Hunter Killer

The following is a post from Sentient Developments.



It's the product of the Missile Defense Agency and they call it the MKV-L (Multiple Kill Vehicle). The hover bot is meant to be used as a bundle of missile interceptors deployed by a larger carrier. Objectives of this particular test included having the MKV-L hover under its own power and prove its capability to recognize and track a surrogate target in a flight environment.

Terminator style hunter-killer, here we come.

For Your Reading Pleasure

How to build robots who won't kill us.

See, We Told You So

The Pentagon is looking for contractors to build packs of robots that will hunt down uncooperative humans.

Somebody's Working On It

Hope?

Isaac Lives

Asimov's Laws are actually being followed.

Of course, many of his robot stories involved ways that the laws were broken, so I wouldn't hold out too much hope that this will hold back the robot rebellion.

Nerd Builds Robot Clone

Robot Aliens? "Sure, Why Not?," Says Smart Guy.

Odds are about 50/50 that alien robots are even now plotting our destruction.

As if we didn't have enough to worry about here on our own little rock.

Last Call

Robot bartender. Seems to be able to only serve beer at the moment, which may help lessen the opportunity to slip you a mickey.

LegoBot is Smarter Than You

A Swedish fellow built a robot out of legos that solves Rubik's Cube in 60 moves or less.



Another blogger's algorithm for solving the Rubik’s cube puzzle is much faster and only requires a hammer and a quarter pound of superglue.

Game Over

That's it, folks. We're done.

They've gone and built a biologically based robot brain.

The robot’s biological brain is made up of cultured neurons which are placed onto a multi electrode array (MEA). The MEA is a dish with approximately 60 electrodes which pick up the electrical signals generated by the cells. This is then used to drive the movement of the robot. Every time the robot nears an object, signals are directed to stimulate the brain by means of the electrodes. In response, the brain's output is used to drive the wheels of the robot, left and right, so that it moves around in an attempt to avoid hitting objects. The robot has no additional control from a human or a computer, its sole means of control is from its own brain.

We're now officially doomed.

I'll Buy That for a Dollar

Crime fighting robots by 2040.

"The robots themselves will not be super-intelligent and will not be motivated to take over themselves, but those who control the robots will control society."


The study that came to this conclusion was sponsored by the dvd release of The Sarah Conner Chronicles. Conflict of interest?

This is Not My Beautiful Robot

David Byrne lends his voice to a robot named Julio.

How soon until we get subjected to a Madonna-bot? Oh, wait. Some folks suspect we already have...

How Low Can You Go?

Spiderbot does the limbo.

Robot Army On The Rise

Some plucky Brits utilized the technology that makes your mobile phone vibrate to create a small army of autonomous robots.

Says a biorobotics professor: "This also poses important research questions: how can we maintain and control thousands of robots."

Yeah, let's get a handle on that now, shall we?

The Shining. With Robots.

Keep A Close Eye On Your Sushi

Robofish.

And you're the bait, Chester.

Just Plain Creepy

So this is the "Heart Robot" that reacts to the way you treat it. It's got a little "heart" that "beats" and a "breathing stomach" and these respond to the way you treat it. Give it a hug and it relaxes, show it some anger and it gets tense.

Let's see what it does when we "smother" it with a "pillow."

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Lego robots to be shot into space.

So I reckon a lego robot is like the primitive version of the T-1000 Terminator: if it breaks while trying to kill you, it can just put the blocks back together.

More Wall Climbin'

Didn't you see one of these outside your window the other night?

Pull My Finger

SENSOPAC, an ominous sounding European outfit undoubtedly working for Skynet or perhaps Ernst Stavro Blofeld, is developing a robotic hand controlled by a robotic brain and featuring sensitive robot skin (no doubt soaked in Palmolive).

"The hand they have built is closely modeled on the human hand. It can snap its fingers, pick up an egg or carry a cup of coffee. Its fingers are moved by 38 opposing motors."

How much longer until they find out whether it can pull a trigger?

FrogBot Says "Oui!"

A French company announces a humanoid robot called NAO they plan to make available to the public.


Love the red beret, cocked at a jaunty angle on its little head. Now it just needs a pencil thin mustache to complete the stereotype. Oo la la.

