Gentle Giant Robot Bear Developed to Assist Humans In Need of Strong, Helpful Arms

"This cuddly Japanese robot bear could be the future of elderly care

'Bears are powerful and also cute.'

Deep in the bowels of a secluded facility outside the central Japanese city of Nagoya, a team of dedicated researchers has been working on a monster. It’s a primal, animalistic robot that uses advanced technology to power its intelligent vision, flexible movement, and giant arms strong enough to lift a human right off the ground. It could have profound implications for the relationship between man and machine.
But perhaps most importantly, it is very cute.

Meet Robear. It’s a high-tech teddy with a mission: helping make elderly care much easier in the future.
Robear is the brainchild of Toshiharu Mukai (above left), an affable scientist who has been leading his Robot Sensor Systems Research Team at the Riken-SRK Collaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research since 2007. It’s actually Mukai’s third robot bear, following 2009’s RIBA and 2011’s RIBA-II. Why the ursine fixation? "Bears are powerful and also cute," Mukai tells me. "And our product is white so it will be associated with cleanness."

Robear gets very paws-on

Cute robots are a definite trend. Japanese carrier SoftBank is selling its congenial, dubiously useful Pepper this year, in perhaps the biggest mainstream splash yet made by a humanoid.

This month, leading national bank Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ installed Aldebaran’s Nao robot as an assistant in its flagship branch. And Mukai believes that appearance is more than just skin-deep when it comes to robots. "[It’s important that they’re] cute or friendly," he says. "Patients, especially old people, don’t like mechanical appearance. Patients need to feel that robots are their friends."
That’s especially true with Robear, because it’s a robot that gets very paws-on. Robear is designed to perform tasks such as helping elderly patients stand up, or lifting them from a bed into a wheelchair. The latter task can be severely strenuous for care workers, who do it an average of 40 times a day, according to Mukai. It’s no secret that Japan’s aging population is one of the biggest problems facing the country, and researchers are hoping to find solutions in technology. It’s important for Robear to make a good first impression..."

Read the full article at its source: http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/28/8507049/robear-robot-bear-japan-elderly 

Robot Criminals???

"...bot with $100 bitcoin buys drugs, gets arrested
This is the curious story of how a robot armed with a weekly budget of $100 in bitcoin managed to buy Ecstasy, a Hungarian passport and a baseball cap with a built-in camera—before getting arrested.

The "automated online shopping bot" was set up in October last year by Swiss art group, !Mediengruppe Bitnik, as an art installation to explore the "dark web"—the hidden, un-indexed part of the Internet.


Each week, the robot was given $100 worth of Bitcoin— the major hard-to-trace cryptocurrency—and programmed to randomly purchase one item from Agora, an online marketplace on the dark web where shoppers can buy drugs and other illegal items. The items were automatically delivered to a Swiss art gallery called Kunst Halle St Gallen to form an exhibition.
The robot was christened "Random Darknet Shopper" and its purchases included a Hungarian passport, Ecstasy pills, fake Diesel jeans, a Sprite can with a hole cut out in order to stash cash, Nike trainers, a baseball cap with a hidden camera, cigarettes and the "Lord of the Rings" e-book collection.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the robot and his artistic creators had a run in with the law. In January 2015, the Swiss police confiscated the robot and its illegal purchases.
However, three months later, the Random Darknet Shopper was returned to the artists, along with all its purchases except the Ecstasy (also known as MDMA) tablets, which were destroyed by the Swiss authorities.
The artists behind the robot escaped without any charges.
"This is a great day for the 'bot, for us and for freedom of art!" !Mediengruppe Bitnik said in a blog post last week. "In the order for withdrawal of prosecution, the public prosecutor states that the possession of Ecstasy was indeed a reasonable means for the purpose of sparking public debate about questions related to the exhibition."


The Swiss authorities confirmed that the artists and the robot would not be charged.
"We decided the Ecstasy that is in this presentation was safe and nobody could take it away. Bitnik never intended to sell it or consume it so we didn't punish them," Thomas Hansjakob, a spokesperson for the Swiss St Gallen police, told CNBC on Tuesday.
He added that the artists had not informed the police before undertaking this project and that the authorities had heard about it from the media..."
 Read the full article at its source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102604472

Robot Guide Dogs? The Technology's There, How About Human Acceptance?

OK, robots aren't soft and cuddly; they don't need a belly rub, either. On the other hand they don't need to be walked and there's nothing to scoop.  Maybe it's good to have the option of either a dog OR a robot...

Which would you prefer? Dog or Robot? Why?

