Stanford Robot Block Party held on 4/11/12. Part of National Robotics Week.
Robotics is all about serious research and hard core tech, right? Well, you might change your mind after watching a robot dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. That’s exactly what happened to me at this year’s Robot Block Party.
Held at Stanford’s Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Lab (which is home to research on autonomous vehicles), the event was part of National Robotics Week and featured the latest in commercial robotics from companies like Bosch, Adept, Willow Garage, SRI, and others.
The big robots were impressive, but what was really cool about this event was some of the “DIY” robotics and robot art made by the Homebrew Robotics Club as well as various roboticists and student’s participating in the FIRST Robot Competitions. It’s amazing to see what kind of robots you can build in your garage using off-the-shelf parts. Didn’t Apple Computer get started this way??
Adept demonstrates the the Willow Garage PR2 Robot at Standford Robot Block Party on 4/11/12. The PR2 is used by researchers in studying robitics.
A student demonstrates his home-made robot at Stanford’s Robot Block Party helpd on 4/11/12. The robot is used to provide a mobile remote presence (or Avatar) for a person connected via a video conference link.
Aldebaran Robotics Nao robot sits idle for a brief moment at the Stanford Robot Block Party held on 4/11/12. Nao is a fully programmable humanoid robot intended for research, teaching and service robotics.
The NASA Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient Experimental Satellite (SPHERES) demonstrated at the Stanford Robot Block Party held on 4/11/12. SPHERES was developed by NASA to serve as remotely operated assistants for astronauts in space.
SRI Taurus dexterous telemanipulation robot demonstrated at the Stanford Robot Block Party held on 4/11/12. SRI designed Taurus for bomb squad technicians to remotely engage with improvised explosive devices. It’s operators use an advanced controller with a 3D HD display to guide the robot in grasping and manipulating objects.
SRI employee Tom Low demonstrates the Taurus dexterous telemanipulation robot at Stanford’s Robot Block Party held 4/11/12. The Taurus operator uses an advanced controller with a 3D HD display to guide the robot in grasping and manipulating objects. SRI designed Taurus for bomb squad technicians to remotely engage with improvised explosive devices.
A home-made robot named Homer is on display at the Stanford Robot Block Party held 4/11/12.
A handmade robot exhibited at the Robot Block Party in Silicon Valley on 4/11/12.
A home-made robot on display at the Stanford Robot Block Party held 4/11/12.
Stanford Robot Block Party held on 4/11/12. Part of National Robotics Week.
