TheFW » Robots

The 10 Best Robots in Pop Culture

Donald Deane — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:24:07 +0000

Sadly, Matt Groening's long-running cartoon 'Futurama' was canceled earlier this week after seven seasons and 140 episodes on two different networks. Yes, we'll miss Fry, Leela and the rest of the crew, but we'll miss Bender, the acerbic, cigar-chomping robot, the most. But it's not all bad news -- Bender has rightfully earned himself a place among the most memorable robots in pop culture.

Jam Out With All-Robot Band 'Compressorhead'

Tom Blunt — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:30:34 +0000

The all-robot band Compressorhead makes those Chuck E. Cheese animatrons look like a bunch of clowns! The 78-fingered guitarists are both playing their bolts off, but the four-armed, mohawked drummer robot with is programmed head-nodding steals the show right out from under them. Compressorhead (“the world’s heaviest metal band,” according to their website) can be seen [...]

Quadriplegic Woman Feeds Herself With Robotic Arm

Tom Blunt — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:41:53 +0000

This incredible video shows a woman’s journey from almost total immobility to being able to pick up and move objects, thanks to surgical brain implants connected to a robotic arm named ‘Hector.’ The goal that Jan Scheuerman set for herself before her surgery? To be able to feed herself a piece a chocolate. You may [...]

Trossen Robotics Builds The BoogieBot

Dan Seitz — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:25:19 +0000

This is not technically called the BoogieBot. It’s a hexapod robot called the PhantomX built from a kit and controlled via radio that you can buy from Trossen Robotics’ website. But you’ve got admit, this robot has some moves in that opening. The owner’s toddlers weighing in on its style is just the icing on [...]

Dad Uses Amazing Terminator Arm For Good, Not Evil

Emerald Catron — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 21:18:09 +0000

This amazing video makes us wonder — is there some sort of psychological evaluation before somebody is given a robot-Terminator arm, or do doctors just cross their fingers and hope for the best? It seems like that could go really wrong. Fortunately, Nigel Ackland, 53, is using his bionic arm for cracking eggs and pouring [...]

Get a Facebook 'Like' and Tech-Savvy Vest Hugs You

Cameron Simcik — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:00:18 +0000

It was recently revealed that Facebook now has one billion users -- that's 15% of the world’s population. That’s a pretty impressive achievement for Mr. Zuckerburg, if you ask us. There’s no denying the top-notch social network has become integrated into our daily lives, and now there's a way to be physically rewarded by the site -- ‘Like-A-Hug.'

Groovy Robot is 'Stayin' Alive'

Emerald Catron — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 13:25:20 +0000

This is just delightful, as long as we can stifle our crippling fear and distrust of robots. Somebody noticed the ‘tude this guy’s got while walking in place, and gave him a little Bee Gees soundtrack. It makes it easier to imagine it in a Dreamworks animated movie and harder to imagine it kicking down [...]

Meet 'The Popinator,' the Robot That Feeds You Popcorn

Emerald Catron — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:00:24 +0000

It’s just a robot that fires food at your mouth. What could possibly go wrong? Say the word “pop,” and the Popinator will track your voice and fire one piece of popcorn at your mouth. Does nobody else see how this has the potential to take a turn for the much, much worse? Telling a [...]

Robot Drummer With Mohawk Is Terrifying and Awesome

Emerald Catron — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:24:17 +0000

In terms of actual robotics, this is really not that impressive. But crikey, it is cool. And scary. Very scary. This robot has a mohawk and can play the drums, and is lit in such a way that it looks like he might rise up and try to kill you with his four metal arms.

Bipedal Robot Is Stayin' Alive

Dan Seitz — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:34:29 +0000

Nerds love this robot. The rest of us love setting this robot to some music. This isn’t a special effect. Instead it’s the first truly effective bipedal robot, built by Boston Dynamics and DARPA, the US military’s mad science initiative. It’s actually part of a project to create robot soldiers to fight on the battlefield, [...]

