Tag: Japan

RoBoCup 2005

robot

Its that time again, I was puttering around on the MAKE blog today and noticed that the RoBoCup expo was going on. What is RoBoCup you ask?

But what is RoBoCup exactly? It’s a competition between small robots from a number of universities or manufacturers. There are two main themes: an obstacle course and a football game. The last one seemed to be the most popular (we recommend the Aibo football game). There was also a small booth with the latest in cybernetics.

There, that’s it in a nut shell. Yet another reason to go visit Japan. Osaka would be mighty fine this time of year…

RoBoCup 2005

cybernetics, technology, robotics, Japan

Fuel Cell Powered Robot

Nice Bot

This is pretty cool, too but it’s yet another kit that I won’t be buying any time soon, a little pricey at $25,000US. The fuel cell is powered by a Hydrogen gas cylinder that is actualy inside the robot so you can run it totaly without wires.

Robot equipped with the fuel cell

Some more translated links to the Speecys company.
What is Speecy?
Press release

Here is a nice shot of the fuel cell itself.
Fuel Cell

technology, Japan, fuel cell, science, robotics

Neko Shinkansen

Neko Shinkansen

Very cool, and the cat ears make it all the better if you ask me. The ears act as air brakes to slow the train down in case of an emergency (earthquake, fire, etc…) Top speed is expected to be around 405 kph and run at 360 kph in normal operations. So, why can’t we have a few of these here in America? Once between Las Vegas and LA could pay for itself in a year, loads of people want to lose money in sin city. You know, on second thought I don’t think America is ready for something like this. For a start, if it was run by a private company it would be asking for an immediate bail out because the operation costs would be far too high. The company would try to cut costs and lower maintenance standards to keep the money pouring into the pockets of the shareholders from the government funding. Oh yeah, now that would make for some fantastic headlines…

Neko bullet train
Japan, train, fast

Store the Force

Vader USB

The whole custom USB memory device trend is taking longer to catch on than I had thought it would. This is the latest batch, Star Wars inspired memory units. So far this is falling in the same catagory as all the other ones, looks nifty but the storage capacity is far too small to be of any practical use. I suspect that some one is selling smaller (older) USB memory drives for very cheap and because the margin would be pretty good those get used in the cool custom cases.

May the USB Memory be with you my Young apprentice

USB, memory, Star Wars, storage

Decorer

Decorer

Well, nice to see that fashions in Tokyo are keeping up with the reputations that suround it. Looks like Harajuku, that would make sense as that is where you find all the supporters of the latest fashion… craze (or is is affliction?) If you ever visit Tokyo make sure you stop by Harajuku on a Sunday so you can see the locals get all weird.

In the past, this style was called “ shinorer ” because Japan ese talent, “ Tomoe Shinohara ” wear like this. After that, this fasion trend disappear at onece. But recently this fasion start to rampant again as “ Decorer ” .
At first, their way of decoration is very slight, subtlety and casually. But now their decoration technique go to extreme. Yes, they are really decorer !

Decorer, process of cheerful decoration fasion trend

fashion, Japan, decorer, weird

Exterminate. Exterminate! EXTERMINATE!

Guardrobo

“I think the “D” in Guardrobo D1 stands for Davros.”
-Kevin

In an idea straight out of science fiction, robots could soon begin patrolling Japanese offices, shopping malls and banks to keep them safe from intruders. Equipped with a camera and sensors, the “Guardrobo D1,” developed by Japanese security firm Sohgo Security Services Co., is designed to patrol along pre-programmed paths and keep an eye out for signs of trouble.

GuardRobo security robot

Japan, robots, security, technology