worried about self-driving cars on highway? don’t read this.
worried about self-driving cars on highway? don’t read this. world’s first autonomous 18-wheeler is getting down to business. via cnbc [RK]
sxsw keynote plows into the plight of driverless cars.
sxsw keynote plows into the plight of driverless cars. “catastrophically imperfect”. via washington post [RK]
fred astaire, gravity, and the magic of box.
bot & dolly projects computer graphics into the tangible world. their experimental project box, won a webby award and is a youtube sensation. box includes a live actor commanding a geometric box. in box, timing is everything. the visual experience is not hindered by the gigantic robotic arms propelling screens in and round the live action.
for the movie gravity, bot & dolly senior producer said the special effects team viewed the 1951 film, royal wedding. in the live action bit, song and dance man, fred astaire, dances on the ceiling. the effect, with a set rotating around mr. astaire, embodied a lesson in weightlessness. for gravity, the team rotated projection mapping on screens guided by robots around the actors. the film garnered seven oscars, including best director for alfonso cuaron and best visual effects.
[ more bot & dolly ]
College students show off their robots.
college students show off their robots. hold your bets when blackjack dealer is a robot. via wdtimes [RK]
Graffiti bots programmed to get arrested.
two bots provide excellent example of duality: getting arrested or providing a public service. yesterday, chicago’s new mayor rahm emanuel’s budget austerity proposal passes 50-0. 500-plus municipal jobs slashed but not the graffiti crew. not many would agree but tasteful art and graffiti can improve urban eyesores that suffer from neglect. the above bot is labeled “the senseless drawing bot” in the blogosphere. can the senseless drawing bot provide a public service? i think he has the talent to do beautiful work.
below: now on the other hand this bot does not have the talent nor provides the spontaneous creative moment for the 99% graffiti artist. 1% will try it. 100% gets arrested.
above: do you think street art ( graffiti ) can be an effective agent of change?
[ spectrum-ieee ] [ i09 ] [ laughing squid ] [ unurth ]
Robot infographic. Number one.
we have an irobot roomba vacuum and his name is robert. thinking of getting him a companion.
[source]
Robot warriors to study ethics.
What happens when robots are left to make decisions, like who to kill or what to bomb, on their own? via msnbc [PR]
Festo robo penquins and air jelly.
Festo is into two very interesting robots. One swims and one flies.
More robots!
More robots! Robotic systems continue to evolve, slowly penetrating many areas of our lives, from manufacturing, medicine and remote exploration to entertainment, security and personal assistance.
Developers in Japan are currently building robots to assist the elderly, while NASA develops the next generation of space explorers, and artists are exploring new avenues of entertainment.
above: robbie the robot. shoe salesman. robbie debuted in forbidden planet, 1956.
I really can’t wait for my robotic personal assistant.
via: boston.com 28 more images!
Christopher Conte. Bio sculpture.
Robots. A very interesting topic. DA recently showcased a sewer inspector, the world’s most powerful per the manufacturer, a very practical solution. But what about robotics that inspire art? An example: Christopher Conte. By day posing as a designer of prosthetics and making artificial limbs for amputees in New York. At night and on weekends(?) creator of science fiction-like, futuristic sculptures. The artist – designer’s background of human anatomy, medical science, and biomechanics meld into robot-like creature art objects. Objects that inspire.
Recently he joined the stable of artist rep Les Barony to commercialize his art. Here’s to provoking innovation, adventure, the “non – practical” pursuit of solutions.
His work has been recently covered in Wired, Popular Science, Make Magazine, and used by The Discovery Channel and MTV Networks.
For more on Christopher Conte and his work, take a break and visit him here.
If you are into robots and want to see them live in Chicago visit Nextfest seen at Millennium Park September 27 – October 12, 2008
via .think and dark matter magazine