2012 RoboCup Bloopers Proves Robots Are Not Smarter Than Humans

Kyle Dowling — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:10:35 +0000

Much like how people who watch TV or sports love seeing the outtakes at the end of an episode or a sporting event, it appears so do lovers of robots. Watching someone mess up at a thing they’re professionally known for is hilarious; it makes them human. However, in the case of this video, it’s [...]

Amazing Robot Wins at Rock-Paper-Scissors Every Time

Donald Deane — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:17:32 +0000

An amazing robot shows remarkable proficiency at rock-paper-scissors by winning the game 100% of the time. So, how does it do it? Simple, it cheats. What, you thought only humans were capable of gaming the system? Developed by the Oku Laboratory in Japan, the robot uses a high-speed camera to determine the position of its [...]

Watch a Paralyzed Woman Control a Robotic Arm With Her Mind

Mithun Divakaran — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:35:58 +0000

There are certain things we take for granted. But for Cathy Hutchinson (pictured above), a task as simple as reaching out for a glass of water seemed like an impossibility due to her paralysis. Until now. Researchers at Brown University have developed a program called Brain Gate, which allows paralyzed patients to move objects virtually [...]

Forget Zombie Attacks – We Should Be Worried About a Robot Uprising

Mike Adams — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:49:39 +0000

If you're one of those people frightened by the possibility of a zombie attack, you can rest easy because there's new evidence that suggests we are more likely to witness a robot uprising. You may be giggling to yourself, but that wasn't a joke. We might actually have to survive a mass robot attack in our lifetime.

South Korea Now Has Robot Prison Guards

Jeremy Taylor — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:05:45 +0000

One day we will all have to report to our robot overlords. For some prisoners in South Korea, that day is now. The world’s first robot prison guard is being tested in South Korea’s penal system. The droid scoots around the facility studying the prisoners’ behavior and alerts human prison guards if there is any [...]

Watch Wes Anderson's Sony Commercial Featuring Adorable Robots

Jeremy Taylor — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:08:18 +0000

These days, ‘Rushmore’ helmer Wes Anderson is as much of a commercial director as he is one for feature films. The latest in the increasing list of products the auteur has made a spot for is Sony’s Xperia’s smartphone. And Anderson’s latest ad just might be his cutest yet. When the ad starts, eight-year old Jack Ryan [...]

Ping Pong-Playing Robots Can Take On Any Pro

Dylan Schenker — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:31:23 +0000

When the inevitable robot uprising begins, it might just start with ping pong. Two expert, robot ping pong players were built to paddle any foe into the ground. Using camera technology the robots can track the direction, speed and position of the ball. Not only do they play against each other, but they can also [...]

Sassy Talking Trash Can Helps Man Pull Off Best Proposal Ever [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:24:09 +0000

There's a reason Disney World is called "magical" -- aside from the normal assortment of characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck that are brought to life in the park every day, the trash cans also talk. The remote-controlled receptacles follow people around while a hidden witty person is in control of what they do and say.

And in the video below, you'll see one particular trash can using its own special brand of peer pressure to prompt a guy to ask his longtime girlfriend to marry him.

Robo Dog Guides the Blind [VIDEO]

Dylan Schenker — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:24:23 +0000

If you were blind, do you think you would trust a robot to be your guide? Japanese company NSK has developed a robot-dog designed around Microsoft’s Kinect video game accessory to replace seeing eye dogs. The amazing robot has wheels for feet and uses the Kinect to scan its surroundings and direct its user where [...]

Honda Introduces Insanely Updated ASIMO Robot [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:20:35 +0000

The latest Honda ASIMO humanoid robot can run about 6 mph, push a cart, hop on one foot, open containers and has all sorts of new artificial intelligence features. The entire presentation of this new technology puts a lot of things in perspective, like how close we are to reaching a future where a 'Terminator'-like scenario is an actual possibility. Watch this amazingly lifelike robot in action below.