Don't Probe Me, Bro

Caltech predicts probe droids will do the dirty work of checking out our local sector of the galaxy by 2020.


Well, maybe, but only if they haven't killed us off first, I suppose.

Would You Like Fries With That?

The US Army placed an order for 220 additional robots to join 1500 that are already deployed.

The robots in question are the PackBot 510, which are programmed to investigate suspicious objects, identify roadside bombs and find Sarah Conner.

Canadian Robot Makes Its Own Decisions, Eh?

Nova 5 has "humanlike abilities of perception and decision-making."

A professor involved with the project says, "This robot will be able to analyze the situation and determine where the particular threat could be coming from in terms of its sensors."

You look like a threat to me, puny human.

This Day in Robot Domination History

Just a friendly warning: today marks the anniversary of the first known incident of a robot killing a human. Robert Williams became the first victim of world robot domination when "an automated piece of machinery turned and crushed the 34-year-old worker against a safety bar. He died five days later."

You have been warned.

RoboStool on the Prowl

Sure, it looks comfy. Until it bites your feet off.

Yoshimi vs the Pink Robots

Another of our favorite songs.

Robot High School

One of our favorite songs.

We've Got Crabs

If you see one of these little robocrabs scuttling around your office, just step on 'em like the bugs they are.

You know they're listening to you. Relaying information back to your manager. Or to the evil robot overlords. Or, perhaps, both.

Play it safe. Get some crab stompin' boots.

You Sure As Hell Better Have Exact Change

Driverless robot buses to run amok in Britain.

I suppose it'll make bus stops obsolete -- these buses will find you.

Move Over, Care Bears

Here comes the Care-O-Bot.

The one-armed, three-fingered robot can "recognize and respond to gestures."

Yeah, well respond to this, buddy. I got your gesture right here.

RoboFest

Pittsburgh.

Ground zero for the robot revolution?

We're Doomed. Doomed!

What will they do next? Aren't their nefarious plans to take over the earth bad enough? Now must they destroy us at air hockey?

Is nothing sacred anymore?

SpiderBot, SpiderBot, Does Whatever A SpiderBot Does

I feel my robosense tingling.

Candy Gram

Behold the LandShark.

Competing with other Pentagon robots, the LandShark has the added bonus of being able to disguise its voice when it knocks on your door.

Happy Independence Day, Puny Humans

Enjoy it while you still can...

Thanks to our favorite artist.

Dances with Robots

Newsweek article about the Japanese obsession with making robots more human-like.

"The goal is to build an intelligent environment for the symbiosis of robots and humans in everyday life. The real challenge is to come up with robots that can actually communicate with people."

Robot: You Sarah Conner?

Woman: Yes.

Well, you know the rest.

Pray for Mercy

Thanks to nullifidian

Love Ain't Nothin' But Sex Misspelled

Sex with robots by 2050.

Death at the hands of robots by 2051.

Dr Roboto

A nice article on Slate about the embracing of robot surgeons.

"We don't yet let robots wash the car or mow the lawn, but dissect out a cancerous prostate? Sure, go ahead."

And now, it seems, these robot docs aren't quite living up to their promise. Shocking.

Watch Your Backs, Warehouse Workers of the World

These cute yellow guys are taking your jobs.

This also means, of course, that we need to start keeping an eye on our packages. Who knows what these little buggers will plant inside your next shipment of sprockets.

Why We Fear Them

We grew up with things like this.

Is it any wonder we fear them? We've seen the future. Have you tried to pull off your wife's face lately? Be careful. To quote Dr. Zaius, "You may not like what you find."

Robots Killed the Radio Star

Watch Where You Sit

This little fellow just may be crawling around inside your pipes.

Not sure if flushing will deter it.

Knock Knock

So this fellow's specialty is going around by itself and asking permission before going through a doorway.

I suspect it happens something like this:

Knock knock.

"You Sarah Connor?"

Blam Blam Blam!

Dance Fever

The latest pointless robot to hit the market: a dancing robot that hooks up to your ipod.

Money quote from the article: "The owner can also enjoy being chased around the house by the robot."

Priceless. Sometimes these things just write themselves.

