Robots Crowd The Aisles In Las Vegas
Published: Jan 29, 2009Just about everyone has heard about Spirit and Opportunity, the robots that keep on trucking across the surface of Mars. And of course, there was last summer’s hit movie WALL-E, about a lovable little waste-collecting robot.
Well, you don’t have to go to Mars or the multiplex to meet a real robot. Just keep your eyes open in the aisles of the Robotics TechZone, sponsored by Robotics Trends, at the Sands. Robots may not be everywhere, but you should watch where you step anyway. While many are large, some are small, and they all will be showing off for the crowds.
Robots have moved into the mainstream. You can find them in stores, from lawnmowing marvels to robots that do the dirty work, like iRobot’s Looj (Fig. 1). This tracked gutter-buster whips its way through gunk and leaves to leave almost nothing in its wake. This portable, battery-powered robot only does one thing, but it does it well.
Of course, you also can check out the latest iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner and its competition. An industrial-strength Roomba will highlight iRobot’s Professional Series, whose models are designed for heavy traffic areas and can handle larger spaces than their siblings. There is even a Pet Series for houses like mine where stray kitty litter is the norm.
Also, iRobot offers industrial and military options. The portable PackBot will be on display, but I’m looking forward to seeing the Warrior x700. This monster can support 150-lb payloads, making it ideal for heavyduty heavyduty applications like explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), reconnaissance, and firefighting (Fig. 2). It also can handle rough terrain and even climb stairs.
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