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Technische Universität Darmstadt, a German university, is working on an Aibo-like robot that will features an open-source software development kit (SDK). It is currently aimed at researchers and enthusiasts. Dubbed as the New4LR, the robot adopts two AMD Geode 500Mhz processors. Here is a full specs of the “dog”.

The New4LR Specifications

• 40cm x 30cm x 25cm and 2.8kg
• 15 programmable joints
• 640×480 pixel head camera
• Infra-red sensors in the head and chest
• Speaker and microphone (optional)
• WiFi and Ethernet
• Compact Flash (CF) reader
• 2 USB, 1 VGA connector
• 30mn of battery life

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The Husqvarna Automower is an awesome looking electric-powered robotic automatic lawnmower. What makes it cool is that it’s totally environment friendly, as we figure the lazier mankind gets, we might as well keep the place clean. [PeepCulture] More »

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The iRobot 560 Roomba comes with dramatically improved navigation, cleaning coverage, vacuum pickup, and particle filtration. The robot basically sucks up the debris and deposits in your home with ease. It is priced at $350. [PeepCulture]

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Let’s take a look at this Heineken commercial video. No more hot and sexy girls, this time they opted for the robotic girl. Watch the video for more details.

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South Korea is investing in a huge industrial park dedicated to robotics. It is called “Robot Land”, a city entirely created for the robotics industry. The city will feature facilities for research, development, and production of robots. It will have a stadium for robot-related competitions. The project will cost $530 million dollars and will begin construction sometime in 2009. The location of the site will be announced in November of this year.

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Toyota demonstrates its new tour guide robot at an exhibition held on 27th August, 2007 in Toyota city. The robot is designed to greet visitors.

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According to Japan’s Nikkei Business, Toyota will purchase Sony’s robotics division, including the AIBO, QRIO and the people that work on them. The deal came about from Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho who was on the board at Sony when Sony CEO Howard Stringer decided to get rid of the money losing division. Yoshiya Sato, editor-in-chief of Nikkei Business said that the deal is indeed a “gorgeous combination” of companies.

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It wasn’t Steve Austin or Luke Skywalker, but an everyday American Vet from the Iraqi War who received an experimental bionic hand. Watch the video.

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If you thought that little droid was resourceful before, you can now discover that R2-D2 is also a 628 x 528 pixel [tag]webcam[/tag] that can transmit real time video and audio to your computer. The worldwide remote capabilities that allow you to control R2-D2’s movements. You can also access this webcam from a laptop or desktop anywhere internationally. The lightsaber remote also functions as a Skype phone and can even do 360 spins! R2’s front leg can detect desk and table edges. Photography fans should also know that this webcam now takes digital photos, has a voice recorder, as well as zoom and tilt functions. With 11 different phrases and droid sounds, it’s powered by 2 AA batteries. Now available for pre-order for $350 at Hammacher-Schlemmer.

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Chiba Institute of Technology Japan has developed the Halluc II, which is a mobile robot with eight wheels. The robot has 4 joints for each wheel for easy movement and is loaded with a camera, 13 distance sensors, two lasers for obstacle detection, one goniometer for wheel control and three axial controllers. Powering all this is an AMD Geode processor at 800 Mhz combined with Linux OS. The robot can transform to the plain wheel mode, animal mode and insect mode. The battery pack has enough juice for 30 minutes. Watch the videos after the jump to see what it’s like.

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