Uniting to Better Crush, Kill and Destroy Us All

A fistful of Japanese robotics firms are joining forces, Transformers(or is it more Power Rangers?)-like, to make one big giant evil venture.

Together, they hope to sell 200,000 to 300,000 robots within the next five years.

Oh, joy.

I'm thinking that the first real skirmishes in the robot wars will begin on their little island nation anytime now.

Mr Roboto

DJ Motoman gives autographs and spins records.


Insert joke about current top 40 radio here.

Robot Walks, Talks, Listens, Kills

Reem-B is allegedly capable "face recognition, speech interaction, biped walking, traversing stairs, and sitting."

But I have to say, the design of this thing practically screams out, "Crush, Kill, Destroy!"

Hook, Line and Sinker

So what bait would you use for a robofish?

Don't fool yourself, Buster. You're the bait.

And So It Begins...

They can reproduce.

Oh well, fellow homo sapiens, it was fun while it lasted, but it's all over now. Kiss your fleshy butts goodbye and kneel before your RoboOverlords.

CameraBot Enema

Now they want to send a robot camera into your intestines to take pictures, presumably while they simultaneously inject you with some sort of disease or explosive nanobots.

Or maybe they just want detailed maps of our intestines so the nanobot forces can better find their way when they're unleashed at a later date.

Monkey Video

But Who Determines What is the Threat?

Get A Rope

So this little blue AstroBoy wannabe climbed the Grand Canyon. But this was more about batteries than robotechnology.

So this robot can keep on killing...and killing...and killing...and killing...

Monkey Paw

Sure, right now the cute little monkey uses a link in his brain to power a robot arm that he then uses to feed himself.

But have these researchers never seen real monkeys? How long until they start checking each other for ticks and then start flinging poo at us? Imagine how much force they could use with that robot arm. Makes clean up time just that much more difficult.

SnoBots

Sure, they look like tiny rc snowmobiles, but they're heading to the pole to become little roboShackletons.

Yes, the north pole, where tiny robots can continue implanting and tending their nefarious global warming devices while pretending to help polar bears.

Or maybe they'll head straight for the alien base lodged in the center of the earth.

Creepy

Just plain creepy.



The website also makes this creepy promise: "Male version available soon."

Ancient Chinese Secret, Huh?

Now they're taking over our jobs as commercial spokesmodels.



Maybe this is why SAG is considering a strike.

Light My Fire

Meet Flame, a new robot that walks like a human.

Do I really need to say anything more about where this could lead?

The thing's got fire in place of a head, for Pete's sake!

Your Friendly Neighborhood SpiderBot

Continuing the insect theme, here's a wall-crawler.

It crawls up your wall, parks itself on the ceiling and waits for a signal from the evil robot overlords to drop a web of death on you.

Jumpin' Jehosaphat

Robot grasshopper jumps into action. Developers hope to use it for searching for survivors of disasters or hop around another planet.

Or hop into your home to keep an eye on things?

Mow-Bot

Well, maybe this robot's not so bad.

Although I suppose you'll need to keep your feet up.

Oh My God -- It Ate A Kitten!

Beware RoboStool. It's already eaten a cat, and soon it'll be coming after you.



Better not get off your La-Z-Boy...

Robots on the Brain

From our friends in Canada:

"Calgary doctors have made surgical history, using a robot to remove a brain tumour from a 21-year-old woman.

'It was scary at first,' said Nickason of the idea of being operated on by a robot."


Gee, you think?

Well, That Didn't Take Long

They've eliminated the need for a human conductor, so why not kick out the human musicians as well?





UPDATE

Here's a longer video. Same robots, though. Same shameful display of robots making humans obsolete as part of their nefarious plans.

Stop the Presses!

From The Press Association:

British scientists have won a £1 million grant to find out if a robot can safely be employed to stir soup in a kitchen.

The project called Co-operative Human Robot Interaction Systems and based at the Bristol Robotics Lab has been funded by the European Commission.

A lab spokeswoman said: "It will specifically look at the problems of a human and a robot working together in the same space, for example in a kitchen where the service robot is performing a task such as stirring soup, while you add cream."

Here's another article on this important subject.

