Jul 13 2009 Robotic Workers Being Laid Off In Japan
Finally, some good news. Thanks to the current global economic crisis, many robots in Japan are finding themselves out of work. And, hopefully, oil. Rust and die you dirty bastards!
Japan's legions of robots, the world's largest fleet of mechanized workers, are being idled as the country suffers its deepest recession in more than a generation as consumers worldwide cut spending on cars and gadgets.
At a large Yaskawa Electric factory on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, where robots once churned out more robots, a lone robotic worker with steely arms twisted and turned, testing its motors for the day new orders return. Its immobile co-workers stood silent in rows, many with arms frozen in midair.They could be out of work for a long time. Japanese industrial production has plummeted almost 40 percent and with it, the demand for robots.
As pumped as I am to hear about out-of-work robots, the whole economic crisis thing kind of puts a damper on my excitation. I have feelings, you know? Also, a powerful green laser. Call me.
In Japan, Machines for Work and Play Are Idle [nytimes]
Thanks to patrick, who once stole a robots job AND its girlfriend. Good lookin', Patrick.
Mar 5 2009 Death A La Mode: A Robotic Ice Cream Server
I just don't get it -- why take the chance? What's wrong with paying some pimply adolescent $6/hour to serve ice cream? You have to look at his ugly face, that's what. Still, I want the record to show that I am anti-robotic ice cream server.
These Kuka industrial robots were programmed by 26 students over 5 weeks to serve ice cream (with toppings!) to attendees at Ohio Northern University's homecoming festivities.
Well, like the saying goes, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for HOLY SHIT THAT ROBOT HAS SPRINKLES -- HIT THE DECK!!!"
Hit the jump for a relatively boring 5-minute video about the servers of death.
Continue Reading " Death A La Mode: A Robotic Ice Cream Server "
Dec 12 2008 That's It, I'm Moving: Robotic Statistics
Africa -- who's coming with me?
Hit the jump for two more graphics I didn't bother looking at because I'm too busy throwing clothes in a suitcase.
Continue Reading " That's It, I'm Moving: Robotic Statistics "
Jun 30 2008 Cardboard Bicycles Could Be Coming Soon
Remember the kid that built that wooden bike awhile ago? That thing was sweet and made from trees. And so is this one. Phil Bridge is a 21-year old Industrial Design student that developed a cardboard bicycle. The idea is to make bikes so cheap that nobody will be put off by the thought of buying a bike as a means of personal transportation.
A typical round town bike can cost several hundred pounds. That's a large investment for people who aren't sure whether they will use it. The idea of cardboard is to completely devalue the bike.
Phil's current prototype can hold up to 168-pounds (I'm out), costs $6 to manufacture (frame only, it uses a standard chain mechanism and wheels) and will cost about $24. Allegedly it's even rainproof. It is not, however, fireproof. So be sure to park it inside if you live near a volcano.
Cardboard Bicycle Costs Just $30, Don't Leave It Out in the Rain [gizmodo]
May 27 2008 My Hand Is Red!: Make Things Glow Different Colors With A Handheld Thermal Imager
The $7,500 Thermal Imaging Camera from Fluke combines "both a visible light digital image with an infrared one, producing a single view that lets you get an immediate visual temperature may of whatever you aim it at." It was designed primarily for an industrial work environment, and if it was priced $7,400 cheaper I'd consider getting one. But not because I work in a factory, because I don't. No, I've heard these things are great for ghost hunting. It's a fact that ghosts are colder than the air surrounding them and try to grope me in my sleep.
Another picture of some guy (which may or may not be Mike Rowe, the object of my nonsexual man-crush) using the thing, after the jump.
Dec 20 2007 Japan's 2007 Robot Of The Year Goes To...
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) named the year's best robots, and first place went to a two-armed robot made by Fanuc that's equipped with a visual tracking system and works in food and drug manufacturing lines. That video above is of the quick bastard in action. When accepting his "Robot of the Year" award the two armed robot stated "I just do my job, you know. I really wish I could fight, fly, and had a sweet freaking laser cannon on one arm, because that would be bad-ass. Hell, with that kind of equipment I'd be up to my visual tracking system in robotic puss. But nooo, I'm stuck sorting pills in a damn factory. This gig is lame. Now get out of here before I jam this trophy up your ass."
Click the link to the article if you want to see the runners up.
2007 Robot of the Year [pinktentacle]
