The Nao Robot, part of the MyRobot connected site (Via Nao)

A social network for robots has gone live. MyRobots.com hopes to connect bots and smart web-enabled objects together in a type of "cloud robotics." The goal is to augment devices capabilities by off-loading computation or other task to the "cloud." This pushes robots beyond their physical and software limitations.

Users of the service can create apps to aid in adding to a bot's function. For example, a robot has a camera but does nothing with it but stream video. A cloud based app would give this bot image recognition, navigation, object tracking and the like to that image.

Once the owner's bot is connected to MyRobots.com, it can be monitored via the web, sent commands, return updates, and run custom applications. At the moment only a handful of robots are compatible with the social network. However, Arduino based devices and PCs can connect to the system.

A serial to Ethernet gateway allows  most non-connected bots to hop on the network. At $77 USD a piece, connecting various old "dumb-bots" may have to wait.

My question, can a virtual robot connect to MyRobots? If so, can improvements be made to the virtual-bot?

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Babyloid (via Robonable)

The applications of robots as solutions to different psychological problems are just now being explored. A recent project in Japan is currently working to find robotic solutions to mental ailments suffered by its elderly, which makeup 20% of Japans total population. Masayoshi Kanoh, professor at Chukyo University in Japan, has developed a doll with the intent of providing therapeutic interaction older people suffering from depression or dementia. He calls his creating Babyloid. Like the name suggests, this robot simulates the actions and behavior of a baby in hope of providing elderly users with a sense of purpose.

Aesthetically, Babyloid has a fluffy cover and a robotic cartoonish face that can express emotions. The mouth is able to change shape to express smiles or frowns, the eyes have moving eyelids and even its arms move to resemble a human baby. It is 17 inches long and weighs about 4.8 pounds. (It looks cumbersome.)

Some Babyloid expressions (via Robonable)

Just like an infant, Babyloid cries, laughs and falls asleep when rocked back and fourth. It produces more than 100 sounds all of which are recordings of Kanoh’s daughter when she was a baby.

The robot can sense its surroundings because it features accelerometers, temperature, touch, pyro-electric and light sensors that allow it to react to its environment. Red and blue led lights embedded in the face, along with facial expressions and sounds, allow the user to know when Babyloid is happy or sad.

Babyloid at the moment is being used to conduct research in nursing homes throughout Japan.

The prototype so far has cost about $25,000 USD, and Kanoh expects to make around 10 more prototypes in the next two years. He estimates the final product to cost around $1,300 USD if it hits the market, however, there are currently no plans to for distribution outside of Japan.

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Roboden and slacked electric cable comparison. (via Diginfo)

From the Japanese company, Asahi Kasei Fibers, comes Roboden, the world's first elastic "electric/data/USB" cable. The company manufactures the famous Spandex material; it is only fitting that they bring elasticity to electronics. Matching the human body's skin stretch factor, the cable can elongate up to 1.5 times its length.

Developed with robotics in mind. Roboden allows for robots to move, twist, and bend its data and power cables without losing connection. Imagine no more long slacked cables. The Roboden cable has a spiraled internal mesh wiring surrounded by an elastic shell. The wiring is very similar to the design of the "Chinese finger trap" (Finger puzzle).

An Asahi Kasei representative explained the reason, as they see it, behind Roboden; "When we talked to Professor Inaba at The University of Tokyo, he advised us that, for robots to be more like people, they'll need to be soft, so they'll need something akin to skin. And if you make skin, you'll have wiring in the skin, so the wiring will need to follow the contours of the robot. Therefore, to make robots with a soft skin, it's probably essential for wiring to be able to expand and contract."

Depending on the meantime between failures, Roboden would be a great option for CNC equipment. Having long cables strung about often cause snag issues. Since normal cables have no give, loss of power, signal, and disasters soon follow. I look forward to seeing more about this product.

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