The Valtra RoboTrac is a tractor. Sort of. It’s also a robot, and much smaller than the ones you are used to. It’s a fully programmable, automated farmhand that will round out any farm team and make it more productive. That’s because it performs a lot of tasks like tilling, plowing, disking, planting, harrowing, spraying, weeding, and more.
It’s small size is handy because it can work the fields without wrecking them to bits. It will pay for itself in no time since it cuts down on farmhands. A few more bots like this and the farm is going to be a lonely place of boredom, broken only by cows mooing at robots and the occasional UFO picking up Bessie.
Murasaki Shikibu is famously known for writing The Tale of Genji. She’s a rock star goddess in Japan. The MURASAKI robot stands at 31-centimeters tall and weighs 3.3-pounds. It’s a beautiful work of art, I’ll give it that.
Supposedly, the bot is powered by NiMH batteries, moves around on two wheels and sports an 8-axis system for moving the neck and arms. Probably so lonely Japanese boys can hug it. Not sure if it’s for sale or just a prototype. You know, she’s kind of cute in an alien eyed sort of way.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield wanted to attach electrodes to peoples tongues, but it seems no one wanted to do it for some reason, so they built a robot mouth with a tongue named “Anton,”. The animatronic tongue is made of soft silicone to help them understand speech and improve speech-recognition software. Researchers want to understand how the mouth produces sound and then create algorythms that can recognize speech patterns rather than try to match recordings to recordings.
I don’t know about all that, but if Anton can master the tongue, the ladies will love him.
On the fence about whether or not you want to buy a WowWee Femisapien? Over at robotsrule they have a multi-page review that will help. It explores the bot’s interface, modes and behaviors, etc. The conclusion is that it’s a “blockbuster hit” that’s “destined to take over the world.”
Controlled with a Wii Nunchuk, the evil teddy is a modified BJ Bearytales that can move its mouth, blink, move its arms and scare the hell out of your young child. Just tilt the Nunchuk or use the joystick to control it. Scare them now so they will be prepared for the Terminator future.
NEC’s PaPeRo robotic buddy is just like other home robots, but when you leave home he will still be helping you, because he doubles as an assistant in the car. It uses the knowledge it’s learned while aiding you around the house to give you directions.
For example, a driver is trying to get to Yokohama in Japan for a date. Based on previous conversations between the driver and the robot, the ‘bot will work out what it can with a home server and give you the best route on a dash-mounted GPS unit. The GPS unit has a little PaPeRo on the screen. If it doesn’t have enough information, it will ask you questions until it knows what it needs to and remember the answers.
Thanks PaPeRo. Now I can date girls. What’s that? No, she won’t come between us? Why must she die? Yes master!
Tomy has released an updated transparent plastic version of their popular radio-controlled R2-D2 mini action figure.
With the mini-lightsaber remote, R2-D2 will move forward or turn on command, rotate his dome as he rolls, beep and whistle, and illuminate his photoreceptor “eye”. R2-D2 measures approximately 2.5 inches tall, and includes batteries for the remote and the droid himself. What makes this one extra special is the transparent plastic of both the figure and the remote control, showing the inner workings…
But what I really need is a droid that understands Bocchi for my moisture evaporators.
The Murata Boy, a robot developed in Japan, can ride a bicycle like you and me. He’s got Gyro Sensors so he can detect position and balance itself. He can even identify if a surface is uneven, with obstacles or is as smooth as a highway. It transmits images back to a computer for future reference and analysis. Apparently, this creation is the product of trying to develop a robot that can lift heavy loads and assist in perilous terrain sites.
Here’s the first commercial ever made by a fembot. Actroid DER-2 stars in a 15-second TV ad titled “The Woman Who Doesn’t Rust”. It’s promoting an insect repellent and sunscreen spray. From far away she looks kinda good, but the close-up will scare the hell out of you. Now that Fembots are making commercials, porn can’t be far behind.
Wall-E is the cutest robot of all time. Just look at the box office numbers if you don’t believe me. The Ultimate Wall-E remote control robot is now available for pre-order. Wall-E can chat with you, dance, play music, even sense / avoid obstacles. He won’t get you a date, but that’s life. They don’t expect to ship him until October 16th, so you may be lonely for awhile.
The Valtra RoboTrac is a tractor. Sort of. It’s also a robot, and much smaller than the ones you are used to. It’s a fully programmable, automated farmhand that will round out any farm team and make it more productive. That’s because it performs a lot of tasks like tilling, plowing, disking, planting, harrowing, spraying, weeding, and more. 
Murasaki Shikibu is famously known for writing The Tale of Genji. She’s a rock star goddess in Japan. The MURASAKI robot stands at 31-centimeters tall and weighs 3.3-pounds. It’s a beautiful work of art, I’ll give it that. 