"Why a robot could never replace a guide dog
30 Mar 2015
Following the news that robot “guide dogs” have been developed by researchers, fans of guide dogs have taken to the web to express why a robot could never replace the real thing. Here’s our top ten:

Robots don't have hearts

A guide dog is so much more than a mobility aid. When they’re not working they behave just like a pet dog and are adored by their owners and show love in return.

True, a robot is all business, all the time!

Friends for life

There are many people with sight loss who rarely leave home on their own and many more who say they feel cut off from the people and world around them. A guide dog is a companion who provides company and friendship as well as assistance.

Depends on what you program the robot to do...
See: https://youtu.be/Z1MJPdhniXc

Part of the family

A guide dog isn’t just there to support its owner; guide dogs become part of the family and are adored by everyone.

Adorable is subjective. Take a look at this cutie: https://youtu.be/UKERTiraS08

You can’t cuddle a robot
Have you tried? It’s nowhere near as soft and warm as these little puppies.

OK, no cuddling. But then again, no fleas, 'accidents' behind the sofa, scratching, or puppies to find homes for :)

World class dogs

The Guide Dogs charity has trained guide dogs for more than 80 years and the techniques are pretty advanced. Guide dogs are bred for their exceptional attributes that make them among the most loyal and trusted canine companions in the world.

So why are robots a threat?

A robot doesn’t want its tummy tickled

There’s no denying that robots are pretty cool, but they are far less cute when you rub their tummies!

They don't have tummies... duh! Also, they don't have tummy problems.

Guide dogs can go up steps

So can Robots!

Partners

A guide dog and their owner have a truly unique partnership that is built on trust and understanding. Guide dogs can learn a huge amount about their owners from their height to their length of stride.

Dogs are wonderful. Robots are programmed to learn the things they need to know to do their job. There are partners and then there are partners. Check out this Toyota Partner Robot: https://youtu.be/2twAnS9TEOA 

Batteries not included

Guide dogs don’t run out of batteries so they’ll never leave you stranded.

Try not feeding your guide dog for a couple of days. They need fuel, too.

The robot looks like a lawn mower

Some robots look like dogs. Ever seen Asimo?

Enough said!"

Plenty said in a pointless argument. Robot guides are not intended to replace dogs. Simply to  function as guides for those who would prefer a machine over a dog.

See full article at its  source: http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/news/2015/march/why-a-robot-could-never-replace-a-guide-dog

Obama Learns from Young Girl Robot Creators: Brainstorming, Prototypes, and LEGO Robotics

"WASHINGTON — President Obama marveled on Monday as a group of 6-year-old Girl Scouts at the White House Science Fair demonstrated the automatic page turner they had built out of Legos and explained that the invention was the result of a brainstorming session.

“Have you ever had a brainstorming session yourself?” one of the young inventors asked the president.

He chuckled and responded quickly: “Health care.”

Mr. Obama honored the achievements of young scientists and inventors on Monday as he hosted the fifth annual science fair.

The president saw demonstrations of several of the projects, including one from a high school girl in Arizona who invented an algorithm to identify new Ebola drugs; one from a young man in New York with congenital scoliosis who created a spinal implant; and another from a freshman in Pennsylvania who devised a new method for securing computers against hackers

“You’ve made a lot of people proud — your parents, your teachers, your friends, your mentors,” Mr. Obama told the children in an East Room ceremony. “And as president, I’m proud of you, because America is going to be stronger and smarter and healthier, and a much more interesting place because of you.”

The White House took the opportunity to announce $240 million in new commitments from the government and private businesses to help children succeed in science, technology and math. Officials said that included a pledge of $150 million from philanthropies intended to build a pipeline of young talent in the sciences.

But for Mr. Obama, it was clear that the best part of the day was spending time with the young inventors. After singling out the high-powered projects, the president also mentioned the day’s youngest scientists.

“They realized that some people who might be paralyzed or arthritic might have trouble turning pages on a book, so they invented this page turner,” Mr. Obama said. “It was awesome.”

As for his own brainstorming session, Mr. Obama admitted that health care did not have quite the fun factor as a Lego page turner..."

 

Read the full article at its source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/us/politics/young-scientists-impress-at-the-white-house.html?_r=1

Shouldn't this type of experience be part of every kid's education? It's not hard to make happen (see below)...

Click on book cover for information

Getting Started with LEGO Robotics. Anyone who works with kids can do LEGO Robotics, a rich and highly motivating platform for important STEM Learning! (surprisingly affordable, too) This books explains it all!

Congratulations Reuben Bridges, Mentor with 2TrainRobotics Team of Morris High School in the Bronx - From Student to Mentor, Robotics Offers Young People So Much!

