Meet Robodog
THE WORLD’S ___________ AND MOST ADVANCED COMMERCIAL LEGGED
ROBOT RE-WRITES ROBOTICS ______________
RoboScience, a UK company specialising in commercial robotic technology, recently launched its RS-01 RoboDog- the world’s most powerful, most advanced and largest commercial legged robot. Compared to other robotic animals, such as those pro- duced by , this new invention is the “Formula 1” of robotic pets. Techni- cal and design breakthroughs made during the creation of this remarkable new robot will form the platform for next-generation lightweight robots that will many ordinary tasks and eliminate human involvement in high-risk and environments. Nick Wirth- formerly a designer of Formula One racing cars and co-founder and technical director of RoboScience- and a small team of highly-skilled specialists created the RoboDog in only seven months using a state-of-the-art – design tool provided by software house UGS.
Mark Oates, co-founder and marketing director of Northamptonshire based RoboSci- ence, said, “All legged robots now for sale are nothing more than entertainment. This is an advanced computer in animal form- it’s history in the making. We have done what was thought impossible- creating a robot that is and , yet large enough to show the true potential of legged robotics that are genuinely useful to human life.” The RoboDog will be sold as a hand-made limited edition product tailored to the customers’ requirements. A maximum of 200 robots will be offered for sale worldwide over the course of this year at a price of £ , .
The RoboDog is the size of an adult Labrador and is powerful enough to raise itself from the ground carrying a five-year old child. Its motor capabilities and balancing software allow it to climb obstacles and perform handstands, and its motion and colour detection sensors enable it to find and kick a football. It connects to the Internet via a wireless network, and can be controlled from a PC. It can also recog- nise oral commands.
Production versions of the RoboDog will allow owners to view locations remotely via an on-board camera or have the RoboDog access and read aloud e-mails. The RoboDog is 820mm long, mm tall and mm wide and thanks to its advanced car- bon-fibre and Kevlar construction, it weighs only kg (26 lbs) and can operate independently for 1.5 hours.
The manufacturers intend to licence elements of the RoboDog technology to compa- nies in fields as diverse as industrial automation, special effects, security and military services. Mark Oates adds, “For companies struggling with the of current robotics technology, this is- quite literally- tomorrow’s world today! This RoboDog also proves that legged robots can now have the size and power to perform in high-risk environments, whether that is a power station or a mine-field. After all, the loss of a robot is an ; the death of a human being is a tragedy.”
The Robodog has been designed and developed in a remarkably short space of time. Nick Wirth says “This is breakthrough technology created at speed.”
WORDS:
-breakthrough: new development -co founder: one of the creators -customer: client -formerly: who used to be
-genuine: real, authentic -highly skilled: extremely competent -in the making: taking place -inconvenience: pity, disadvantage -involvement: participation -launch: put on the market, begin to sell -lbs: pounds -licence: allow the use of -limited edition: made in a limited number of units -location: site, situation, place -motor capabilities: ability to move -perform a handstand: stand on one’s hands, or one’s front feet -pet: domestic animal -platform: basis
-power station: place where electricity s generated -remotely: from a distance -state-of-the-art: most modern possible -tailored to: adapted to.