Dean Kamen and DEKA Research are working with DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), in an attempt to create the next-generation robotic prosthesis for soldiers wounded in battle, and it looks like they have succeeded. At a recent conference in Honolulu, Hawaii As part of his presentation Kamen gave a little background information on the project and showed a short video clip of the arm in action.
Titled “Gen X – Separate Exo Control” two team member demonstrated the robotic arm grasping a water bottle, & preforming delicate tasks such as picking up a pen and scratching a nose. weighing less than nine pounds this is a really impressive piece of technology and a needed leap forward for prosthetics.
Johnny five has to be one of the coolest robots of all time first appearing in the movie Short Circuit in 1986 then again in Short Circuit 2 in 1988. so when I saw this excellent replica of number five I had to post it, created by Daniele Benedettelli using LEGO Mindstorms NXT parts, named the JohnNXT.
I cant believe how neat this is the way it moves, stands & even its shoulder Lazar moves in the same way minus the deadly Lazar beam. The only thing it doesn’t have is the on-board radio remote control, so no taking over small air crafts just yet. Daniele Benedettelli did some dimensional study on the real Johnny Five in order to obtain the most precise replica possible.
Cool clip of four QRIO (“Quest for cuRIOsity”) robots dancing these where discontinued over a year ago by Sony & their official website comes to a close by the end of march. for more information try wikipedia there are also a lot more images of the QRIO Robots here
