Bionic Hand
Dennis Sorensen is the first amputee in the world to feel. New advancements in bionic technology have allowed him to physically sense objects through a new hand. He is able to gently pick up delicate objects, as well as identify objects while blindfolded only through robotic touch. The revolutionary technology works on highly sensitive sensors that transmit information directly into his nervous system.
This bionic device could be applied to any limb, if it can be as complex as the hand, and change the medical world forever. Entire limbs could theoretically be replaced with bionics, making amputees just like new, if not better than before.
This bionic device could be applied to any limb, if it can be as complex as the hand, and change the medical world forever. Entire limbs could theoretically be replaced with bionics, making amputees just like new, if not better than before.
Robo-Drummer
Similar to the previous story, Georgia Tech has created a bionic arm. This arm has been perfectly built to play drum set. The arm detects the flexing of muscles and loosens or tightens its grip on the drumstick accordingly. What makes this appendage different is that a second drumstick controls itself. When it detects sound, it plays its own rhythm, in time with what the person is playing. This essentially makes the person a superhuman, three-armed drummer.
Georgia Tech has also experimented using this technology to make a robots-only band. But this combination of man and machine makes the music more human, revolutionizing both the medical field and the musical field.
Georgia Tech has also experimented using this technology to make a robots-only band. But this combination of man and machine makes the music more human, revolutionizing both the medical field and the musical field.
Unassisted AI
Scientists at Missouri University of Science have developed a "brain" for robots. It's a feedback system in which other robots can "ask" it questions when its stuck in a situation. This allows most robots to run independently, without any human supervision. This robotic brain contains an Artificial Intelligence unit in place of humans to direct robots. If powerful enough A single Brain could control and direct a large fleet of mobile robots. On certain expeditions, this AI could command a group off robots to accomplish their respective missions, and helping them when they get stuck, all without human supervision.
Teacher vs. Student
When a robot needs to be replaced, a problem arises in transferring all the data from one robot to its replacement. The simplest thing to do would be to remove the inner workings from the original robot and put it directly into the new version. But most of the time, it won't work with new models. A recent breakthrough has created a robot that is able to teach other robot what it knows. In a demonstration, the robot taught another how to play Pac-man. It gave help when needed, but did not overwhelm the student with information. This then allowed the student to teach other robots what it had learned. This technology can be passed on to household cleaning robots, hospital robots, and even machinery in factories. They can be easily replaced, with little to no human interaction.
Mind-Controlled Exoskeleton
To start off the 2014 World Cup, a paraplegic Brazilian will ceremoniously kick the first goal, with the help of a robotic exoskeleton. This will be the first public demonstartion of this technology, soon to revolutionize the medical field and make wheelchairs obsolete. The extraordinary new body will help amputees use their mind to control them, by using nerve impulses to direct the motors. This demonstration is important because it will appear on international televison live, showing everybody just how far technology has come.
Robotic Firefighters
The Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR) has been built and tested by engineers at Virginia Tech to protect ships from onboard fires. The robots can basically perform the duties of a regular firefighter: locating the fire, getting the hose, turning valves, and holding the hose over the fire. In addition, cameras and sensors allow the SAFFiR to search the area for survivors. It is meant to work in tandem with human firefighters, using its ability to withstand higher heat to get closer to the flames. SAFFiR is humanoid, standing at around five feet tall, and performs just as well as any human. While not available yet, it is being continuously tested aboard the decommissioned USS Shadwell. Such a robot could cut down both on the manpower and danger of boat fires on military and transportation ships alike. The SAFFiR can move quickly and efficiently to cut down fires just as easily, if not better than their human counterparts.
Lauron V
Lauron V is a relatively simple robot by FZI Laboratories. It has six legs and can climb ramps up to 35 degrees. It's secret is a fourth joint in each of its triple-jointed legs that alway orient the legs to the ground, allowing it to walk nearly straight up the slope. The robot has no cameras or 3d mapping equipment, and no prior knowledge of the ramp it must climb. One of the reasons the Lauron V is so successful is the high amount of friction between the feet and the plywood ramp. However, if the feet were introduced to real-world slopes made of materials like brick or cement, the friction coefficient could increase significantly, allowing it to potentially climb steeper grade slopes. Also, Lauron V has legs as opposed to wheels, allowing it to climb easily over obstacles where wheels could get stuck. This seems like and urban robot, able to climb steep slopes easily to deliver supplies or packages where wheels would fail.
Amigo
Amigo is a robot that uses information gathered by other robots to complete its tasks. First, a series of small robots go into a room, scanning and documenting every detail. This data is stored in a database that the large, humanoid robot Amigo can use to effectively "learn" about the room before entering. In the conducted experiment, Amigo used the information other robots had gathered to enter a room, locate a carton of milk, pick it up, and bring it to the bedside table. Amigo successfully completed these steps by searching through the database of information from other robots, instead of looking at the room itself. Amigo's learning technology could be used in places like a real hospital, instead of the mock one in the experiment. Without requiring programming, the robot could use what it knows to complete chores, or to deliver things, by learning it from previous robots.
3-D Printed Reefs
Enrico Dini has manufactured a large-scale 3-D printer. He hopes to use it to replicate enormous reefs in the oceans, reinvigorating life there. The lifesize reefs will be placed where old reefs have decayed and been destroyed, hopefully encouraging new life to grow. To create these artificial reefs, Enrico will analyze current reefs structure, and duplicate the features exactly using computer mapping. The new and improved sustainable reefs could potentially revitalize the ecosystems for fish in many oceans.