Chronicling the End Days of humanity and the inevitable Rise of the Machines.Tumblr (3.0; @twicr)http://twicr.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/e723bf225c900741baac8c3da6698d96/tumblr_mn5p6nfnyo1qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Mars robots take plenty of selfies, too. </p> <p>(via <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA16937">JPL</a>)</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50995550783http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50995550783Tue, 21 May 2013 11:15:59 -0500robotsspace robotscuriositymsljplnasamars<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/80dcea15ff4c24ddf342990e19a26ad3/tumblr_mn5ob5E3Cv1qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This is either a robot octopus or … ROBO-CTHULHU!</p> <p>(via <a href="http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/robot-octopus-shows-off-new-sculls">IEEE Spectrum</a>)</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50994528533http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50994528533Tue, 21 May 2013 10:57:05 -0500robotsroboticsrobot octopusbiomimeticsrobo-cthulhulovecraftrobopocalypse<a href="http://#?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">BBC News - Ant studies to aid design of search and rescue robots</a>: <p><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9p5ey_sprockets-germany-s-most-disturbing_shortfilms#.UZuAY0qRN8E">AAANTS!</a></p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50989468263http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50989468263Tue, 21 May 2013 09:12:05 -0500robotsantssprockets<p>At least Yahoo! isn’t trying to usher in the robot car uprising.</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50987501316http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50987501316Tue, 21 May 2013 08:26:18 -0500yahoo!tumblrrobot uprisingdon't be evil<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a39a34e6d4514e7f246d359c60511f9f/tumblr_mmx1pnbGoY1qeoxw2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Whatever you do, don’t ever challenge a robot to a game of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_%28game%29">Simon</a>. </p> <p>(via <a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://blog.usa.gov/post/50923679692/image-description-the-defense-advanced-research">usagov)</a></p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50925096235http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50925096235Mon, 20 May 2013 14:20:52 -0500you will lose<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/b7dd195d69eb69be8019384053b4e678/tumblr_mn3wtvEBdh1qlo1lto4_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/0f965bacddf8710e3210713216631f87/tumblr_mn3wtvEBdh1qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/6c0ac2f73965c758df83dcaac6437b7b/tumblr_mn3wtvEBdh1qlo1lto3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/31eae45d5dea39d97adab9d0f80a936d/tumblr_mn3wtvEBdh1qlo1lto2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Will you welcome our new robot overlords, or would you like to own one instead? <a href="http://www.christies.com/about/press-center/releases/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=6415">Christie’s “Out of the Ordinary” auction</a> this September in London will feature Gygan, an eight foot tall, 1,000 lb. robot created by an Italian engineer in the 1950s.</p> <p>(photos via <a href="http://cyberneticzoo.com/?p=1949">cyberneticzoo.com</a>)</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50916636044http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50916636044Mon, 20 May 2013 12:05:00 -0500robotsrobot overlordsgyganvintage robotsgiant robots<p>Yahoo! overlords have to be better than robot overlords, right?</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50913078799http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50913078799Mon, 20 May 2013 11:04:24 -0500robotsyahoo!tumblr.robot overlords<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d87132e282de82c03d4a4cf9455ac1cc/tumblr_mmxw1dx6911qgpcs1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Remember, “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_be_evil">Don’t be evil</a>.”</p> <p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://joshbyard.tumblr.com/post/50658774184/google-investing-in-drone-autopilot-systems">joshbyard</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Google Investing in Drone Autopilot Systems</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>Google’s venture capital arm announced yesterday that it is investing $10.7 million in a company that makes drone brains. The company, Airware, builds autopilots for unmanned aerial systems.</p> <p>Because space and weight are at a premium on drones, especially small ones, Airware’s systems can get pretty tiny—one model weighs 32 grams, or about the same as a pocketful of coins.</p> <p>Airware made news in January (under their previous name of Unmanned Innovations, Inc.) when a Kenyan wildlife conservation group purchased one of its drones to fly over a nature preserve and watch for poachers.