Filed under: Robots
Finally you can give your drummer his walking papers. Let’s be honest, he was the weak link in the band, right? From now on, all your percussive duties can be carried out by this ingenious bot, whose only duty in artificial-life is to roll around, find objects to bang on, and create funky little loops. Basically, the Yellow Drum Machine uses two microphones / sound sensors on its “head” to search out surfaces suitable for rocking, then uses two sticks to play a beat, record it, and accompany the playback. The end result is a surprisingly human — and wiggle-inducing — rhythm. Check the video after the break to see just how nasty this robot gets.
[Via Make]
Continue reading Robot drummer goes solo, plays solos
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Filed under: Robots
Finally you can give your drummer his walking papers. Let’s be honest, he was the weak link in the band, right? From now on, all your percussive duties can be carried out by this ingenious bot, whose only duty in artificial-life is to roll around, find objects to bang on, and create funky little loops. Basically, the Yellow Drum Machine uses two microphones / sound sensors on its “head” to search out surfaces suitable for rocking, then uses two sticks to play a beat, record it, and accompany the playback. The end result is a surprisingly human — and wiggle-inducing — rhythm. Check the video after the break to see just how nasty this robot gets.
[Via Make]
Continue reading Robot drummer goes solo, plays solos
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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
We’ve seen self-healing materials and artificial arms, but a team of researchers hailing from UCLA have taken two fabulous ideas and wed them together to create “an artificial muscle that heals itself and generates electricity.” Put simply, the contracting / expanding of the material can generate a small electric current, which can be “captured and used to power another expansion or stored in a battery.” The scientists have relied on carbon nanotubes as electrodes rather than metal-based films that typically fail after extended usage, and in an ideal world, the research could eventually lead to (more) walking robots and highly advanced prosthetics. Integrate an AC adapter in there and we’re sold.
[Via CNET]
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Filed under: Cellphones
Now, we know the official story on the CeBIT Meizu shutdown was related to MP3 codec licensing, and not the M8’s iPhone-like UI. Still, it does seem strangely fortuitous that more pictures of the phone’s interface have just appeared that seem to showcase a move away from Apple’s familiar look. The Chinese site CNMO has new shots of the device’s music player, which now appears to incorporate song info, EQ display, lyrics, and volume / tracking controls all on one screen. The pictures also show a couple of different music browsing options, both in landscape and portrait mode. Is this a signal that the company is putting some distance between the M8 and the iPhone? Only time will tell.
[Via PMP Today]
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Filed under: Laptops
One of our totally awesome tipsters got his hands on some more pics of Intel’s forthcoming (we hope) Netbook, or as they call it, the Eco PC. These shots are way clearer than the previous pictures we’ve spied, and showcase the TI-99-esque keyboard that has at least one member of the Engadget team pretty darn excited. Take a look after the break at a few more photos, and hit Min Thu’s Flickr gallery for the whole tour.
Continue reading New shots of Intel’s Netbook / Eco PC uncovered
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Filed under: Laptops
Unfortunately, Apple’s MacBook Air still only arrives with a lone USB port. Save for using a dongle / hub, there’s really been no other way to connect a bevy of USB peripherals to the lappie — until now. Thanks to a curious hacker with a thing for perusing microchip documentation, he discovered that the internal ICH-8 southbridge chip actually has five low-speed and two high-speed USB controllers. After rolling up his sleeves and finding the correct pins, he was actually able to make the partially exposed MBA recognize and talk nice to a USB flash drive. We know, you USB-lovin’ Air owners are already dreaming up ways to add new ports to your slim slab of aluminum, so head on down to the read link if you’re ready to work (hard).
[Via TUAW]
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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
Quite frankly, Teclast’s M25 was darn close to being solid, but it’s pretty safe to say the M26 trumped it tenfold by ditching the scroll wheel in exchange for a few more millimeters of precious touchscreen. This admittedly sexy PMP features a 2.6-inch 400 x 240 resolution capacitive touch panel, support for RMVB, RM, FLV and AVI file formats, TV out and Microsoft’s PlayFX abilities, too. Judging by the interface shot, it’ll also handle FM radio and a slew of music / photo formats, and while there’s no definitive price just yet, you can look forward to choosing between black and white whenever it lands.
[Via thegadgetsite]
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Filed under: Portable Audio, Robots
Okay, so after watching this thing bust a move on video, we actually aren’t as perplexed by it as we once were, but there’s no denying that Sony’s Rolly is quite the curious character. Nevertheless, the SEP-30BT (opposed to Japan’s SEP-10BT) has hurtled itself into the open arms of the FCC, assuring Americans that the time has almost come. There’s nothing too shocking within the 70 (!) page manual, but if you just can’t wait for this critter to land at your doorstep, tap the read link below and eat your heart out.
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Filed under: Wireless
Details are a bit sparse, but according to CNET, in the wake of this week’s non-defeat in the FCC spectrum auctions, Google is planning a press call to publicly discuss its intentions to continue lobbying the FCC to favor the pursuit of white space data transmissions. We know Google’s all joined up with Microsoft, Intel, and a number of other triple-a companies in the white space coalition — which intends to provide dynamic wireless access on shreds and scraps of unused radio spectrum, bringing the world a step closer to the magical land of software defined radios — but exactly what G will be announcing we won’t find out until next week.
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Filed under: Wireless
Details are a bit sparse, but according to CNET, in the wake of this week’s non-defeat in the FCC spectrum auctions, Google is planning a press call to publicly discuss its intentions to continue lobbying the FCC to favor the pursuit of white space data transmissions. We know Google’s all joined up with Microsoft, Intel, and a number of other triple-a companies in the white space coalition — which intends to provide dynamic wireless access on shreds and scraps of unused radio spectrum, bringing the world a step closer to the magical land of software defined radios — but exactly what G will be announcing we won’t find out until next week.
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