From those forward-thinking Scandahoovians over at Scandicraft, we have ingenious, Ikea-fabulous autonomous drone hangars that will keep even the hardest-working quadrotor spycam snug and safe.

This is the perfect gift for the evil supervillain in your life, especially if they lack a suitably heebie-jeebie inducing perimeter security system. And it’s also stylish! They do come in flat packs, though, so make sure you get all the boxes and that little wrench thing before you install.

[Big ups to the robot lovin' gnomes over at <"http://www.botjunkie.com/2010/08/12/norwegian-mailbox-drone/">BotJunkie]

Here’s a really well done minidocumentary about robot builders, done up by our buds at Trossen Robotics. Edited and shot by Jennero Rossi, a Trossen Minion, valuable helper at RoboGames and a hell of a great guy, this short illustrates what it is to be a robot builder, where it can take you, and how you don’t need to be a PhD or engineer to get started.

Full Disclosure: Trossen Robotics is one of the dedicated long time sponsors for RoboGames, so please buy some robot stuff from them. Then come to RoboGames to test it out!

Mechanical Victorians -Mechtorians- look great in drawings, paintings, prints and prototypes. They also raise the bar for production-run, high end, limited edition vinyl toys.

Bruce Whistlecraft, aka Doktor A, employs an array of olde and nu skool craftsmanships to take the entire cast of fictional robots on a time-bending fantasmutational romp.

I’m completely charmed by the imagery from an actual past, informed by a recent past, reconfigured as robot characters from the past’s alternative future. Check it out for yourself.

This guy is totally using his powers for good. Canadian Rob Spence had an unfortunate mishap in his teens that led to losing an eye on his right side. He’s decided to one-up nature and become: EYEBORG. With the help of a few of his friends he has developed an eye prosthetic that can broadcast its video, and eventually will be available as a public feed for those who want to see through another (Canadian, filmaking) person’s eyes.

Eyeborg Phase II from eyeborg on Vimeo.

Never underestimate the power of bored nerds to solve excellent problems. How long ’til it’s elective, like tattoos or unusual piercings or suspensions or sideshow performers? I am excited about the cyborg revolution.

[Via Le Boing and IEEE, whee!]

Cris Rose has so many talent chops, that I’m thinking about writing this post in a spreadsheet.

Artist, Designer, Fabricator, Collaborator, Customizer, Collector Whew! He’s busier than a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest who designs, builds and sends original robot toys all over the world to collectors and galleries. Though the figures have no traditional “working parts”, they do have incredibly believable details and lovely backstories. Cris is particularly interested in the relationship between robots and nature, and each character shows its wear and tear with pride. I hope to catch up with Cris soon and find out more about his robots, their histories and the art of decay.

I’m not sure the housewife in me could be any more jealous. Check out the swivel armpit and wrist action.

Thanks, Dave Gessel!

Well, like the man said, that was a hell of a thing. Thanks to everyone who turned up: robot makers, cocktail appreciators, and especially the staff at DNA Lounge, who took care of stuff so we didn’t have to.

Here’s a nice piece from CNET News which gives a pretty good indication of how things went:

Here are a few photos from lovely folks who showed up to take them:

LaughingSquid:

Dave Schumaker:

Mauricio Balvanera:

Josh Ellingson:

this is Nemomatic's "The Representative"

Well, the fabulous website WebUrbanist has totally done my home work for me this week by putting together an entire Gallery of Pseudo-Victorian, Steampunkesque and Retro Robot Art.       THANK YOU FOR THAT.

Ahem, where were we? Oh yes.

Jan 25th, 1978: First recorded death of a human being at the hands of a robot

From Wired’s This Day In Tech:

The future is coming, people. Wear a freaking helmet.

Cover that delicate flooring, hide the dog and spray for hippies, The Orb Swarm is gong to India!

Swarm In India Image Courtesy The Orb Swarm.

Your favorite vivacious rolling globes are packed and headed halfway around the world to meet their adoring public in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India for the annual Techkriti Festival for Technology and Entrepreneurship held at IIT Kanpur.

Techkriti will be feature innovative and creative minds from all over the world:

“After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well.”
- Albert Einstein

Techkriti is a celebration of that fusion – where the beauty of form is merged with inspiring ingenious innovations. It is about creation that moves beyond barriers. Techkriti has always been synonymous with excellence. Graced with the presence of “Nobel” minds, inspiring inventors and young mettle competing to dazzle, Techkriti has been the stuff that dreams are made of. This year we go a step further and combine a flavor of business with the festival. We strive to have a fine balance between the world of science and the real world where we live our day-in day-out lives. Techkriti is about ideas that inspire. For those who wish to know of what use is a new idea, Faraday’s answer is most apt – “Of what use is an new born baby?” Techkriti is about attenuating surly bonds of our mundane existence and going a step further. Over the years, the festival has witnessed the very best coming forward and showcasing their talent.

This being the Golden Jubilee year promises to be bigger and better. No matter what you like – Competitions, Talks, Workshops or Exhibitions- we have it all. And to top it all off, numerous fun events enliven the atmosphere and make the festival a grand treat. So be there from February 11-14, to witness it all live. We are making you an offer that you will not be able to refuse.

@mister_robotics went a few years ago with a team from San Francisco State University to show off their then-new combat robot Beer Bash (more on him later). They had loads of fun.

What’s more, Lee Sonko, Orb tweaker extraordinaire, is speaking! The other speakers at this conference include a couple of Nobel Laureates, A Gödel Prize winner, and a director of the Max Planck Institute of Biological Cybernetics, so, well done Lee!

No pressure or nothin’.

Follow the Orbs on Twitter here!

Sex bots, legos, star wars and H4wt robot guy, SB pal@grantImahara! Whee!