Archive for July 16th, 2008

Whether you fancy yourself a Rachael Ray or a Chef Boyardee, chances are you don’t like cleaning up afterwards. You’d probably rather kick back and watch the Food Network. This robot chef was developed by the Technical University of Munich and what makes him different is the fact that he uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags on dishes and utensils in the kitchen. This way he can tell the difference between objects and keep everything in it’s proper place like an anal retentive foodie. Using RFID there’s no need for fancy vision data. This robot isn’t ready for his own food show just yet. They have some kinks to work out first. But once he’s ready, he’s one orderly and neat mofo.

[electricpig]

Hate Parking your car? Maybe you just hate multi-level car garages. Why not have a robot do it for you? Skypark systems in Budapest, Hungary, will be able to handle all of your parking woes via remote control. This will save you time and gas and probably spare you a headache. They say that the Skypark system can double the amount of spaces available in a conventional garage.

Robot 250, sponsored by Carnegie Mellon University and the City of Pittsburgh is the place to be. It includes tons of robotic art installations, many of them interactive. Take the video above for instance. Mower is a robotic sheep on six legs. Inspired by Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? It trims grass with a blade in its mouth and just does it’s sheep thing, shuffling around, chewing and baaaaing. The head is equipped with obstacle avoidance sensors and a GPS locator. It was designed by Osman Khan. And Mower is just one of the robotic wonders to behold. Check out their site for more awesome robots.

[Robot250]

He also created a time machine and space suit, oh and a wooden Ark of the Covenant. Michael T. Rea is a one of a kind artist that creates all kinds of stuff. Even multi barrel ray guns and wooden mecha war-suits. His materials include wood, burlap, and rope, and the end result are life-sized versions science fiction objects.

Are they metal and full of circuitry and wires? No. But they do make the imagination soar.