Apr 1 2009 Great: Controlling Robots With Your Mind
The Honda Research Institute Japan, along with ATR and Shimadzu Corporation (all of whom can expect threatening letters from yours truly) has developed a system that makes it possible to control robots with your thoughts alone. Wow, this doesn't sound scary at all.
The technology uses electroencephalography (EEG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to allow a human to control a robot, in this case the Honda ASIMO, using mere thought. The technology offers up to 90 percent control accuracy without the use of physical implants, a huge milestone in human-to-robot interface that the research group hopes will yield new advances in robotics and artificial intelligence.
What could possibly go wrong? Besides everything. And by everything I mean the destruction of the entire human race. And also, this LEGO castle I'm building. But I put so much time into it!
Hit the jump for a video explaining the technology.
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Jan 20 2009 Wow, What A Go-Getter: Kid Buys Back Car To Prove Speeding Ticket Was Falsely Issued
One day Dale Lyle got a speeding ticket in the mail issued by one of those automatic ticketing cameras. It claimed he was doing 98MPH in his 14-year old Honda Civic, a car he insisted could only do 85MPH max on a downhill slope with a tailwind. So what did he do? He did what any badass would do -- he stuck it to the man like dogshit under a cardoor handle.
Mr Lyle, 21, who has a clean driving license, had already sold the car to a friend for £600. He had to take out a bank overdraft to buy it back. Then he had to pay an independent driving expert £600 to test the 1.3litre Civic's top speed at a circuit in Bedfordshire.
The result was as expected. Even when driven flat-out, the Honda could still only do a top speed of 85.4mph in fourth gear and 81.3mph in fifth.Next, Mr Lyle obtained the mobile speed-camera footage of his alleged offence - travelling at 98mph on a 70mph three-lane carriageway of the A38, near Plymouth, on December 13, 2007.
The three-minute film shows three other cars in the frame at the same time, he said, which he believes means his vehicle was mistaken for another.
Nice, Dale, way to make us all proud. Now make the court give you back all the money you spent. I swear, I wish I was more like you. I probably would have just paid the fines and then vandalized the ticketing camera. Yay, passive-aggressiveness!
Also, somebody make this website a freaking Wikipedia page already. Geekologie demands Wikognition!
Hit the jump for a picture of the test report Dale had run.
Nov 7 2008 Thanks But No Thanks (I Value My Ass): Honda's Assisted Walking Device
Honda's taking another stab at the growing assisted walking market (that's a market!?), this time with what appears to be a robot that hides between your legs and pokes you in the genitals.
The device will supporting a portion of user's body weight whether they're crouching, walking or climbing stairs and is meant to help both those physically weakened with age or injury as well as workers who would need to reduce the stress on their bodies from heavy work or unusual positions.
The device will support users within two inches of its preset 5-foot, 7-inch user height. The entire system, including its lithium ion battery and shoes, weighs 14.3lbs, and uses two electric motors to assist users' leg movement for up to two hours before a re-charge is required.
Interesting, but I'm going to have pass. You see, I accidentally violated myself with a pogo stick once, and ever since, well, I just couldn't imagine ever cheating on it. I heart you Springy!
Hit the jump for another picture of the barebones device, along with a video of the piece in action.
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May 14 2008 Honda's ASIMO Conducts An Orchestra
To calm your shaking nerves after that last prophetic post, I've decided to put up a less fear-inspiring robot feature. The last time we saw Honda's ASIMO here on Geekologie all he could do was fall up and down stairs (NOTE: you must watch those, it'll make you feel like we stand a chance in the robot war), but now -- now he can conduct orchestras.
The lights dimmed, the sold-out hall grew hushed and out walked the conductor -- shiny, white, 4 feet 3 inches tall. ASIMO, a robot designed by Honda Motor Co., met its latest challenge Tuesday evening: Conducting the Detroit Symphony in a performance of "The Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha."
Whew, not nearly as frightening as the robotic killers in the last post, was it? I thought this might help. You can come out from under your desks now. Although...I suppose the little robotic bastard could stab a person's eyes out with the conductor's baton. Awh, shit. *shuffles back into the closet with my blankey and boob pudding*
Honda robot conducts Detroit Symphony to warm response [yahoonews]
Thanks to Matt F and The Superficial Writer. Say -- Matt and I, we, uh, totally tag-teamed Megan Fox this past weekend*. Yeah, and Optimus Prime taped the whole thing. I thought, I don't know, maybe you could do a post about it.
*High-five!
Feb 14 2008 The DIY AeroCivic Will Definitely Get You Great Mileage, Definitely Not Laid
Mike Turner pimped out his 15 year old Civic with lots of what appears to be Bondo, molded cardboard and duct tape to create the AeroCivic. It has a drag coefficient of 0.17 (the new Honda Civic hybrid is around a 0.27) and gets 95 MPG when "driving at a constant speed from 30 to 65 MPH on a flat road in 80 degree temperatures with well broken-in tires." In any other circumstance it gets about 8 MPG. Just kidding. I admire your work Mike, and wish you and the AeroCivic the best in the future. Also, I hope you're already married. Because unless you're looking to bag Mother Nature herself, you're gonna have a hell of a hard time doing it in that thing.
Several more pictures of the AeroCivic after the jump.
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