Category Archive 'Robots'

Filipinos build unmanned aerial vehicle

- Innovations, Robots, UAV -

AFTER successfully launching the first underwater unmanned vehicle, research and development firm Roboteknik is developing the country’s first commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which can be used for industrial and military purposes.

The Custos (Latin for guardian) is a remote controlled aircraft almost two meters in length and is similar to some UAVs used in the US, particularly the RQ series made by AAI Corporation and Israel Aircraft Industries.

The Custos is only about 1.5 meters in length and is powered by a single electric jet propulsion engine. The UAV can be outfitted with high resolution close circuit television camera for still and video shots, a global positioning system receiver, infrared sensors, among others.

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By Alex Villafania
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03.11.08

AFP to give P1.7M to develop RP-made robot

- Hardware, Robots -

By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

MAKATI, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is interested to fund further development of a locally made mechanical anti-terrorist concept or “MAC” robot that was initially funded by the Philippine National Police, a lead developer told INQUIRER.net.

MAC lead developer John Judilla of the Mapua Institute of Technology said the AFP will provide funding of about P1.7 million to improve the MAC.

Currently, the MAC team is working to produce a cheaper version of the anti-terrorist robot with a slew of enhancements, he added.

Judilla said the new MAC will use lighter Lithium polymer batteries and fiber glass for body frame to make it lighter.

The prototype uses lead-acid batteries and has a metal body frame. The tilt of the video camera on the gripper was also adjusted to allow the operator better control of the MAC.

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By admin
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16.10.08

Filipino-made robot to help police

- Robots -

By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police Makati Unit has launched the mechanical anti-terrorist concept (MAC) robot that looks like a magnified version of a robotic toy weighing about 80 kilos.

It is a good sign the government defense unit is looking at technology to better their operations. However, a look at the robot also signals how the technology is really in its infancy — well, it’s a prototype.

A good point about the MAC is that it uses locally sourced parts but it also posed problems for developers.

According to Engineer John Judillo of the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), they had difficulty in making the parts fit the configuration of the other thus it took them about nine months to come up with MAC — seven months for conceptualization and two months for development.

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By admin
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04.04.08

Intel’s own ‘Asimo’

- Gadgets, Hardware, Intel, Intel Developer Forum, Robots, Videos -

HERE’S another video that INQUIRER.net technology reporter Lawrence Casiraya sent in from the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai of “Fuwa,” a personal robot made by China’s Fudan University, that runs on Intel technology and can follow voice commands. Will this cute robot give Asimo a run for his money?

And here’s a pic of Fuwa that Lawrence took.

If you’re wondering what else Lawrence has been doing in Shanghai, check out his Tales of the Nomad blog post.

By admin
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12.10.07

The robots are coming

- Robots, Videos -

WE’RE getting closer and closer to making the stuff of science fiction a reality. How soon before we see robots in our homes, helping out with chores and stuff? Maybe sooner than we think.

Here are two videos from Reuters featuring two different approaches to building a robot.

Here’s a clip featuring Honda’s famous ASIMO.

And here’s a robot from an Indian inventor, who used parts from old cars and other junk to create what he hopes will be a robo-servant that will be affordable to more people.

By admin
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Tech Addicts, the tech blog of INQUIRER.net. Manila-based INQUIRER.net is the online home of the Philippine Daily Inquirer group of publications.