I'm just not sure I have a comment on this story. Except, of course, the obligatory reference to that Outer Limits cook book, To Serve Man.

First They Took Our Conductors, And I Said Nothing...

So the first big concert of the RoboSymphony Orchestra happened yesterday.

First they outsource our conductors, then our viola players become robots and then...?

By the way, does anybody else think it's ironic that Japan sent a robot they built to conduct an orchestra in Detroit...?

The Undersea World of RoboCousteau

This little feller will "explore the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to study the growth of underwater volcanoes."

Hmm. Volcanoes, eh?

How long until they start hollowing them out to make a secret lair where they can finally hammer out their plans to annihilate us?

RoboBugs Climb Through Rubble To Make Sure You're Dead

Researchers are working to build smarter robots by using bug locomotion as a model for climbing over rough terrain.

Quote: "the research is expected to lead to the introduction of powerful and flexible machines suitable for use in dynamically changing environments where conditions are unstable or unpredictable, such as war zones or disaster areas."

War zones, eh? Like the war between robots and humans...?

Now Here's A Great Lede

How's this for an opening sentence:

Emotion-detecting robot cars will face off against eavesdropping flying saucers in the English countryside...

Comin' Right Up

RoboExotica features robots serving cocktails.

What could be better than robobartenders serving you a hot cup of fiery death?

Tastes Great, Less Killing

Now we 're developing mouths -- so robots can figure out what we taste like.

Maybe they'll be less likely to keep chewing if they find out we don't taste like chicken. Unless, of course, we do taste like chicken. Then we're in trouble.

Bear Market

Well here's an interesting new way for them to approach world domination. Through our free market system.

Meet Marl the stock picking robot.

Quote: Once an orderly and uncongested chart pattern is recognized; proven to generate risk/reward is identified by "Marl", it will then be added to its "Watch List".

Yeah, I bet we'll all be added to its watch list sooner or later.

Image from http://olegportnoy.blogspot.com

Early Adoption

New York Times article on robots in surgery.

Money quote: “The real story is that this is a technology that has been disseminated fairly widely prematurely."

Gosh, that couldn't be a problem, could it?

RoboSquirrel

At long last, someone has developed a robot squirrel. They're used to observe squirrel behavior, blah blah blah.

Great. Now I have to worry about whether the squirrels in my yard are actually part of a robot surveillance team.

RoboAnesthetist

Yes, now we have a robot anesthesiologist, adorably named McSleepy.

It's just perfect, isn't it? What better way to lull us into submission before injecting us with a three drug cocktail?

Robot Arm of Doom

Robot arm picks up coins. Next, it will insert them in a slot it slices into your neck.

Robot + Heart Surgery = ?

So now robots are heading straight for the source. Yes, robot heart surgeons. Hey, why not cut out the middleman and just kill us in the operating room?

Israeli TankBot Photo

Modular Robot Reassembles Itself After Being Kicked Apart

Holy crap! The working prototype of the T-1000 is already here!

Israeli Military Robot Deploys

Oh goody. More military robots. The Guardium comes equipped with cameras and machine guns and, at least for the time being, is operated via joystick from a control room by an actual human.


John Pike (great grandfather of Christopher Pike?), head of a military think tank (ha!) sez:

"A robot does what it's told, and you'll be able to get them to advance in ways its hard to get human soldiers to do. They don't have fear, and they kill without compunction."

But more importantly, he said, "A robot means you don't have to write a condolence letter."

Yes. And the robot will not write a letter to anyone when it turns on its masters. Quite a savings on rising postage costs.

Robot to Conduct Orchestra

Computerworld reports that Asimo, Honda's little robot, will conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra next month.

I hope it doesn't slice up YoYo Ma while it's slinging around a sharp baton.

Speaking of Art and Robots...

Robot Talent Show Call for Entries

Our New Favorite Artist

This one's called Shrunken Heads of Robotica. It's by Geoffrey Aaron Harris. He's also got some great rocketship art.

I've Fallen, And I Can't Get Up

This robot can dial 9-1-1 -- and, as an added bonus, can hold things like a stethoscope to see if you're dead.

So the big question is, will it dial 9-1-1 before or after it kills you?