“Rock Band has been released on the iPhone, and even though its a lot of fun, I would rather have something play it for me. Preferably a robot!”—Joe Bowers
Watch the video. I love how the sounds of the robot operating are like an accompaniment to the song.
Gizmodo on the design of the Skynet base in Terminator Salvation
I think the filmmakers missed a great opportunity to show what a machine city might look like. Purely functional, all tools taking commands wirelessly from other machines, not guardrails on dangerously high structures, etc.
Real life project: will people help an adorable little robot reach its destination? Says Bruce Schneier, “it’s a measure of our restored sanity that no one called the TSA.” Also I like seeing something that has nothing to do with Twitter for once.
BBspot - Wil Wheaton Indicted for Role in Robot Fighting Ring
What really worries me is the gambling.Neat article about how soldiers in the military are anthropomorphizing the robots in their squads.
YouTube - WiigoBot: The Perfect Game
Lego robot designed to play Wii Sports Bowling
The Ides of March bring two disturbing pieces of robot news.
First, Aging Japan builds robot to look after elderly, a story with a must-see photo. I think Old Glory Robot Insurance is going to have to open a branch in Japan.
Second, via Slashdot comes a story about the US Army’s SWORDS robots that are equipped with either the M249, machine gun which fires 5.56-millimeter rounds at 750 rounds per minute or the M240, which fires 7.62-millimeter rounds at up to 1,000 per minute. In other words, robots that are not only capable of, but are designed to break the First Law of Robotics! The Army couldn’t at least start with the Third Law and work down? I sincerely hope they’re at least equipped with red LEDs.
Top Ten Movie Robots of All Time
Data should be number one, and Optimus Prime should be on there instead of the Westworld robot, but a fun list nonetheless.