Category Archives: Robots Around the World

iCub

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The famed European robot has made itself a home in laboratories around the globe

iCub is a robot capable of  interacting with the world much the way a small child does . It is used to look at how experience and the learning of physical acts can affect the development of cognition.  Among other capabilities, iCub is able to:  crawl, grasp objects and express emotion through facial expressions.  Check out the article in nature featuring the icub project leader Giulio Sandini who is also the founder of the LIRA-Lab (Laboratory for Integrated Advanced Robotics) at the University of Genoa and director of research in the Robotics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences department at IIT (the Italian Institute of Technology). Giulio is also a consortium member of the Coordination Action of the Robot Companions for Citizens FET Flagship Initiative.


Robot Becomes Living Fossil

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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!
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Robotics in Europe

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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.
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