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?

Armed Robots in Iraq Begin to Turn on Their Masters?

Popular Mechanics reports that the armed SWORDS robots have been pulled out of Iraq after several incidents when the robot's gun started swinging around without being given a command.

Oops. Guess they're still being deployed after all. Hope our guys and gals over there duck whenever they get anywhere near these things.

Nowhere to Run

Cornell sent a robot walking round a track for over 5 miles, a new record for robots.

Sounds like a good time to buy a new pair of running shoes.

Robot Flower On The Loose

Ah, art.

This robot flower chases visitors around an airport, attempting to slice them into ribbons with its ship propeller petals.

Beware of security checkpoints...

Wedding of the Future

Maybe We Don't Have So Much To Fear After All

Microsoft is dipping its mighty toes into the world of robotics.

So what exactly do we have to fear from a Windows-based robot? We can always control-alt-delete it to death.

Will It Cry As It Tries To Kill You?

MIT develops a robot that creepily mimics emotions.

First they smile at you, pretend to be your friend, cry with you over a few beers, then WHAM! you're toast.

Look! Up in the Sky! It's A Bird! It's A Plane! It's RoboHawk!

From io9:

The RQ-4 Global Hawk broke the world record for unrefueled flight endurance by a full-scale uncrewed aircraft. It fills a role similar to the U2 spy plane, but it's controlled by ground crews that hang out in two separate bunkers far from the action. "At more than 40 feet long, with a 116-foot wingspan, the Global Hawk is one impressive bird. Don't think Sarah Connor hasn't noticed."