What is Artificial Intelligence?

AILA

AILA, a fembot [GER] developed at the Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz (DFKI/German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence), can identify, grab, sort or transport those objects autonomously. AILA is designed in a way so she can touch and handle a number of different objects safely based on their weight and fragility.

The system uses SemProM (Semantic Product Memory), which it combines with its computer vision when handling objects of varying shapes and sizes. AILA has two laser range finders, stereo vision in its head, a 3D camera for object recognition and orientation, and an RFID reader in its left hand. It has a total of 22 degrees of freedom (wheels x2, 2 arms x7, torso x4, head x2) and moves on a wheeled base containing 6 wheels.

Click here to read more about AILA.

The Robovie-R version 3.

ATR and Vstone formally presented the Robovie-R Ver.3, which included two types. The robot will be used to help guide the elderly in public places such as shopping malls, and subway stations this fall.

The Robovie-R Ver.3 stands 108cm (3?6?) tall, weighs 35kg (77 lbs), and has 17 degrees of freedom (eyes x4, neck x3, 2 arms x4, 2 wheels). Like the Robovie-R Ver.2, Ver.3 runs on a combination of a Windows PC and a sub CPU designed by Vstone. It has 11 tactile sensors throughout its body and is equipped with 2 USB cameras for eyes, 2 mono microphones for ears, a speaker for a mouth, and can be equipped with a laser range finder in its base for obstacle detection. It will also communicate with a local network which includes other robots, cameras, and mobile phone services.

Click here to read more about Robovie-R Ver.3, Robovie-R3.

The visual artist and performer known as Stelarc with his invention. It is designed to make conversations between humans and machines easier.

Researchers have developed a robot of sorts that is designed to improve communication between humans and machines. The thinking head enables conversations between humans and machines, through visual signals and more effective, tailored communication depending on who it is talking to.

"The idea is to try to create a somewhat intelligent agent. In other words if you were to ask a question it would be able to give you an answer," explained one of the thinking head's creators, Stelarc, a performance artist and also visiting fellow at the MARCS Auditory Laboratory at the University of Western Sydney. ''If it doesn't know the answer, it has a conversational strategy to respond by asking you a question back or even changing the subject.''

The robot will be unveiled at the New Interfaces for Musical Expression conference at UTS in June.

Click here to read more about The Thinking Head.

Plantas Nomadas slurping water from the river.

Mexican artist Gilberto Esparza, who specializes in thought-provoking robots and mechanical sculptures, created a "nomadic plant". It is called “Plantas Nomadas”. This nomadic plant is part machine and part living thing that walks around slurping up water from contaminated rivers to keep itself powered and alive.

Here's how it works, according to We Make Money Not Art:

“Vegetation and microorganisms live in symbiosis inside the body of the Nomadic Plants robot. Whenever its bacteria require nourishment, the self-sufficient robot will move towards a contaminated river and 'drink' water from it. Through a process of microbial fuel cell, the elements contained in the water are decomposed and turned into energy that can feed the brain circuits of the robot. The surplus is then used to create life, enabling plants to complete their own life cycle.”

Esparza's robot is more art project than practical fix for polluted rivers, but it does make you think about the possibilities for plantlife and ways we might tune them to thrive in a dirty environment.

Click here to read more about Plantas Nomadas, Cyborg Plant.

Yotaro

The Japanese have just pushed the boundaries of the imagination back a little further in terms of robotics with the creation of a humanoid baby robot called Yotaro. Its purpose is to boost births in Japan.

Created by Tsukuba University’s Uchiyama Lab, the baby’s face is made of translucent silicone with chubby cheeks and blue eyes. This odd baby simulator’s face changes color and lights up according to its mood. The robot uses sensors in its rattle, stomach, and clothing to detect when it is being touched, and can react by wiggling its limbs, smiling, and crying. The baby can also produce tears and can even have a runny nose with its warm water tank.

The researchers hope it can be used to educate potential parents about the joys of raising one.

Click here to read more about Yotaro.