Grok Robots

Many excellent entries over at Worth1000.

In case you want to know more about BigDog after seeing the video, here is a cutaway zoomable illustration.

An amazing video of the BigDog robot is making the rounds:

It also carries over 300 pounds, hops and jumps. DARPA-funded - finally, your tax dollars at work put to good use!

Ever wonder what a painting robot looks like in action? How about an arc welding robot? Or plasma cutter robot? RobotWorx Industrial Robot Videos is a valuable source of videos that will satisfy your curiosity. These robots will be among some of the most dangerous if there is a robot uprising, so it is good to know what we might be up against.

Impulse shoppers beware - all of the robots shown are for sale on the site.

In the latest trailer for Pixar’s WALL-E we meet EVE, object of WALL-E’s robo-love. Here’s EVE as she arrives on the scene:

EVE’s design leads to the question: was Steve Jobs wandering his old Pixar stomping grounds in Emeryville the day EVE was designed?

Pixarian: So this is EVE, and she exits the spacecraft and WALL-E
Jobs: Whoa, whoa, whoa. What’s up with all those buttons and dials and those things on her face?
Pixarian: Her eyes?
Jobs: Yeah those. Get rid of those and everything else. You just need the robot body and a screen.
Pixarian: No face?
Jobs: Just have some eyes glow in when you need them.
Pixarian: What about -
Jobs: No.
Pixarian: Maybe if we put -
Jobs: Wrong.

In subsequent scenes you’ll notice EVE has sub-surface indicators and lights/scanners when needed:

Of course, in the end Steve is all about compromise:

Pixarian: Then she flys around with this retro iPod.
Jobs: Brilliant.

Robot shot glass by Amanda at Bread & Badger.

At thirty seconds into this teaser, you’ll see Harry Houdini up against an electricty-shooting robot:

This is a preview for the Houdini the Movie Star collection. His robot foe is featured in The Master Mystery. Released in 1919 this is probably the first robot to appear in a motion picture. It was referred to as “The Automation”

Same old story: Girl meets robot, robot gives girl flowers, robot and girl enjoy the countryside.

Slow day at the office? Build a papercraft R2-D2 mailbox.

In case you have any soft and cuddly robot-related crafting needs, check out this robot fabric pack by mikodesign.