From social to industrial robots, every day we find information about new projects in robotics from where we choose the best robots and make an overview of these.
As you can see in this article, researchers and engineers working to build robots by integrating autonomous systems in already existing mining trucks, building an intelligent printer for space, adding social behavior to little robots, or by designing the most intelligent robotic bartender.
SpiderFab Printer Robot for Space
SpiderFab is the first 3D printing robot designed for use in space in order to build large spacecraft components such as antennas or solar panels.
Robots don’t have frontiers even in space where they are in plans to be used as automated printers to build large spacecraft components. The main reason to use robots in space to build different components is the cost. Sending equipment and materials in space require a large amount of money without the possibility of limiting production and launch costs.
The 3D printing robots are designed to build large components such as antennas or panels with dimensions between several meters to several kilometers. This new approach for building components in space took shape in the labs of US company called Tethers Unlimited (TUI).
The US based company has already designed the robot SpiderFab with in-orbit fabrication abilities for building large spacecraft components including here large solar panels, antennas, and other specialized parts. SpiderFab can be used to build components from scratch or to repair already existing structures.
The 3D printer robot is based on inventory technology that allows a high resolution at a lower price.
50-Foot Robotic Trucks for Australian Mines
Using advanced GPS navigation systems and obstacle avoidance sensors, a team of robotic trucks is used in several Australian mines for autonomous operations.
There are many reasons to introduce robots inside the traditional mining processes, reasons such as dangerous and tedious jobs. In Australia was introduced a series of robotic trucks for loading, hauling, and unloading the waste rock materials at the open-pit mines. Each of these monster trucks can be loaded with 320 metric tons and measure 27 feet wide and 51 feet long.
Working on three different mines 24 hours/day, the robots already moved up to 100 million metric tons while these are controlled from 930 miles away. The operator communicates with the robots wirelessly, and the robots used for navigation GPS systems and a wide range of sensors for obstacle detection. Based on the autonomous navigation system, the robotic trucks can avoid or follow other vehicles.
Friendly Little Robot Friends
Small, cheap, programmable if you have Arduino skills, a little friend with customizable face.
Friendly Little Robot is a simple, cheap, easy to be used companion robot designed by Aesthetic Studios of Toronto, Canada. It can’t do complex tasks like dancing or maintain a conversation, but it can be fun.
The company started a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter and has in plans to start the production in coming months.
Inside the robot has a low power processor, speakers for sounds, and LEDs for eyes. The Friendly Little Robot has the ability to interact with their surroundings and can be programmed if you’re an Arduino programmer from a PC or Mac.
The little friend can do small things like making noise, light up the eyes when you touch it or speak to it. Its face can be customized with accessories by user requirements.
James, The Barman
James is designed to recognize the gesture of customers and works as a fully bartenders that can serve people in real pubs.
An order at the bar can take minutes or seconds, depends on who is behind the bar. Named James, this wonderful robot is designed to recognize human social behavior and serve the people with drink. This idea isn’t new since a lot of patrons add on the list of employees robots who takes orders from a touchscreen or other interfaces. Even around the world robots are implemented in pubs, James comes to define the rules for a real bartender. This robot is designed to replace a real bartender which implies the ability to select, mix, and serve the drinks.
The plastic and metal bartender uses a tablet as head and has only one arm. Its features include the ability to recognize when someone wants to order a drink.
Born in the labs of Bielefeld University, researchers’ study the people how order drinks and program the robot to recognize these gestures.
The final version of James has to be the perfect bartender that serves the people rapidly and in the same manner as a real barman.