2TrainRobotics (Morris High School Robotics Team) -
Reuben Bridges in the center with cap on head.
Gary Israel next to Reuben, 4th from right 

 

The letters below were sent to me by my friend, Gary Israel, who has coached Morris High School’s 2 Train Robotics team for years. It would be impossible to overstate the level of passion and commitment that Gary and colleagues like Reuben Bridges (former student and now team Mentor) and the young people they work with have for Student Robotics. The letters below illustrate the kind of excitement and character shaping that FIRST, and other robotics events and activities bring to the lives of young people along with crucial STEM learning….

On 03/16/15, Gary Israel wrote:
Dear Friends,
It was an amazing weekend at the NYC Robotics Competition at the Javits Convention Center in NYC. There is good news and bad news. Unfortunately our robot did not perform as well as we hoped, so this year we did not qualify for the final elimination rounds Sunday afternoon.

Since this was our first competition in 2015 the students learned a lot about the robot during competition and will be better prepared for our second competition next week in Rochester NY.

Now for the good news and it doesn't get any better than this. In 1999 when I started the robotics program at Morris High School in South Bronx, a senior student from one of my business classes, Reuben Bridges, joined the team. After graduating the following year he started to mentor the team and has continued to work with the team every year. At this year's competition there were 65 teams from the USA and around the world. I am happy to say that Rueben was awarded the highest honor given to an individual - the "Woodie Flowers Award". This prestigious award recognizes mentors who, lead, inspire, and empower students”.

During Sunday's competition Reuben was interviewed by CNN and shared his passion and commitment to FIRST Robotics!

Reuben is an extraordinary young man who has been a wonderful role model for the male students on the team and I couldn't be more proud!

Warm regards,

Gary

 

Monday, Mar 9 09:12 AM

Morris High School Robotics Team

Good morning Family & Friends

As some of you know this will be the Morris High School Robotics Team's 16th year participating in the FIRST Robotics Competition. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is an international high school robotics competition. Each year, teams of high school students and mentors work during a six week period to build game-playing robots that weigh up to 120 pounds. 

Three weeks ago the students finished building their 2015 robot and will be competing this Saturday and Sunday in the NYC FIRST Robotics Regional at the Javits Center. This will mark our 15th consecutive year competing in the NYC Regional.  Two weeks later the team will travel to Rochester, NY to compete in the Finger Lakes FIRST Regional on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology.

While our team has had many accomplishments and awards over the years (see below) I am most proud of the impact that the robotics program has on the student’s life, including building their appreciation of science and technology.

Thanks to the financial support from our corporate sponsors, alumni and friends of Morris, the students have travelled and competed in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Ohio,Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. 

 

Warm regards,

Gary

PS. I want to share a letter I received recently from the NY Yankees. In addition to financially supporting our team over the last 14 years the NY Yankees will once again honor the team on the field on June 5 at a ceremony prior to the game between the California Angels and the Yankees.

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Morris H.S Campus FIRST Robotics Team (2000-2014) 

• New Jersey  FIRST Regional 2000 Judges Award
• FIRST Robotics Presidential Classroom Scholarship 2000
• NASA / FIRST Robotics Grant 2001
• NASA/  FIRST Robotics Grant 2002
• NASA/VCU South Atlantic FIRST 2003 Robotics Regional Winner
• NASA/VCU South Atlantic FIRST 2003 Imagery Winner
• New York City FIRST 2002 Robotics Xerox Creativity
• New York City FIRST 2003 Robotics Engineering and Inspiration Winner
• New York City FIRST 2004 Robotics Chairman’s Award Winner
• New York City FIRST 2004 Robotics Regional Finalist
• New York City FIRST 2005 Robotics Regional Winner
• New York City FIRST 2005 Judges Award
• New York City FIRST 2006 Robotics Regional Winner
• New York City FIRST 2006 Judges Award
• New York City FIRST 2007 Quarterfinalists
• New York City FIRST 2008 Semifinalists
• New York City FIRST 2008 General Motors Industrial Design Award
• New York City FIRST 2008 FIRST Outstanding Volunteer Award 
• New York City FIRST 2009 Semifinalists
• New York City FIRST 2010 Quarterfinalists
• New York City FIRST 2011 Robotics Regional Winner
• New York City FIRST 2011 Robotics Xerox Creativity
• New York City FIRST 2011 Woodie Flowers Award
• Pittsburgh FIRST 2005 Robotics Regional Winner
• Pittsburgh FIRST 2005 Judges Award
• Pittsburgh FIRST 2006 Robotics Regional Winner
• Pittsburgh FIRST 2006 Robotics Engineering and Inspiration Winner
• Pittsburgh FIRST 2007 Quarterfinalists
• Florida FIRST 2008 Semifinalists
• Philadelphia FIRST 2009 Robotics Regional Winner
• Philadelphia FIRST 2010 Semifinalists
• Philadelphia FIRST 2011 Quarterfinalists
• Philadelphia FIRST 2011 Team Spirit Award
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition Houston Texas 2003
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition Atlanta Georgia 2004
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition Atlanta Georgia 2005
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition Atlanta Georgia 2006
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition Atlanta Georgia 2007
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition Atlanta Georgia 2008
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition Atlanta Georgia 2009
• FIRST Robotics Championship competition St. Louis 2011

