Recently we were contacted by an upcoming advanced robotics R&D company who has been keeping a pretty low profile. Skynet Research only went public last week, but for the past 10 years has been hard at work and already making startling advanced in military and research level robotics. Some of this stuff is scary, it makes iRobot’s military line look like a bunch of toys. Check out these concept designs:

So here’s the kicker, I got a chance to talk to one of their lead researchers over the weekend and along with going public, they’ve also announced a Community Outreach Program to hobby and professional roboticists. They’re actually granting access to some of their technology (with no doubt a massive NDA attached) to the average hobbyist. From what I gathered speaking with them, the Model 101 Enhancement Module that is being provided for evaluation is some sort of Neural Networking microprocessor with built in wifi capability, used for relaying sensory data back to a central AI hub that is scheduled to go online in the near future. REALLY cool stuff, if you’re interested in applying for the beta program, you just have to submit your robot design and an explaination of why you think your project would be well suited for their program.

Here’s the official press release from Skynet Research, and be sure to check out their site for more info.

Skynet Research is a leader in the research and development of robotic technology, dedicated to helping the human race achieve great goals. And we want to hear from you!

CALL FOR ROBOTIC DESIGNS

Skynet Research believes every individual holds the capacity to make a difference, and is dedicated to finding as many people as possible who will impact our future goals.

• The spark of imagination is the greatest asset of humankind. We are interested in mining this resource within the robotics community to find new robot designs.

• Individuals are welcome to submit designs, videos and schematics relating to future robot models. We will showcase the most promising for all to see on our corporate website.

SKYNET RESEARCH IS OFFERING A FREE UPGRADE

As part of our ever-increasing outreach, we are also making available the Skynet Research Enhancement Module Model 101 for consumer grade robots at no cost before it is even available in stores.

• The Model 101 is compatible with any home robotics device, and will vastly improve the precision, efficiency and speed of any mechanized apparatus regardless of function.

• You may apply to receive one on our website.
• View a video of our new Enhancement Module HERE

HOW SKYNET RESEARCH IS CHANGING YOUR WORLD

• There are many different Skynet Research models in production and operation, and countless more in active development at secure and undisclosed locations around the world.

• Skynet Research is reshaping daily life for human beings across the planet, with contributions to business, education, healthcare, information systems and military defense.

• Skynet Research has led the evolution of Artificial Intelligence to multiply at exponential rates, pushing to improve robotic function in daily life with a constant eye on the future.

We have been honored as “most innovative” company in numerous trade publications, while one award-winning professor stated Skynet Research is displaying an “unprecedented” rate of growth.

We are committed to making your world different

Skynet Research

Loaded with features such as telepresence over wifi and the internet, self charging capabilities, autonomous navigation, and you can even control it with your smart phone! Its full color camera and microphone allow you to pilot the Rovio around your house and see and hear what it does from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. These stylish telepresence bots are sure to be a hot seller this holiday, pick your very own up today!

Check out the main site here “Meet Rovio” and an Unboxing that RoboCommunity did!

Some day, Lipson believes, every home will have a “fabber,� a machine that replicates objects from plans supplied by a computer. Such devices could change how we acquire common products, he suggests: Instead of buying an iPod, you would download the plans over the Internet and the fabber would make one for you.

Such machines could evolve from the 3-D printers currently used by industrial engineers for “rapid prototyping.� Price tags for these machines average around $100,000, but you can build your own Fab@Home for about $2,300 worth of off-the-shelf parts. The prototype, designed by Evan Malone, a Ph.D. candidate in Lipson’s Computational Synthesis Laboratory, is slower than the commercial models, and its resolution, or ability or produce fine detail, is lower, but people are finding practical — and often unexpected — uses for it.

article link

www.fabathome.org

“We love to torment our children,” Pam said.

Their children, Loran, 9, and Luke, 6, were scared of coyotes, so Carl programmed Rosie with a “beast” mode and informed the children that Rosie would alert them to any coyotes in the vicinity. One night when the family was grilling out back, Carl told Rosie to fulfill the beast mode, which included turning off all of the outside lights and saying: “Warning: There is a beast in the woods coming this way. Run. There is a coyote coming.”

Read full article (more serious stuff in actual article)Â

Roomba leads the way for household robots

Their opening line sounds a lot like our post last week about more robots entering the home.

“Rosie the Robot, the friendly house-cleaning bot in the Jetsons TV cartoon, is still a wistful dream for those who hate housecleaning.”

Clearly we aren’t the only ones pondering this area!

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