R O B O T I C S

7 Amazing Robots that Will Change Your Life7 Amazing Robots that Will Change Your Life

ROBOTICSROBOTICS

Rise of the CyborgYoshiyuki Sankai's Hybrid Assisted Limb

(yes, that's a nod to the haywire computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey) is suit that gives its wearer ‘superpowers’: the ability to lift an

extra 88 pounds or walk long distances without tiring.The catch--the suit's battery needs to be charged every five

hours. Sankai's Cyberdyne plans to rent HAL suits for $1,000 a month.

PackbotPackbotiRobot founders Colin Angle and Helen Greiner wanted to iRobot founders Colin Angle and Helen Greiner wanted to

make robots that made money. The Roomba, their best-known make robots that made money. The Roomba, their best-known offering, has done that, moving 2 million floor-cleaning units offering, has done that, moving 2 million floor-cleaning units

since 2002. The more ambitious PackBots, which take on such since 2002. The more ambitious PackBots, which take on such tasks as bomb disposal in Iraq, sell for $100,000. tasks as bomb disposal in Iraq, sell for $100,000.

Next up: a bomb-sniffing robot and a robot lawn mower.Next up: a bomb-sniffing robot and a robot lawn mower.

PleoPleoFormer street mime Caleb Chung co-created the Furby, a Former street mime Caleb Chung co-created the Furby, a $30 fuzzy toy that "learned" over time--and sold 50 million $30 fuzzy toy that "learned" over time--and sold 50 million

units. Next year he plans to start selling his next bot: Pleo, a units. Next year he plans to start selling his next bot: Pleo, a lovable minidinosaur. Pleo was a hit at tech conferences lovable minidinosaur. Pleo was a hit at tech conferences

early this year, stoking demand for the $250 toy.early this year, stoking demand for the $250 toy.

DaVinci RobotDaVinci RobotJohn Hopkins engineering professor Russell Taylor's star John Hopkins engineering professor Russell Taylor's star

pupil is Da Vinci, a 1,200-pound, $1.5 million set of pupil is Da Vinci, a 1,200-pound, $1.5 million set of mechanical arms that help out surgeons doing prostate mechanical arms that help out surgeons doing prostate removals and other procedures. Sleeker, more capable removals and other procedures. Sleeker, more capable

instruments are emerging from his lab.instruments are emerging from his lab.

StanleyStanleyLast year Stanley, Sebastian Thrun's souped-up Last year Stanley, Sebastian Thrun's souped-up

Volkswagen Touraeg, won $2 million by winning a 131-mile Volkswagen Touraeg, won $2 million by winning a 131-mile race across the Mojave Desert--without a driver. Next up: In race across the Mojave Desert--without a driver. Next up: In

November 2007 Thrun will modify a Volkswagen Passat and November 2007 Thrun will modify a Volkswagen Passat and let it drive itself through a 60-mile race in a city yet to be let it drive itself through a 60-mile race in a city yet to be

named.named.

StickyBot-StickyBot-Gecko meets Spiderman.Gecko meets Spiderman.

Biologist Robert J. Full and engineer Mark Cutkosky teamed Biologist Robert J. Full and engineer Mark Cutkosky teamed up to create Stickybot, a 2-foot robot that climbs windows up to create Stickybot, a 2-foot robot that climbs windows

and other vertical surfaces at 1.5 inches a second. The and other vertical surfaces at 1.5 inches a second. The robotic gecko uses hundreds of tiny (10 microns long) stalks robotic gecko uses hundreds of tiny (10 microns long) stalks

in each toe to help it cling to walls.in each toe to help it cling to walls.

Lego NXTLego NXTSoren Lund oversees Lego Mindstorms, the world's most Soren Lund oversees Lego Mindstorms, the world's most

popular line of robot tool kits. His new Mindstorms NXT popular line of robot tool kits. His new Mindstorms NXT retails for $250 and boasts better software as well as a retails for $250 and boasts better software as well as a

Bluetooth wireless connection. More impressive are the Bluetooth wireless connection. More impressive are the engineers who put the new version together--a hundred engineers who put the new version together--a hundred

hackers who fell in love with the original version.hackers who fell in love with the original version.