Bike Riding Robot Is Adorable, Will Likely Enslave Humanity [VIDEO]

Dylan Schenker — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:43:24 +0000

Learning to ride a bike all by yourself is a big step in growing up. For robots, however, it means being getting redesigned as an all new model.

Dr Guero took the Kondo KHR-3HV and upgraded it to ride a bike. Clearly it's only a matter of time before Lil' BikeTron 5000 achieves sentience and enslaves humanity.

Paraplegic Woman Walks Again Thanks to Robotic Exoskeleton [VIDEO]

Donald Deane — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:59:04 +0000

Usually when we hear the words “robot exoskeleton,” we think of science fiction. But for Amanda Boxtel, a woman who was paralyzed from the waist down in a skiing accident 20 years ago, an amazing powered exoskeleton has given her newfound mobility. After her skiing accident in 1992, Boxtel thought she would never walk again. [...]

Smartphone Lego Hybrid Solves Rubik's Cube in Six Seconds [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 04:06:52 +0000

More rise of the machines: This smartphone-powered Lego robot is able to solve a Rubik’s Cube in about six seconds. Watch a robot do what few nerds can below. [via Viral Viral Video]

Multitasking Robot Sings 'We Are The Champions' While Playing Piano [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:16:26 +0000

What if our impending robot overlords didn’t want to enslave us, but instead just wanted to use our pianos to play covers of Queen’s ‘We Are the Champions.’ Because that’s all this Freddie Mercury-loving droid seems to want to do. [via Say OMG]

Conan O'Brien Pits Cheap 'Real Steel' Rip-Off Robots Against Each Other [VIDEO]

Bob Sassone — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:32:56 +0000

The number one movie in America, for the second week in a row, is the Hugh Jackman battling ‘bots flick ‘Real Steel.’ Conan O’Brien knows this and decided to capitalize on the sudden interest in robots, pitting two handmade robots against each other on last night’s show. Since he’s on basic cable, Conan doesn’t have ‘Real [...]

Japan Has a Hair Washing Robot [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:00:20 +0000

Leave it to Japan to develop a hair washing robot. So far it looks like they are only using it on mannequins. It’s only a matter of time before the robots move from hair washing to human subjugation. Watch below. [via Viral Viral Videos]

iCub Crawling Robot Baby is Adorably Creepy [VIDEO]

Chris Illuminati — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:51:43 +0000

What's cuter than a baby? How about a robot baby? This video of the not-at-all-terrifying iCub crawling robot baby is both adorable and a reminder of humanity's increasing obsolescence. Soon you will be our ruler, robot baby.

Amazing Robot Gymnast Nails High Bar Routine [VIDEO]

Chip Sandalwood — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:56:42 +0000

The Olympic Committee may not have any plans to allow robots into the 2012 Summer Games as of yet. But if they have a change of heart, we know at least one robot who will be prepared.

Robot NO.8 Kovacs is a small Japanese robot who has the type of skills on the high bar that even the best gymnasts would envy. While he does need a little help getting onto the bar, once he's up there, his moves can't be beat. Watch your back, Shawn Johnson.

Watch What Happens When Two Chatbots Chat With Each Other [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:18:34 +0000

The folks at Cornell Creative Machines Lab wanted to see what happened if two chatbots, which had been programmed to carry on coherent conversations with people, were instead introduced to each other. The results are pretty funny and more awkward than any human-on-human first date we can imagine. Check out the banter, which quickly takes an odd philosophical turn, below. [via Geekosystem]

Robot Soccer Goalie Shuts Out Shooters [VIDEO]

Jeremy Taylor — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:32:15 +0000

If you think soccer is a low-scoring sport now, just wait until the robot goalies take over. This prototype of a mechanical goalkeeper isn't ready for a regulation net, but is able to flawlessly protect his indoor soccer-sized goal from some pretty tough shots using GPS-like technology.

Next, they should probably program the net-minding bot to take dives.