</p> </blockquote> <p>(via <a href="http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-05/google-bets-10.7-million-drone-intelligence">Google Bets $10.7 Million On Drone Intelligence | Popular Science</a>)</p> </blockquote>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50663287397http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50663287397Fri, 17 May 2013 12:52:59 -0500robotsdronesgoogleevil<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c8631564c379d0412f78ec527f442916/tumblr_mmr1azO1r81qgpcs1o1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Take one robot and call me in the morning? </p> <p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://joshbyard.tumblr.com/post/50652380664/injectable-microbots-steered-by-magnets-deliver">joshbyard</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Injectable Microbots, Steered by Magnets Deliver Drugs Exactly Where They’re Needed</strong></p> <blockquote> <p>Researchers from the Institute of Robotics in Zurich have recently developed an electromagnetically-controlled robot that can be delivered to the eye  — by injection with a 23-gauge needle — and precisely positioned to sites where drug is needed.</p> <p>…by coating the microbot with dye-containing nanospheres, the researchers have now repurposed the device to provide critical measurements of oxygen concentration in the eye to make quick diagnoses when vision unexpectedly fails. These new machines, and the apparatus which controls them, are part of a larger effort to deliver and control devices within several organ systems using remote power…</p> <p>Steering is done by a device called the <a href="http://robotics.tch.harvard.edu/workshops/iros2012/resources/bergeles2011steerable.pdf">OctoMag control system (PDF)</a>. The OctoMag has three degrees of freedom (DOF) in positioning and two for pointing orientation. It is composed of eight DC-operated electromagnets arranged in a hemispherical configuration. It can create a maximum gradient of 1.5 Tesla per meter.</p> <p>The microbots have a diameter less than 500um, and their length can be adjusted according to the size of drug reservoir needed. The researchers experimented with several materials for their microbot, but the best proved to be NdFeB (neodymium magnet). Most of the experiments thus far have been done in eyes from pigs or human cadavers.</p> </blockquote> <p>(via <a href="http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/155537-magnetically-steerable-injectable-microrobots-could-help-treat-blindness?utm_source=feedly">Magnetically steerable, injectable microrobots could help treat blindness | ExtremeTech</a>)</p> </blockquote>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50656025395http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50656025395Fri, 17 May 2013 10:32:09 -0500robopocalypse<iframe width="400" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UBHJqnM8RTU?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p><a href="http://futurescope.tumblr.com/post/50641764004/mits-cheetah-robot-runs-faster-more" class="tumblr_blog">futurescope</a>:</p> <blockquote><p><strong>MIT’s Cheetah robot runs faster & more efficiently</strong></p> <p><a href="http://futurescope.tumblr.com/post/21494393739/absolut-greyhound-advert-from-absolut-vodka-a">Robotic Greyhound Races</a> are closer than you think. From Engadget:</p> <blockquote> <p><span>At the recent International Conference on Robotics and Automation, the Institute of Technology showed of its newest version, which reached a top speed of 13.7 mph. To accomplish this, the runner still needs parallel support bars to constrain movement in one dimension, reducing any roll, yaw — and the chances of a pretty expensive fall. The team says the new version’s cost of transport (COT is power consumption divided by weight, times velocity) is around 0.52. In comparison, Honda’s </span><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/hondas-asimo-robot-sheds-a-few-pounds-gets-all-autonomous-on-u/">Asimo</a><span> has a hefty COT of 2.</span></p> </blockquote> <p>[<a href="http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/17/mit-cheetah-robot-runs-faster-more-efficiently/">read more</a>] [<a href="http://biomimetics.mit.edu:8100/wordpress/">MIT Biomimetic Robotics Lab</a>]</p></blockquote> <p>More efficient killing machines for a better tomorrow!</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50648407246http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50648407246Fri, 17 May 2013 07:36:06 -0500robotskillbotskiller robotsrobopocalypse<iframe src="//www.tumblr.com/video/twicr/50607419778/400" id="tumblr_video_iframe_50607419778" class="tumblr_video_iframe" width="400" height="711" style="display:block;background-color:transparent;overflow:hidden;" allowTransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><br/><br/><p><a href="http://who-is-in-japan.tumblr.com/post/43934573294/this-creepy-projection-lady-works-for-the-cell" class="tumblr_blog">who-is-in-japan</a>:</p> <blockquote><p>This creepy projection lady works for the cell phone company in japan to bring in customers</p></blockquote> <p>This is a special kind of creepy, Japan.</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50607419778http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50607419778Thu, 16 May 2013 17:46:24 -0500japancreepymechanicalreplicantsyntheticrobopocalypse<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/55759259" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><br/><br/><p>You can now stop wondering what <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/when-romeo-is-a-robot/275917/">robot love</a> looks like. </p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50586307313http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50586307313Thu, 16 May 2013 12:23:10 -0500robotsroboticsartlove<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/b28341d7f0c61cd7b279b8fc57039e3b/tumblr_mmw9j4dbwO1qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Junk bot made from scrap materials is both terrifying and environmentally responsible!