Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Rollin' Justin Robot Catches Thrown Ball
Rollin' Justin is a humanoid robot with sophisticated control algorithms and dexterous manipulations able to catch thrown baseballs, among other skills. Rollin' Justin was developed at the Institute of Robotics and Mechantronics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
(Rollin' Justin robot [pdf])
Justin’s mobile platform possesses the ability to vary its footprint over time by extending/retracting the wheel legs during motion. Therefore, we designed a control algorithm aimed at tracking an arbitrary linear/angular planar motion while, at the same time, imposing a decoupled and independent motion to each leg.The upper body mounted on the mobile platform with a total of 51 DoF represents a highly complex kinematic structure.
The video shows Justin’s capabilities to track (and grasp) freely moving objects in 6 degrees of freedom (DoF) with its hand and its head. These capabilities allow for the immediate reaction to changes in the environment and eventually for the interaction with a human. A fundamental challenge of the task consists in extending the universality of objects covered by the pose estimation algorithm while containing the (respective) requirements on the computational resources.
This problem is approached here by estimating the object pose not at once in all 6-DoF but consecutively in a cascade of localization stages for increasing degrees of freedom with appropriate object models and exploration strategies.
(Rollin Justin catches a thrown baseball)
I'm still looking for a good science-fictional reference for a robot that catches thrown balls; readers? In the meantime, enjoy the robots that can catch (and play) football from a 1962 episode of The Jetsons.
From Rollin’ Justin - Mobile Platform with Variable Base (pdf) via NPR. Special thanks to an anonymous reader for writing in with the tip; I depend on you readers!
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/27/2011)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 1 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
'... he waited for the robotrix attendant to finish fueling up his ship.' - Philip K. Dick, 1974.
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
It's not really polite to tear the limbs off robots.
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'' - Isaac Asimov (1940)
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
'I opened the oblong box, where lay the automatons side by side...' - Elizabeth Bellamy, 1899.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
Why can't we get more innovative phone configurations?
Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
JAXA Int Ball 2 Coming Right Along As Star Wars Remote
'Hocus-pocus religions and archaic weapons are no substitute for a good blaster at your side.'
Robot Bricklayer Or Passer-By Bricklayer?
'Oscar picked up a trowel. 'I'm the tool for the mortar,' the little trowel squeaked cheerfully.'
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
'... he waited for the robotrix attendant to finish fueling up his ship.'
Engineer Creates Crazy Motorized Track Hospital Bed
The Roujin Z system provides care to fully bedridden patients - and then some!
Tiny Flying Robot Weighs Just One Gram
'Aerostat meant anything that hung in the air. This was an easy trick to pull off nowadays.'
Some Ringworld Configurations Are Stable
'The Ringworld had no horizon. There was no line where the land curved away from the sky.'
TRANSFORM Dynamic Furniture Concept Becomes What You Need
'An adjustment panel outside the door would cause it to extrude various appurtenances in memory plastic...'
Harvard Metamaterials Change Structure Instantly
'Annealed in any shape for a time, and codified, the structure of that shape is retained down to the molecules.'
SnapBot Robots - You Choose Their Legs And They Choose Their Gaits
It's not really polite to tear the limbs off robots.
Dino From Magical Toys An AI Companion To Children
'...the imaginary companions discovered by needful children.'
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?''
Darpa 'Defiant' Unmanned Autonomous Ship
'There was no wheel, and no steersman!'
What's The Best Way To Ship And Unpack Humanoid Robots?
'I opened the oblong box, where lay the automatons side by side...'
