Meet Gordon, probably the world’s first robot controlled exclusively by living brain tissue.
Stitched together from cultured rat neurons, Gordon’s primitive grey matter was designed at the University of Reading by scientists who unveiled the neuron-powered machine on Wednesday.
Their groundbreaking experiments explore the vanishing boundary between natural and artificial intelligence, and could shed light on the fundamental building blocks of memory and learning, one of the lead researchers told AFP.
It may have seemed like just another improbable scene from a Hollywood sci-fi flick – Tom Cruise battling against an army of robotic spiders intent on hunting him down.
But the storyline from Minority Report may not be quite as far fetched as it sounds.
British defence giant BAE Systems is creating a series of tiny electronic spiders, insects and snakes that could become the eyes and ears of soldiers on the battlefield, helping to save thousands of lives.
On the big screen, films like Robocop, Universal Soldier and forthcoming release Iron Man show man-machines with superhuman powers. But in Utah they are turning science fiction into reality.
We are at a research facility on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, ringed by beautiful snow-capped mountains. Once they held the Winter Olympics here; now they are testing endurance in other ways.
An 81-year-old Australian man has shot himself dead with an elaborate suicide robot built using plans he downloaded from the Internet.
The Gold Coast man, who lived alone, left notes of his plans and thoughts as he struggled to come to terms with demands by interstate relatives that he move out his home and into care.
He spent hours searching the Internet for a way to kill himself, downloaded what he needed and then built a complex machine that would remotely fire a gun.
He set the device up in his driveway about 7 a.m. Wednesday, placed himself in front of it and set it in motion.
His notes explained that he chose the driveway as he knew there were tradesmen working next door who would find his body. The plan worked as the workmen heard the gunshots and ran to investigate.
The machine was attached to a .22 semi-automatic pistol loaded with four bullets.
It was able to fire multiple shots into the man’s head after he activated it.
The Most Advanced Quadruped Robot on Earth
BigDog is the alpha male of the Boston Dynamics family of robots. It is a quadruped robot that walks, runs, and climbs on rough terrain and carries heavy loads. BigDog is powered by a gasoline engine that drives a hydraulic actuation system. BigDog’s legs are articulated like an animal’s, and have compliant elements that absorb shock and recycle energy from one step to the next. BigDog is the size of a large dog or small mule, measuring 1 meter long, 0.7 meters tall and 75 kg weight.
Apple event next Tuesday!
By Nick on September 2, 2008, 12:35 pm
Looks like apple is going to release some new iPods next week! /wish New macbooks!! /wish off
Gustav now cat 4
By claire on August 31, 2008, 9:42 am
ironically enough, i’m sitting in the new orleans airport. that plane damn well better show up.
Samorost creator working on new game
By sam on August 30, 2008, 5:15 pm
jakub dvorsky is very creative and an incredible artist, should be a sweet game
Obama’s speech
By claire on August 29, 2008, 7:51 pm
pft, what do you expect? its a convention… i fucking hate conventions, they are such a waste of time, money and...
McCain picks Palin
By claire on August 29, 2008, 7:44 pm
wooing hillary people much? should prove interesting
Obama’s speech
By sam on August 29, 2008, 9:13 am
with all that fanfare for his speech he could have fed a thousand of those poor diner-employees who cant take off a day...
What not to do when you’re on fire
By The Fox on August 26, 2008, 12:02 pm
Wow…retards. It’s too bad Darwin theory doesn’t finish the job sometimes
Meet Gordon, probably the world’s first robot controlled exclusively by living brain tissue.