</p> <p>(via <a href="http://boingboing.net/2013/05/16/robot-made-from-recycled-scrap.html">Boing Boing</a>)</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50576481613http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50576481613Thu, 16 May 2013 08:59:28 -0500robotsartsculpturechina<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f8829df2af2cfbe12feaadc9c11f3946/tumblr_mmuqxoG3B61qlo1lto2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e402c22e11651b7004de50f678e64390/tumblr_mmuqxoG3B61qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2905e518bf6cd6de07a1e026c6e0766f/tumblr_mmuqxoG3B61qlo1lto3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/75d6055287448fa45bbb46f8147b3c78/tumblr_mmuqxoG3B61qlo1lto4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>We don’t yet have the technology to fully-staff a restaurant with androids, but at <a href="http://kotaku.com/south-korea-has-a-restaurant-for-giant-robot-geeks-506502022">this eatery in South Korea</a> you can dine while surrounded by giant robots!</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50508694694http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50508694694Wed, 15 May 2013 13:20:12 -0500robotskoreagigantoranimemangagiant robots<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c68872a8175b0d8eaaec952f1f6f17c8/tumblr_mmnahxNzJo1qlo1lto3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/6ca79710ac5eda07c2f495d99b89d116/tumblr_mmnahxNzJo1qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/37805b59409c67013fdb4d2f0d09d037/tumblr_mmnahxNzJo1qlo1lto2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>These backpacks and messenger bags from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CraftieRobot">CraftieRobot</a> might be the perfect way to carry your survival gear once the robot uprising begins. </p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50506067415http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50506067415Wed, 15 May 2013 12:31:57 -0500robotsfashonaccessoriesbagscraftierobotetsy<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/9b84fa1df33c87980f4f04f0d8e2000f/tumblr_mmqyrvBSlS1qf5do9o1_500.gif"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/6fa8782d777e746fe13feed93c730abd/tumblr_mmqyrvBSlS1qf5do9o5_400.gif"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/16005cbeb33fa18a4560d6344c2ba4a8/tumblr_mmqyrvBSlS1qf5do9o4_500.gif"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/fc19babcca9a40e7bc8f83f31a799ab1/tumblr_mmqyrvBSlS1qf5do9o3_500.gif"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/6a8e6cc7da1fa0fd58e8f474c8244f96/tumblr_mmqyrvBSlS1qf5do9o2_500.gif"/><br/> <br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://plasticpals.tumblr.com/post/50500778250/cuntamination-smoke-machine-robots-cant-get">plasticpals</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://cuntamination.tumblr.com/post/50351142681/smoke-machine">cuntamination</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Smoke machine</p> </blockquote> <p>Robots can’t get cancer</p> </blockquote>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50503462186http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50503462186Wed, 15 May 2013 11:42:25 -0500<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/518ceac024e9c34b0646815f5e6b9ff6/tumblr_mmp5vjiTvw1qlo1lto1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Chicken or human? All us meatbags look the same to robots.</p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50494558331http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50494558331Wed, 15 May 2013 08:28:25 -0500robotskillbotsbutcherbotsroboticstechrobopocalypse<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/559cd8cfd822832aa426228ab70edc97/tumblr_mmt2xmRi4L1qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c6128b6ebc06643809b68a73252da0ab/tumblr_mmt2xmRi4L1qlo1lto2_400.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Kevin Drum has an interesting piece at <em>Mother Jones</em> about the <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/media/2013/05/robots-artificial-intelligence-jobs-automation">rapidly advancing state of robotics technology</a>, but I’m even more fascinated by these accompanying illustrations by Roberto Parada. </p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50441959847http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50441959847Tue, 14 May 2013 15:44:10 -0500robotsrobot overlords<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/034562c38d7404cf7fb7ff2fc0ea6f97/tumblr_mmnb1o3l0h1qlo1lto3_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/f58597b61919869b8e44a078f78f3a05/tumblr_mmnb1o3l0h1qlo1lto1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/2cf3dbd845d0a009223115f371a5e772/tumblr_mmnb1o3l0h1qlo1lto2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/6118b230564cbd38e44acfb960d79343/tumblr_mmnb1o3l0h1qlo1lto4_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>Cool typographic illustrations inspired by pop culture robots from artist Peter Ware. More at his <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/17thandOak">Etsy store</a>. </p>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50418199003http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50418199003Tue, 14 May 2013 08:23:25 -0500robotsartillustrationtypographypeter wareetsystar warsC-3POr2-d2transformersBlade Runner<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/3a434204a612b5e0e14a16130513aa5d/tumblr_mmbubbF3GT1s7xdk9o1_500.gif"/><br/><br/>http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50417150502http://twicr.tumblr.com/post/50417150502Tue, 14 May 2013 07:56:20 -0500robocopdead or alive youre coming with me