A recent Xconomy article reports that Helen Greiner, one of the founders of iRobot (the robotics colossus in the U.S., creator of the robotic vacuum Roomba as well as several military robots) has started a new robotics company, currently in stealth mode. The company, called the Droid Works, will develop unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Though robotics companies are struggling like everyone else, I have a feeling the industry will rebound, given the huge military need for robots as well as growing consumer interest. With new companies started by iRobot’s founders focusing on supplemental work to iRobot, iRobot may be in a great position to emerge as an even bigger superpower in a few years, according to the Motley Fool.
A New Scientist video of a pretty neat yo-yoing robot went up this week, created by researchers at University College London. Learning how to yo-yo may lead to a better understanding of robotic mobility in general, say the scientists. No tricks yet, but just the fact that it can yo-yo so smoothly is pretty impressive!
The Korean government announced this week that it will develop two “Robot Lands”, which conjures a creepy and mechanical (and far less colorful) version of Disney World in my mind. I imagine it will be more of a PR stunt than anything else; the government says it is a push to make Korea more competitive in the robotics industry.
Other weekly news: a brain-controlled wheelchair, sentry robots tested in Japan, and robot lawn mowers for golf courses. Also, a photo gallery of robot and sci-fi cakes!
