Biz Buzz: Monkeys Make Machines Move With Their Minds 2011.02.17
Posted by fjackal in Biz Buzz.Tags: biz buzz, brain-machine interface, monkeys, robots
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A recent IEEE Spectrum article shows the amazing progress researchers have made lately with brain-machine interface technology. With two implants, one in the monkey’s arm and one in his motor cortex, the monkey is able to control a robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom! It is easy to see that this technology will carry over to humans for a broad range of applications. Most notably, quadriplegics and other disabled individuals will soon be able to walk again with robotic limbs they control with their minds. Yay!
Biz Buzz: Personal Robotics Industry To Reach $19 billion in 2017 2010.12.17
Posted by fjackal in Biz Buzz.Tags: personal robotics
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The personal robotics industry is currently growing at a rapid pace. Earlier reports pointed to the personal robotics industry reaching a market value of $5 billion by 2015. ABI Research has recently conducted a study which predicts that the Personal Robotics Industry will reach $19 billion within six years. Among the top applications of personal robotics which are growing the industry include security, telepresence, and home cleaning applications.
Biz Buzz: Motoman’s DA Is On the Case 2008.10.1
Posted by fjackal in Biz Buzz.Tags: industrial robotics, motoman, stir fry, yaskawa
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Humanoid industrial robot DA120
Motoman has been shaking up the industrial robotics industry with their latest humanoid offering, the DA120. This particular bot has 7 degrees of freedom per arm, and another additional degree of freedom at the base on a rotational axis. Since it is two-armed, compact, and molded after the human form, it is dynamic and can perform a huge, diverse set of tasks. Equipped with custom programming software, the robot can easily fill a slot on an assembly line that requires precision work, such as wiring cable, applying glue, or stir fry(yeah, I had to go there)…The arms are very agile, and are depicted playing the drums in a parade around Japan on YouTube.
Motoman, a subsidiary of the Yaskawa Electric Corporation, has had a long standing in the robotics industry, with patents in the field dating back to 1969. Many of their robotics have been used in the auto industry, and over 180,000 of their machines have been installed around the world.
