Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Kinect helping robots see and recognize environment]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/kinect-helping-robots-see-and-recognize-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/kinect-helping-robots-see-and-recognize-environment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/kinect-helping-robots-see-and-recognize-environment/#comments Wired has a fascinating (if a little long) read up about how Microsoft's Kinect hardware is changing the robotics industry. For a long time, robotics has been held back, not by technology that defines how robots move, but by a lack of understanding of their environments -- a robot that can't "see" or recognize its surroundings won't have any idea where to go. Most solutions to this problem were too expensive or unwieldy to use in a lot of robotics applications.

But the Kinect has made that much easier, providing what's basically a sub-$500 kit that can recognize humans, their movements and almost any other objects around the room. And while Kinect hacks first began as a push by unofficial open source engineers, Microsoft has more or less made that kind of stuff official, both by providing developer kits for programmers and by supporting community mods.

So let it be known: Just a few years from now, when Skynet is chasing you down after capturing your loved ones to work in the slave camps, it'll be thanks to Kinect that those robots can see and hunt you while moving across the post-apocalyptic wasteland.

JoystiqKinect helping robots see and recognize environment originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-kinectroboticsrobotssciencewiredxboxTue, 21 Jun 2011 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect Hacks: A less terrifying robot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/kinect-hacks-a-less-terrifying-robot/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/kinect-hacks-a-less-terrifying-robot/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/30/kinect-hacks-a-less-terrifying-robot/#comments Ever since the (recently departed) Milo reared his adorable head, we've envisioned at bleak future of Kinect-powered robots ruling over mankind with an iron, articulated fist. We've even seen the beginnings of this inevitable transition. Thankfully, one Taylor Veltrop was smart enough to embed an all-important feature into his Kinect robot: human control.

Remember, kids, if you want to keep control over your robots, they have to know who's boss.

Continue reading Kinect Hacks: A less terrifying robot

JoystiqKinect Hacks: A less terrifying robot originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-hacksmicrosoftpcrobotroboticstaylor-veltropxboxThu, 30 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinect Hacks: Self-driving car]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/kinect-hacks-self-driving-car/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/kinect-hacks-self-driving-car/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/10/kinect-hacks-self-driving-car/#commentsKinect has already gained the ability to fly, and now it can drive. Researchers at University of Bundeswehr Munich attached a Kinect sensor and a laptop to a small (formerly) remote-controlled car, loaded it with software based on the program used to run the MuCAR-3 in the DARPA Urban Challenge, and made a tiny, self-navigating car.

In the video after the break, the adorable little robot proves that it can carefully avoid obstacles -- even really tiny traffic cones. We're left with only one question after this demonstration: where can we get our own tiny traffic cones?

Continue reading Kinect Hacks: Self-driving car

JoystiqKinect Hacks: Self-driving car originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kinectkinect-hacksmicrosoftrc-carroboticsuniversity-of-bundeswehr-munichxboxFri, 10 Dec 2010 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Wiimote controls giant claw, brings man and machine closer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/wiimote-controls-giant-claw-brings-man-and-machine-closer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/wiimote-controls-giant-claw-brings-man-and-machine-closer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/09/wiimote-controls-giant-claw-brings-man-and-machine-closer/#comments
When your job is to sit in an office all day, controlling a 15-ton robotic arm, things can get kind of boring. Thankfully, some ingenious operators decided to fool around with the arm at their disposal and managed to implement Wiimote controls. Judging by the YouTube video after the break, taking the thing for a spin with the Wiimote looks like it works quite well, as the gigantic yellow claw pretty much follows the movements of its operator exactly.

If we weren't sure the giant claw cost more money than we could ever hope to see, we'd suggest playing the world's largest crane game, or a bit of Let's See How Far We Can Throw This Minivan.

[Via Make]

Continue reading Wiimote controls giant claw, brings man and machine closer

JoystiqWiimote controls giant claw, brings man and machine closer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clawNintendorobotrobot-clawrobotic-armroboticsWiiwiimoteThu, 09 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[DeepNote Guitar Hero robot will rock your face off]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/deepnote-guitar-hero-robot-will-rock-your-face-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/deepnote-guitar-hero-robot-will-rock-your-face-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/14/deepnote-guitar-hero-robot-will-rock-your-face-off/#commentsFiled under: ,


Other than "amazing," you may also call the above contraption DeepNote. It's a working robot that can totally destroy you in Guitar Hero. Using a pair of "eyes," it watches the action on-screen, then playing those very notes in real-time. It's all done via a series of photodiodes, which pick up the changes in light from the screen in up to eight nanoseconds. As evidenced by the video above, this thing actually works and is quite impressive.

[Via Engadget]

JoystiqDeepNote Guitar Hero robot will rock your face off originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionguitar-herorobotroboticsMon, 14 Jul 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft unleashes the robots.]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/microsoft-unleashes-the-robots/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/microsoft-unleashes-the-robots/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/20/microsoft-unleashes-the-robots/#commentsFiled under: ,

Now that Microsoft has conquered entered the world of video games, there is only one logical next step. Robots, of course! According to PC World, Microsoft has decided to develop a software tool kit just for robotics. The software will allow robots to interface with Windows PCs, effectively giving Microsoft control of the impending Robot Apocalypse(R). Of particular interest is the following excerpt:

"Microsoft's entry to the field is a vote of confidence that could accelerate the development of robots for industrial, service, and entertainment use."

Entertainment use? Could we finally see the next gen equivalent of R.O.B. the robot? Perhaps a robot to fetch beer refreshments when you're too busy killing other robots?

The possibilities are endless. A preview of the software is available now for the robot enthusiasts out there.

[Via Evil Avatar]

JoystiqMicrosoft unleashes the robots. originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromehoundsevil avatarEvilAvatarpc worldPcWorldROBrobot overlordsroboticsRobotOverlordsrobotsTue, 20 Jun 2006 16:45:00 EST