Robot Heart Surgeon Works to the Beat

The BBC reports on what could be a major step forward in heart surgery: a robot surgeon that monitors and responds to the heartbeat.

Usually heart bypass surgery involves stopping the heart during the operation. The heart has to be opened up and blood sent through a machine.

The new experimental robot - Da Vinci - is designed to avoid that problem. It monitors the heart and synchronises its surgical movements in time to the beat.

Da Vinci is still in the experimental stage however it is said to show promise. The software was developed by George Mylonas and surgeon Rajesh Aggarwal.

Army Tests Robotic Convoy

The US Army News Service reports on trials at Fort Gordon of a twenty ton robot vehicle.

The system being tested is hoped to lead to largely unmanned robotic convoys. A manned lead vehicle ("crew integration and automation test bed" - CAT) lays down a trail of "electronic breadcrumbs". The robotic vehicle then tails the CAT.

In the longer term it is hoped that the army will be able to create dedicated unmanned ground vehicles.

The reason for using robotic vehicles is to minimise casualties among soldiers. That is, of course, a fine objective.

But taken to the extreme it could lead to the ironic situation where the only people killed in war are civilians...

Robot Invasion... of Privacy?

Robot Dreams has an interesting story: Vending Machine Robots Provide Security For Children.

Apparently schools in Japan are testing a system to track young students on their way to and from school. The system will use the existing network of street vending machines. Each child will have an ID tag (presumably RFID). When they pass a vending machine their tag will be read, they will be photographed and the information sent to their parents.

Am I the only one to feel nervous about this?

Yes, we all want to protect children. This system will undoubtedly make parents feel happier.

But what sort of signal is it sending to the next generation? We are bringing them into a world where they can expect to be routinely tagged, scanned and recorded. A world where privacy - an essential part of growing up as well as an essential part of adult life - no longer exists.

How long before such a ubiquitous tracking system begins to seem normal and is extended to adults?

In the UK we will all soon have compulssory RFID enabled ID Cards. I'm willing to bet that someone in our government is watching the Japanese experiment in the hope that they can introduce something similar here.

Yes, we must "think of the children".

But we must also think of the adults and our right to privacy.

Mindstorms NXT: Photos

The upcoming LEGO Mindstorms NXT series was on display at the New York International Toy Fair. Thanks to various sites for pointing me in the direction of some photos online at ASMzine.com:

http://toyfair06.asmzine.com/lego/lego-mindstorms/

Cool!

2005: A Good Year for Robotics

The US Robotics Industries Association (RIA) reports that 2005 was the best year ever for the industry in North America.

New orders were up some 23%, surpassing the previous all time high of 1999. North American manufacturing companies ordered 1,228 robots with a total value of $1.16 billion. Orders from automotive manufacturers jumped by 49% - together with their component suppliers, these companies accounted for around 70% of new robot orders in 2005.

The RIA estimates that some 158,000 robots are now installed in American manufacturing operations.

All is not completely rosy, as the end of the year saw a downturn in order books. Donald A. Vincent, Executive Vice President of the RIA, is cautious about 2006. He said:

"Among our concerns is that in the fourth quarter of 2005, we witnessed a slowdown in year on year performance, as new orders in North America actually declined two percent from the same period in 2004.

"We’re also concerned about the troubles faced by leading companies in the automotive industry, since the automotive manufacturers and their suppliers are the largest users of robots in North America.

"And, we remain concerned by the continued shift of manufacturing operations from North America to overseas countries such as China, as well as the robustness of the U.S. economy, which certainly is not as healthy as it was when we posted our previous record year in 1999. All of these factors make us cautious about the expectations for 2006"

Pleo the Robot Dinosaur

Ugobe, the "new kid on the block" in the world of electronic pets, has unveiled its first "Designer Life Form" (R).

Pleo is a robotic young long-neck dinosaur with patented robotics motion. It incorporates nearly 40 sensors and interacts with the environment without needing remote control. Ugobe says that Pleo can convey emotions and will "evolve" his behavious over time. Distinct moods reportedly include:
- anger
- boredom
- playfulness
- hunting
- cautious
- cuddling
- disgust
- disorientation
- distress
- fear
- curiosity
- joy
- sorrow
- surprise
- fatigue
- hunger
- desire for social interaction

Pleo is due to be available to buy from Q3 2006 with a MSRP of $199.

SeaBED Robot Maps Underwater Wreck

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) reports on their successful use of a robot in underwater archaeology.

The target was an underwater wreck of a wooden Greek merchant ship that sank off Chios and Oinoussia islands in the eastern Aegean Sea. Since the wreck was too deep for conventional diving, the team used SeaBED, an "Autonomous Underwater Vehicle" (ie a robot).

SeaBED was created by Hanumant Singh and his team at the WHOI Deep Submergence Laboratory. During a three hour dive the robot used sonar and digital cameras to record a detailed map of the wreck and its contents. It was able to do this without disturbing the wreck.

WHOI estimate that without SeaBED the task would have taken years using normal scuba diving.

Robot Deer Stalks Poachers

The Chicago Sun Times reports on an innovative use of robotics: the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in Michigan City are using a robotic deer to catch poachers.

The deer, called "Bucky" is in fact a real deer that has been stuffed and fitted with robotic control circuitry. The decoy is set up along the side of the road and the Conservation Officer lurks in the thickets.

Bucky is apparently so convincing that one driver stopped and tried to feed it!

Things have moved on a long way since the infamous Milton Keynes concrete cows.

Snow Test for Enyru the Rescue Robot

Japanese Company Tmusk has been "snow testing" its Enyru robot. Enyru - which means "rescue dragon" in Japanese - was developed to help in earthquake rescue. Tmusk hope that it will also be able to help in clearing snow and reaching avalanche survivors.

The robot is over 11 foot tall, weighs 11 tons and has two 15 foot long hydraulic arms. It also has seven cameras, a tank style tread and is operated by remote control.

I almost feel sorry for the snow.

Police Confiscate Mindstorms

Nicolas Nova reports on Pasta and Vinegar that a friend of his was stopped by the police - for playing with Lego Mindstorms!

Apparently the incident happened on a train and a quick witted, well trained, highly intelligent police officer identified Mindstorms as a potential terrorist device.

The unlucky hobbyist was detained and questioned. He was eventually released but had to pay a 50 Euro fine and the police kept the Mindstorms stuff!