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Bleeding Edge 081: CES 2007 Video: Monster 5.1 SuperDisc DVD Music
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2007, Features, Home Entertainment, Music, Science, Videocasts, Videos,
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| The Bleeding Edge
Gallery: Bleeding Edge 081: CES 2007 Video: Monster 5.1 SuperDisc DVD Music
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Make R-Gator Love, Not War
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
Now that Bush has decided to send 20,000 more troops off to war, we would suggest a much safer alternative. iRobot, another company that attended the CES 2007, has created the unmanned R-Gator in cooperation with John Deere. It can act as scout, “point man,” perimeter guard, and pack/ammo/supply carrier. The bot features teleoperation, autonomous waypoint navigation, obstacle avoidance, and manual operation. Released in 2006 in limited numbers, we think it would be an interesting idea to spend tax dollars on robots that cannot be killed as opposed to humans that can.
Read More | iRobot
Gallery: Make R-Gator Love, Not War
NAIAS 2007: Ryuga Gives New Meaning to Zoom-Zoom
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Science, Transportation,
Before we leave the NAIAS, we have to show you the answer to your futuristic automotive prayers. This is the Ryuga (Japanese for “gracious flow”,) a concept car created by Mazda. Destined to come out around the year 2020, it will probably run on hydrogen fuel. Note that there are no door handles (we suspect it opens with an electronic touch keypad) and it looks like you have to slink into it. Of course, you’re not allowed to sit in, touch, or even breathe too closely to the concept cars, but we can’t help but remember when we saw something like this 20 years ago in Sci-fi movies. As we recall, it was also airborne.
Read More | Mazda
Gallery: NAIAS 2007: Ryuga Gives New Meaning to Zoom-Zoom
CES Gives Award to Vex System Robotics
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,
Ignition has been awarded a CES Best of Innovations with its erector set-like Vex Robotics Kit. Developed in cooperation with First (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute, the starter kit comes with everything you need to design and build a radio-controlled robot that can lift, throw or just move around in its botty way.
Industrial designer Doug Galleti says that the Vex system can “provide ease of construction at an affordable price point – capturing a larger audience of tech geeks.”
Contact Vex Robotics if you have $299.99 to acquire your very own kit and don’t want to share with your kids.
Read More | Vex Robotics via CES 2007 Awards
Gallery: CES Gives Award to Vex System Robotics
Celestron Unveils VistaPix Imaging Spotter
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, CES, CES 2007, Misc. Tech, Science,
Celestron has brought what it describes as a “new generation in imaging optics” to the CES 2007. Its VistaPix IS70 Imaging Spotter and camera has a 70mm spotting scope and 14x magnification. At a weight of 3.5 lbs., it utilizes 2 AA batteries (not included,) and features a 2-inch LCD screen, a 6x zoom, a focus meter, and video capability. The VistaPix comes with a rotatable tripod adapter, a video cable for viewing images on your NTSC or PAL TV, an aluminum case, a shutter cable, 3 lens caps, and a 2-year warranty at a whopping MSRP of $479.00.
Read More | Celestron via CES 2007 Awards
Gallery: Celestron Unveils VistaPix Imaging Spotter
SDI Fighting Android Takes on CES 2007
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,
Too bad Rocky didn’t have the FA1 Fighting Android for training. SDT (Self Defense Technologies) has created an electro-mechanical fighting droid and boasts that it is the first “true” apparatus that can be used for practicing your boxing, kickboxing, or martial arts skills. The 2007 CES Award Honoree features a human-like shape, size, and appearance as his head moves side-to-side, front-to-back, or rotates. His torso does likewise while his legs stay stationary. Watch out though, as the FA1 hits back and has some sexy-looking legs, in a droid kind of way. Contact SDT for price and availability.
Read More | SDT via CES 2007 Awards
Gallery: SDI Fighting Android Takes on CES 2007
Bioloid Kits For Robotics Newbies
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Toys,
One of the companies attending the 2007 CES is Robotis, Korean makers of the Dynamixel Series high-performance actuator controlled by digital packet communication. For the rest of us there are Bioloids, which were designed for education of the principles of robotics. The kits contain a main controller, a servo-module dynamixel, a sensor module, SMPS, NiMH rechargeable batteries, a software CD, and a manual, just in case you have a part leftover.
The kits are available in dinosaur, bipedal humanoid, hexapod spider, quadruped puppy, and autonomous exploration. The company boasts that the kits are easy to assemble with a Phillips screwdriver and can be changed as your whim permits without the threads wearing out. Click on one of the Comprehensive Kits’ images and find out just what these eerie Bioloids can do.
Read More | Robotis via CES 2007 Robotis
Gallery: Bioloid Kits For Robotics Newbies
Government Awards Honor Japan’s Labor-Saving Robots
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Science,
Ten robots have become honorees of prizes given by the Japanese government to encourage robotics research and development. Among the prize winners are a factory worker hand robot, an automatic vacuum-cleaner-on-wheels, “My Spoon,” a bot designed to aid the elderly to eat, and Paro, a furry seal which responds to human interaction. Japan sees robots as a method of dealing with its increasing labor shortage and rapidly aging population. Released forecasts indicate that the country’s 127 million population will decline by 30% by 2055 with those 65 or older comprising 40% of it.
Read More | MSNBC
Gallery: Government Awards Honor Japan’s Labor-Saving Robots
ROMI, the Giant Furby, is Unveiled
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: CES, CES 2007, Misc. Tech, Science, Wireless / WiFi,
ETRI has developed ROMI, a Korean bot that will make its debut at next week’s CES 2007. The robot transmits video with its Wireless/CMDA connection, sees through a camera, and can relay information to your PC or phone. He obeys commands by voice activation of its name. While you can probably give it the most basics of demands such as, “ROMI walk roll” and “ROMI gimme five
none” we have a hunch that this bot is not much more than a glorified Furby.
Read More | Akihabara News
Gallery: ROMI, the Giant Furby, is Unveiled
Silverfish Camcorder Cover Awarded Reddot for Design
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Cameras, Portable Audio / Video, Science,
Another reddot award of note went to the design of the Silverfish, a cover that is designed to house about 100 different camcorder models. The Silverfish was created by hydro-forming, “a process in which water under high pressure distends a steel tube and presses its surface against the insides of a mold, so that its geometry is precisely depicted,” according to creators RWE Mechatronics.
The housing is made of sea water-resistant steel, is buoyancy-neutral, connects with a simple tripod screw, and weighs about 32 oz. With magnetic buttons, the Silverfish will work easily for any wannabe Jacques Cousteau even if he/she is wearing gloves. Visit their site for price and availability.
Read More | reddot design awards
