bots IN BRIEF
TRANSFORMING SCRAP
We’ve seen our fair share of robot sculptures built from scrap
parts before, but these reproductions of Transformers Autobots
may be the best yet. Anchalee Saengtai is getting international
exposure thanks to Ripley’s Believe It or Not which is hosting her
work at their odditoriums in Hollywood, New York City, London,
Myrtle Beach, and Jeju Island (in South Korea). She and her team
have built a 19' ( 5. 7 meter) tall version of Optimus Prime, and an
8' tall Bumblebee using basic tools. The third film in Michael Bay’s
series hit theaters June 29th.
IDENTIFY YOURSELF
For many employees, an ID card is
required in order to enter an office building.
Shandong Kang Bai ROBOT Automation Co.,
Ltd is working with the Harbin Institute of
Technology to create industrial manufacturing
robots and use these welding robots to
produce a friendly robot security kiosk.
Standing nearly two meters tall atop its
podium, the robot uses a head-mounted
camera and face recognition software to let
registered employees pass automatically while
waving its arm in a stilted greeting.
The first time employees pass the robot,
they must confirm their credentials by swiping
their ID card. It takes a photo, registers them
into a database, and will recognize them
automatically from then on. Of course, the
kiosk’s touch screen can also be used to
register employees where businesses haven’t
already adopted a key card system.
A GEN
FOR JOE
Joe Tucker — who
lost part of his leg in a
motorcycle accident
in 1995 — is the
proud recipient of a
$95,000 waterproof,
bionic replacement.
Although he has tried six other legs, he claims this is the first one to
make him feel "able bodied" again. The battery powered prosthetic —
known as a Genium — contains a sensory system to help a human
walk easily, avoid obstacles, and climb stairs. Unsurprisingly, the German
firm Otto Bock built the leg in cooperation with the US military. Joe is
one of the first civilians to receive one.
SERVO 08.2011 23
