Top 10 Favorite Robots Come to Life
In the "Terminator" series, several of the most powerful robots could take down a wall with one arm swing. Now tool-maker Husqavarna has released a demolition bot that can lift part of a building and move it out of the way -- just like Schwarzenegger’s robot -- although without the weapons. NASA has a new robot translator, too, just like "Star Trek" android Data. And a new Stanford robotic car based on the Audi A8 can think for you, similar to KITT from "Knight Rider." Here are our ten favorite fictional bots and the real-world robots they have inspired.
WALL-E is the far-future bot from the Disney movie of the same name. He's designed for waste disposal, but can also communicate through a video connection. And the Anybot QB is a remarkably similar robot.
L.O.U.I.E. is designed for casual conversations. The commercially available android can learn from speech patterns and process questions quickly. He will react to questions, smile and smirk, and even cry. You can order the robot with customized colors on the outer shell and eyes.
The Anybot QB -- which has facial expressions like WALL-E's -- is a telepresence robot, which means it can capture video during a conference room meeting and mimic your “presence” even though you’re not there. The bot can show your live Web video and you can comment on the discussion; between meetings, you can operate it remotely. The two-wheeled bot even moves out of the way automatically when gliding down a hallway and can beep a warning chime.
You may remember Data from the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series and how he (er, it) was always trying to mimic human behavior. Now what is probably the most advanced robot ever built is about to embark on a similar quest -- NASA's Robonaut 2.
Robonaut 2 is a 300-pound android that will join the crew of the space shuttle Discovery for the upcoming launch. Co-designed with GM, the robot has 40 ultra-sensitive sensors – for example, its five-fingered hand can tell the difference between a feather and a wrench. The bot can lift 20 pounds per hand, and can even recognize humans and other objects and stop working. The bot has four “eyes” that stream video back to NASA and two infrared sensors in its nose to aid in depth perception.
R2-D2 from Star Wars is easily one of the most beloved and versatile robots from the movies. Now Adept Technologies has developed an industrial delivery bot called the MT400 that can speak and respond to humans and even carry a payload.
The MT400 can speak and respond to humans, carry a payload -- and blink at you with blue lights. The bot uses automated guidance so it can find its way through a warehouse, avoid obstacles (and humans) and find its destination. One practical use would be in a hospital setting where the bot could be programmed to deliver a prescription to a specific hospital room – and even give the instructions on how to use them.
Rosie the Robot
The robotic maid in "The Jetsons" would sweep up quickly after a mess. The latest iRobot Roomba is designed for a similar function.
Roomba
An autonomous vacuum cleaner from iRobot can zoom in and clean up fur, dirt, leftover dog food crumbs, and even other unmentionables. The Roomba’s latest upgrades allow it to scan a room and determine the size. You can also program the vacuum to avoid certain areas and to clean several rooms in your house at regular intervals. There’s also a pool and gutter version.
