fulfillment systems that use robots for warehouse automation. Its material handling systems are used by Staples, Walgreens, Zappos, and GAP, among others.Traditionally, goods are moved around a distribution center using conveyors, or by human operators with tow racks or forklifts. In Kiva's approach, goods are kept on portable storage units. When an order for an item arrives, it is transmitted wirelessly to a robotic platform, which navigates the warehouse to find the storage unit containing the requested items, lifts the unit up by sliding under it, and brings it to a human worker...

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Posted in: Robotics

Robot Suit HAL Demo at CES 2011

A man turned into a cyborg at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas when he stepped into a powered robot suit that moved in response to nerve signals in his legs.Technology journalist Evan Ackerman became the first person in the United States to test the robotic exoskeleton Hybrid Assistive Limb, or HAL, created by Japanese company Cyberdyne [see photo above].Several companies and labs in the United States and Japan are developing robot suits to help disable and elderly people regain more mobility -- or to give soldiers super human strength.Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai, head of the Cybernics Lab at the University of Tsukuba, founded Cyberdyne...

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Posted in: Robotics

SmartBird of FESTO, bionic bird

Aerodynamic lightweight designSmartBird is an ultralight but powerful flight model with excellent aerodynamic qualities and extreme agility. With SmartBird, Festo has succeeded in deciphering the flight of birds – one of the oldest dreams of humankind. This bionic technology-bearer, which is inspired by the herring gull, can start, fly and land autonomously – with no additional drive mechanism. Its wings not only beat up and down, but also twist at specific angles. This is made possible by an active articulated torsional drive unit, which in combination with a complex control system attains an unprecedented level of efficiency in flight operation....

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Posted in: Robotics

Meka Robotics presents M1 Mobile Manipulator

Meka Robotics M1 (Photo Published) The robots designed to work in human environments require mobility, dexterity, and compliant force-control. The Meka M1 was created to meet these needs. The M1 is an integrated and customizable mobile manipulation platform. The M1 was inspired by the successful design of the Georgia Tech robot named Cody. It features compliant force control throughout its body, a customizable sensor head, durable and strong grippers, and a small footprint omnidirectional base. In robotics, innovation requires robot-on-time. The M1 has been designed for durable operation and rapid experimenation and development....

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Posted in: Robotics