Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
HRP-3 Promet Robot Blue Collar Style
The HRP-3 Promet Mk-II robot is not one of those shiny, intellectual robots that are fluent in over six million forms of communication. The HRP-3 Promet is designed to withstand heavy rains, carry out disaster relief operations and even work in places that are too dangerous for human beings.
(HRP-3 Promet Mk-II robot)
The HRP-3 Promet Mk-II is shown above brandishing an electric screwdriver, looking for loose screws. Five feet, three inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, the robot has improved balance and coordination as well as tougher hardware than earlier versions.
"We have made a leap towards creating a humanoid that works in a real environment," said a spokesman for Kawasaki Heavy Industries and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. "Our country [Japan] is rapidly aging and it is an urgent task to develop robots that can perform tasks only done by humans now."
Mecha creator Yutaka Izubuchi, known for work on such anime as Gundam and Patlabor, is the designer of HRP-3 Promet Mk-II.
This robot reminded me of a fictional bot created by writer Harry Harrison. In his 1956 story The Velvet Glove, autonomous robots are expected to seek work on their own; a robot that needs to work to earn money for parts and service can't be too picky about the work that is offered.
The overworked leg motor would have to cool down before he could work on it, plenty of time to skim through the newspaper. With the chronic worry of the unemployed, he snapped it open to the want ads and ran his eye down the Help Wanted - Robot column...
(Read more about Harry Harrison's blue collar bot)
Take a look at this HRP-3 Promet MK-II video, set to Senor Coconut's cha-cha version of Kraftwerk's 1978 classic The Robots. Who knew that in the future, robots would walk like Steve Urkel.
(HRP-3 Promet MK-II video)
Via Pink Tentacle.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 6/22/2007)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Humanoid Robots Spotted In Homes Performing Household Chores
'... nothing was perfected until M. Pantalon announced the completion of his automatic valet.' Arthur Bird, 1899.
Bambot Open Source Cheap Delivery Robot
'Not since the time he rewired the delivery robot...'
Robot Collective Acts Like A Smart Material
'...it was all composed of tiny, identical cubes, carefully laid to form a tilelike surface.'
Robot Gas Station Attendant Pumps Gas For You
'... he waited for the robotrix attendant to finish fueling up his ship.' - Philip K. Dick, 1974.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Heart Patches Grown In The Lab Repair Hearts
I'm hoping that this procedure becomes a normal part of medical practice!
Humanoid Robots Spotted In Homes Performing Household Chores
'... nothing was perfected until M. Pantalon announced the completion of his automatic valet.'
Musk Proposes Sites For Martian Cities
'...its streets were of remarkable width, with few or no buildings so high as mosques, churches, State-offices, or palaces in Tellurian cities.'
Bambot Open Source Cheap Delivery Robot
'Not since the time he rewired the delivery robot...'
Robot Collective Acts Like A Smart Material
'...it was all composed of tiny, identical cubes, carefully laid to form a tilelike surface.'
Vipera Electric Skis From Frigid Dynamics
'JOAN strapped on her power-skis...'
Pixel Watch 'Loss of Pulse Detection' And Philip K. Dick
'He carried on his person a triggering mechanism sensitive to his heartbeat.'
Nuclear Plant Restarted To Power AI To Feed Us Dreams
'...Anything was possible in my imaginary environment.'
SpaceX's Starman Tesla Roadster In Space
'Somewhere in space, a chrome and blue automobile raced the green light of Earth.'
Pivotal Blackfly Electric Aircraft Lifts And Hovers
'That explains how it was so easy for me to remain motionless in midair...'
CORLEO Robotic Horse Concept Looks Ready To Ride
Imagine digging your heels in to a steam horse!
Who First Thought Of A Tin Foil Hat?
'We had discovered that metal was relatively impervious to the telepathic effect.'
Warp Drive Tech Back On The Menu
'Detailed plans for the construction of the Gundstetter-Halone warp drive were flowing.'
Huawei Pura X Folding Phattie Phone
Why can't we get more innovative phone configurations?
Sleep Pods At Daxing International Airport
'Do not waste your priceless company on the unappreciative folds of a sleep pod...'
Robot Baristas Learn Their Trade Without Paying Royalties
'...so we've promised him a generous pension from the royalties.'
