Innovation robotic summit held in Lyon, France March 23-25, 2011
The innorobo summit featured the exhibit of more than 100 robots, 30 of which were on display for the first time ever in Europe. It included conferences on a wide range of topics such as the social implications of robotics and the shape of robots to come.
Continue reading
Evolving about 400,000 000 years ago, these guys hung out with dinosaurs!
Coelacanth robot used for education
In 2001, Mitsubishi began the production of an artificial Coelacanth, an ancient species believed to be extinct until the 1930′s.
The body of the artificial fish is partly made of silicone, plastic and elastic metal. The artificial fish achieves life-like movements through the use of an ¨elastic oscillating fin propulsion system,¨ technology originally developed for propeller-operated marine vehicles. It is fully automated and will swim to a recharging unit when its batteries run low!
Continue reading
Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster (1931)
Our apprehension to artificial beings
The term robot was originally used in Karel Čapek’s 1921 play RUR (Rossum’s Universal Robots). However, the concept of a being or machine akin to today’s conception of a robot is something that goes back much further.
The notion of artificial beings is present throughout history in diverse methodologies. In some they are portrayed as human servants, in others as divine creatures. How are robots portrayed today?
Science fiction author Isaac Asimov introduced the three rules of robotics in his 1942 short story Runaround.
Continue reading
How is research funded in Europe?
The European union’s Lisbon strategy aims to have Europe become the “most dynamic competitive knowledge-based economy in the world”. “Framework Programs” (FPs) are financial tools used to achieve ambitious goals such as this by providing support for European research and development activities.
What does European research focus on?
FP7 is currently in place with a strong focus on information and communication technology research (ICT), which is vital to the competitiveness of European industry and to meeting the demands of its society and economy. A specific focus within FP7 is cognitive systems and robotics. With a solid base in industrial robotics, European robotics research also focuses on professional service, domestic service, security and space robotics. Extensive analysis of market developments and future opportunities are being continuously performed to help maintain and expand Europe’s leading position in this sector.
Where does European robotics stand globally?
The potential in the field of robotics in Europe is huge: there are strong robotics and automation suppliers supported by a well networked education and research community. European nations that are most involved in robotics are Germany, Sweden, Italy, France, Finland, Belgium and Spain. The need for robotics in Europe is also great in terms of security, healthcare, industry and the monitoring of everyday environments.
Continue reading