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
 |
Ubiko Robot A Fireman's Friend
Ubiko is a new robot that can sniff out the odor of fire. Ubiko is the result of a collaboration between robot-maker tmsuk, Kyushu University and the Kanazawa Institute of Technology.
(Ubiko checks for fire)
Ubiko is forty-four inches tall, and weighs about 132 pounds. Ubiko is described as having a humanoid appearance, but to me it looks sort of cat-like. It moves on wheels.
Ubiko is equipped with a set of olfactory sensors that are designed to detect the odors of smoke and ash. In a recent test at Kyushu University, Ubiko patrolled four rooms. One smelled of perfume, a second of garlic, a third of cigarettes while the fourth room was odorless.
Ubiko correctly identified the room with cigarettes has having the smell of materials on fire.
I hope frequent readers of Technovelgy will forgive me the obvious reference of the mechanical hound from Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, which also had olfactory capabilities. It appears that the cat-like Ubiko would be handier for firemen, though, since Bradbury's hound was better at catching individual people through their olfactory indecies. And, of course, there's that whole thing about the firemen in Fahrenheit 451 actually setting the fires, rather than putting them out...
Don't miss the rest of the robot sniffer news:
- Sniffer Robot With Infotaxis Algorithms On The Hunt
- RI-MAN Face Tracking, Electronic Nose Robot
- SPOT-NOSED Nanobiosensors For Doctors
Tmsuk is one of those companies that just keep bringing out the science-fictional in robotics; take a look at the shopping assistant that carries your bags.
Via Ubiko robot knows where the smokers hang.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/22/2007)
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 ")
Epirus High-Power Microwave Defeats Drones
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
It's A Giant Robot! You Reporters Have Been Warned!
'... completely forgetting the ship at sight of the awesome figure and great head of the giant Gaut...'
Tactile Skin Supplier Map
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
Robot Bees 3D Printed By Festo
'At first I was struck by the large size of these bees..' - Ernst Junger, 1957.
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
'If Anyone Is Watching Earth...'
'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'
Epirus High-Power Microwave Defeats Drones
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.'
Cloud Of Space Rubbish From China's Long March Rocket
'Within seconds the material was spread out over fifty yards, in a matter of hours it might occupy several cubic miles of space...'
Biomimetic Tendons From Rochu Robotics
'... the curious parallelism to animal motions.'
Living Human Neuron Biological Compute Rack
'The men are dead, but their acquired wisdom lives on and I am the beneficiary.'
Martha Stewart Approves Ojai 'Living Room On Wheels'
'Young people found the driverless car admirable for petting.'
ESA's Draco To Study Heat Of Reentry
'...a synthetic which air-friction would erode.'
Buy A Galaxy? Maybe Start Smaller
'The sky is the limit' just got higher.
The United States Space Academy Is Official
'Is our orbit to Space Academy clear?'
Is There A Global Problem With Who Is Having Children?
'After twenty generations of shillyshallying...'
You Will Eat The Cookies Made From Plastic...
'Our planes are going to start bringing in bales of discarded plastics...'
It's A Giant Robot! You Reporters Have Been Warned!
'... completely forgetting the ship at sight of the awesome figure and great head of the giant Gaut...'
Birds Learn To Sing Pictures ala Frank Herbert's Distrans
'We will fight in the time of fighting.'
ElectionSim: China's 'Ender's Game' Battle Sim, Or Lem's 'Kingdom In A Box'?
'So, Ender, we will now begin your education.'
Tactile Skin Supplier Map
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!'
Flock Stymied By 'Adversarial Fashion'
'Forget the head atop it, the legs below, feet, arms, hands. It compels erasure.'
