NAO (via Aldebaran Robotics)
Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Science department is set to roll-out the celluloid carpet once again for this year’s (2012) Robot Hall of Fame inductees. The prestigious University started the Robot Hall of Fame, beginning in 2003, to recognize the achievements associated with robotics technology and the contributions made to society in general by roboticists. This year’s inductees include robots from both the science fields (for technical and scientific innovation) and science fiction which is designed to excite people to what the future might bring. This year’s nominees in the category of Education and Consumer robots include iRobot’s Create that’s based off of their Roomba platform, which can accept just about any attachment in iRobot’s inventory and was built for the STEM project. The second nominee comes in the form of Aldebaran Robotics NAO (pictured above) which has been adapted for use as an educational platform and is a prime player in the Robot Soccer World Cup: Standard Platform League. Rounding out the Educational/Consumer category is the VEX Robotics Design System which is an educational platform that allows students the opportunity to build their own RV-like robot.
Johnny 5
Carnegie Mellon’s second category for the Robot Hall of Fame is centered on the Entertainment industry. This group ncludes Disney/Pixar’s WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load-Lifter: Earth Class) who eventually married his robotic probe girlfriend EVE and retired after starring in the blockbuster movie of the same name (he now runs an exclusive robotic junk-yard in a suburb of LA.). Second-up in the Entertainment category is Rosie the robot who starred as the 45 year-old out-dated robotic maid on The Jetsons television series from 1962-63 (she was only featured in two episodes of the original series) and again in 1985-87. After her stint on television, Rosie then made appearances in several Jetson spin-off movies where she reprised her famous role as the loveable robotic servant. She eventually fell from grace as a result of a lubricant addiction and submitted herself into an undisclosed robotic rehab in 1989. She has since successfully kicked the ‘viscous habit’ and is set to once again reprise her role as a maid in the live-action Jetsons remake slated for 2014. Rounding out the Entertainment category is Johnny 5, star of 1986 sci-fi film Short Circuit. After making the hit movie, Johnny went on to starring in the films sequel Short Circuit 2 and went downhill from there grasping at rolls for commercials (Home) as well as hosting the short-lived television series 'Hot Cars, Cold Facts’. After finally coming to terms that he was designed as a weapon of war, Johnny 5 enlisted in the US Army where he serves as a Weapons Sergeant in the Special Forces community.
Packbot (via iRobot)
Carnegie University’ third category for the Robot Hall of Fame is for Industrial/Service robots, which include iRobot’s Packbot that was designed for military EOD units for bomb disposal. There are currently 2,000 of iRobot’s Packbots in service in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was used as a first responder after the Fukushima disaster. The second nominee in this category is the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institutes Deep Submergence Lab’s Jason ROV which is capable of exploring the sea floor and was used to examine the Bismark (WW2 German destroyer), the wreckage of the Titanic as well as being used by the military for hydrographic surveys (among other things). Rounding-out the Industrial/Service category is Kiva System’s Kiva Mobile-robotic Fulfillment System (aptly named) which is a customizable robotic packing/shipping/receiving system for warehouses that’s super-efficient. The system consists of a shelving platform that sits atop a mobile robotic drive-unit which is programmed to bring the item to the warehouse employee. This is accomplished using a laser scanner and barcode system where the employee simply scans the product barcode in relation to the product, which then tells the corresponding robotic unit to proceed to the designated area for product pick-up and delivery.
Robonaut 2 (via NASA)
The fourth and final category is centered on Research and includes Boston Dynamics BigDog which looks like a robotic mule and was designed to carry heavy loads (up to 340lbs) over rugged terrain (up to a 35 degree incline) for the US military with a top speed of 4mph. The second nominee is Willow Garage’s PR2 research and development robot that was designed to be adapted to a wide range of applications including a personal robot (everyday household servant), a lab-based assistant or be adapted to be used for just about anything you can think of. The final entrance for the Research category is NASA’s Robonaut 2 which is a dexterous robot, currently deployed to the International Space Station, that’s used for research, as well as construction and repairs. The robot has greater dexterity over humans when working in space and was recently outfitted with heatsinks, which would enable it to work long shifts while onboard the ISS. The robots first initial job was to monitor air velocity near the ISS’s ventilation ductwork to make sure the system doesn’t get clogged with space debris (dust and cat hair?). All the nominees for this year’s Robotic Hall of Fame are voted for by the general public on Carnegie University’s RHOF website, so those interested can do so before the winners are chosen on October 23, 2012.
Cabe