Posts Tagged → gadgets
Robots Not Just a Dream of the Future
Robots are now a part of our culture. Mostly found in today’s manufacturing workplace, robots are a key tool in today’s technologically advanced industrial workplace. Ford, Chrysler, GM, Toyota and almost all car manufacturing companies use robots in their manufacturing facilities. General Electric has an entire fleet of robots manufacturing their jet engines. Almost every city has robots to defuse potential bombs. The Navy uses underwater robots for shipbuilding and demolition work. The military arena has used robots for years. Mining companies work robots miles below the surface of the earth. NASA and space exploration are original users of robotic technology. Disease control centers all over the word use robots in areas unsafe for humans.
While most of us still think of robots as a futuristic toy characterized by the Jetsons, robots have weaned their way into our industrial society for many years. However, humanoid robots are not far from becoming a part of our every day life. ASIMO is a humanoid robot built by Honda in Japan. It was first introduced in 2000. It’s name stands for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility. It was the goal of Honda to build a walking robot which could interact in human situations. The main focus was to aid in the overall quality of life of humans with this technology.
Asimo was the first robot able to incorporate predicted movement control which allowed for more joint flexibility making it more human-like in its overall walking motion. While there were many hurdles to overcome, this robot has the ability to walk, run, climb stairs, and can reach speeds of up to 3.7mile per hour. Newer versions can actually coordinate efforts with other ASIMO’s to perform coordinated tasks. They robots know to step down when approached by humans. They even have the ability to sense when their batteries are low and they will go to their docking stations to charge up their batteries.
The latest generations of this robot can recognize faces and moving objects and react accordingly. This version can recognize voice commands and respond accordingly.
With over 37 separate movement capabilities, these robots can be utilized in a myriad of interpersonal activities to aid in daily life.
Robots have been around for years, especially in the industrial segments of society. Today they are ready to take their first tentative steps towards joining our cultural society as well.
Next Generation of Home Automation Systems
Everyone knows that Professor Keenan loves his gadgets. I love to think about the technology of tomorrow and how it will change the way that we go about our daily lives. Things like cars that drive themselves to voice activated devices that carry out our every command. I know Google has been working on some technology out in California to develop software to operate vehicles remotely. When I think about all of the cool automated devices that I can play around with now, I think of home automation systems.
The next generation of home automation systems are already here. You literally can adjust the temperature of your living room from work or even close your blinds in your bedroom while you are driving in your car. There is some cool devices out there that really bring all of this automation to your finger tips. I went to my friend’s house this past weekend and he was showing off the $30,000 he spent installing his home automation equipment. That is what gave me the idea for this post. Anyways, I get to his house and he shows me everything that he is able to do now through his remote. The coolest part is that his remote was an Ipad! From the luxury of his Ipad he was able to control the lighting of any room in his house, his television, his stereo equipment, his curtains/blinds, his thermostat in any zone, and a few more things that I surely can’t remember because there were so many. It was definitely a pleasure to see all of this technology at work. I took several pictures to show my students.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds considering that the home automation systems of today can be run from an Ipad. With Apple’s Siri technology I am sure that voice commands are right around the corner! I just hope we don’t get too lazy when all of these gadgets start doing everything for us. I guess we will see soon enough!