Robytes
MSU students Kyle Koepf and
Jonathan Luckhardt stare in simulated
amazement at their creation.
Photo by Jennifer Orlando.
(Its name is derived from the
Zamboni, which performs a similar
operation on ice.)
Measuring only 5 x 5 x 2 in ( 12. 7
x 12. 7 x 5 cm), it uses a suction fan
to attach itself to a window and then
moves across the surface on wheels
and scrubs the pane with felt pads.
Somehow it requires no solvents or
paper towels to do the job.
Powered by AA batteries, it
seems only a matter of time until Billy
Mays starts hawking them on TV. But
act now, and you'll get two Winbonis
for only $29.99, plus we'll throw in a
free Doorknob Snaffler, six whoopee
cushions, and the "Elvis's Favorite
Polkas" CD.
Animated version of the US Air Force's
planned spy bugbot.
these sent out in a swarm,” he
explained. “If we know there's a
possibility of bad guys in a certain
building, how do we find out? This
would fill that objective.”
By identifying and assaulting
adversaries more precisely, the robots
would also help reduce or avoid
civilian casualties. You don't need to
put in titanium window screens
anytime soon, though, as Parker
doesn't expect to have bird-sized
ones in operation until 2015,
with insect-scale models following
in 2030.
A Bot for Your Bathroom
The Airyusha Robotan toilet paper holder.
Finally, we wrap up with this
month's most inane and pointless
new product. It's not a robot, but it
announces to your visitors (at least
the ones who have sampled your
Spam, bean, and habañero pepper
burritos) that you are in a robot
frame of mind. Devised by Japan's
Airyusha Co. Ltd. ( www.air
yusha.com), it may not be high-tech,
but it is "made from high-quality,
heavy-duty ceramic with vibrant
colors," and it is said to work with all
kinds of toilet paper. It even comes
complete with a roll of 100% recycled
paper "so you can start using
Robotan right away." You can pick
one up for only $49.99 at
www.audiocubes.com. SV
MAVs to Bug Misc.
Bad Guys
Building on the old “if I
could be a fly on the wall”
concept, the US Air Force is
working on a swarm of flying
spybots that can sneak into
sensitive locations, record
voices, transmit video, and
perhaps even fire miniature
weapons. Stories of such micro
aerial vehicles (MAVs) have
been around for a while, but
this particular application has
just recently been confirmed
by Greg Parker, one of the
researchers at Wright-Patterson
AFB.“The way we envision it,
there would be a bunch of
SERVO 02.2009
9