Sweet 3D renderings of very whimsical robots. Want one.

Andre Kutscherauer [via Bot Junkie]

The New Space Station Robot Asks to be Called “Dextre the Magnificent”

“In a surprising and potentially troubling request, the new space station robot known as Dextre demanded that astronauts refer to it in the future at “Dextre the Magnificent.” Brandishing power tools that would make any handyperson blush, the mobile servicing system thanked humans for creating it and promised a glorious future where humans would retain an important role in the new robot order. Dextre was deployed last month to help build and service the International Space Station. As seen in the above picture, Dextre is truly a technological marvel, wielding long arms capable of handling both small tools and large modules with precision dexterity. ”

NASA [via Bot Junkie]

I luv luv luv СЛАВА РОБОТАМ (loosely translated - “word of the robots” (although with Russian grammar, it could also work as “Word Up to the Robots” (q.v., “Slava Bogu”))

Shane Willis

Casey Weldon

I miss St. Petersburg somedays. Then I recall my friends being killed by the Mafia….

Tom never, ever listened to me.

Erm… He’s only doing that so he can replace the pencil with pen.

For permanency.

Right?

Kawada’s HRP-2 (aka Promet) has been programmed to reproduce dance steps with the practiced grace of an electronic geisha.

So far the 128-pound (58-kilogram) dancebot has been taught the fluid motions of the Aizu-Bandaisan—a traditional Japanese folk dance—as well as more mundane tasks such as serving tea, carrying a table, and standing up from a prone position.

OK - now it should be noted, that I am the most jaded American roboticist I know. Been there, done that, flown half way ’round the world to see it, too.

The following video is the single coolest thing I’ve seen in robotic movement. Ever.

Better than Asimo.
Way better than Qrio.
And yes, even better than the micro-electronic hand that could grab the tobiko egg.

Watch this video and be awed.

I think Promet ought to call out Asimo to some seedy back alley in Shinjuku (filled with indigent tour-bots and broken down vacuums) and bitch slap him.

Of course, Lem knew about it ten months ago.

This is cool. I want one.