 

• Tribute March 17, 2003 to the Morris Robotics Team on the Floor of The House of Representatives in Washington D.C
• Bronx Borough proclaims March 26, 2003 Morris High School Robotics Day
• Team Presented with Medal by Secretary Colin L. Powell September 2002
• Robotics team honored on the Floor of the State Assembly in Albany 2003,2004
• The New York Yankees honor the Morris team on the field at Yankee Stadium 2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014
• The New York Yankees honor the Morris team at the groundbreaking ceremony at the new Yankee Stadium August 2006
• Represented all New York City Robotics teams in the Bronx Day Parade 2003,2004,2005,2006, 2009, 2010,2011
• Appearances at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey 2003, 2004
• Saluted on radio as “Hometown Heroes” on WINS 1010 June, 2003

·    Featured in a 2003 award winning FIRST Robotics Showtime Documentary

·    Top prize at the Bronx Business & Technology Expo 2003

·    Featured in a 2004 Documentary on National Cable TECH TV

·         Appearance with Dean Kamen at the  2004 Annual New York Times Talk Series

·    Appearances on Good Morning America, BronxTalk Prime Time Live, Bronx Talk AM, News 12 Bronxnet, NY 1, Fox News, Telemundo and WNBC

·    Articles written about the team in New York Times, Amsterdam News, New York Daily News, Bronx Times,  Richmond Times, Uptown Express, Columbia Engineering, United Federation of Teacher’s newspaper, FIRST Robotics Newsletter and Bronx Beat

·    Team captain participated in 2003 Antarctica expedition

·    Team member selected to participate in 2004 Antarctica expedition

·    Team featured in July 2005 article in Popular Mechanics

·    Team appears on Telemundo Television program June 2006

·    Team appears at Sony Wonder Technology Lab in 2006

·    Team participates at the NextFest Conference Javits Center Sept. 2006

·    Team captain participated in 2006 Antarctica expedition

·    Team participates at Gagetoff at Liberty Science Center Sept. 2007

·    Team featured in Imagine it! Documentary 2008

·    Team featured in Forbes Magazine article 2009

·    Team featured in Popular Science article 2009

·    Team featured in Neal Bascomb Book “The New Cool” 2009

·    Team appears at Sony Wonder Technology Lab in 2011

·    Team featured in NY Daily News article 2011

·    Team featured in ESPN the Magazine 2011

·    Team appeared on Channel 5 Teen News September 2011

·    Team appeared at the NY Maker Faire September 2011

·    Team appeared at the NY Maker Faire September 2014

 

 

 

What can kids build with LEGO Robotics Materials? 10 Videos that illustrate the flexibility and variety of robots possible to create with LEGO NXT / Robotics Materials

LEGO Mindstorms NXT, HOLO3CYCLE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqPMegizjwk

Paul the robot drawing Patrick"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbdQbyff_Sk

 Time Twister - LEGO Mindstorms Digital Clock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_mA72r3ZiQ

Final Lego rollercoaster finished NXT controlled
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV2xjiTWdqY

LEGO - Tic Tac Toe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfvH1Vw0t1s

NXT Robot counting money!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwVbtgaALiQ

NXT Fly Trap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVoRW_9Jnmc

NXT Electric Guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-gcrhmxcKY

NXT Paper Airplane Launcher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Rb98xizGk

Lego Mindstorms NXT Catapult Robot 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4l06iyHmNs

The things (many of them involving required curriculum) that students can learn from conceiving, creating, and operating and trouble shooting these robots represent a dazzling range of highly relevant learning outcomes! In addition to the STEM learning, the language use involved in communicating with partner students; journaling the project; and documenting, presenting, and writing and publishing about the finished project, there are other, perhaps 'softer' but equally powerful outcomes - how to solve the initial challenge that the robot was created to address, as well as the myriad problems encountered and that have to be solved along the way - as well as understanding the significance of being part of a world in which serious human problems are solved with machines, computers, programing, and robotics! By the way, all of this and much more is explained in the book described below...

Click on book cover for information

Getting Started with LEGO Robotics. Anyone who works with kids can do LEGO Robotics, a rich and highly motivating platform for important STEM Learning! (surprisingly affordable, too) This books explains it all!