Actually, it’s just a sculpture with articulated joints, but by all the gods of steampunk, it looks glorious. The product of 60 hours’ labor and a selection of used transmission parts, disemboweled household appliances and 20-gauge steel, the mechanical cheetah stands 24-inches tall and 50-inches long. It looks like a stripped down robocat skeleton, and its joints can be maneuvered to mimic the movements of the real feline or to strike some downright awesome poses. Hit the read link for video of the mech cheetah simulating a run, as well as creator Andrew Chase’s thoughts on the project, or click past the break for more images  » Read the rest of the entry..

Micro-aerial vehicles, or MAVs as they’re called in the elusive underground, are far from new, but a team from NC State University is hoping to advance the field with an all new critter. The Robo-Bat is a remote controlled creature that relies on a super elastic shape-memory metal alloy for the joints, which is said to provide a full range of motion while enabling it to “always return to its original position — a function performed by many tiny bones, cartilage and tendons in real bats.” The crew is also utilizing other “smart materials” in the muscular system, giving it the ability to react in real time to environmental changes such as sudden wind gusts. Ideally, this bionic chiropteran would be used to chivvy those who dare step foot on Franklin Street or inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, but in less malicious situations, it could help well-meaning scientists get the bottom of that whole “aerodynamics” thing.

Sega Toys has unveiled yet another iteration of the fake cat we’ve come to know and love, and this time, it’s even more “real” than before. Dream Cat Venus — as this one’s been dubbed — has sensors in its forehead, and touch sensors in its body so that it can react when petted. Apparently more lifelike than previous version Smile, Venus also purrs when certain words are spoken. Sega Toys says this is the right choice for those who just don’t have the time for a real pet. We’re also pretty sure it’s non-allergenic (unlike real felines), cheaper to own (doesn’t eat or need to see the vet), and totally won’t mind if you head out on vacation for three weeks at a pop without telling him. We’ll still feel the guilt though. This kitty’s going to be available starting July 30th in Japan for about $110.

It’s the feel bad and then feel good again story of the year: bankrupt Ugobe’s intellectual property and assets, including the intensely lovable and yet nearly unloved Pleo, are being snapped up by Jetta Company Limited, which currently manufactures the robotic baby dino. The company plans on re-launching Pleo, and says that all its manufacturing processes for Pleo and related accessories are still intact. Better yet, the company is well established and no stranger to robots: it also builds parts for iRobot’s consumer products. Could this be love?

Japan-based Tohoku Kankyo is selling the Samu [JP], a robotic trash can that’s shaped like a dog and can get rid of “natural garbage” like food leftovers and pet poo in a biologically acceptable way. Users can turn 600 to 1,000g of bad stuff into compost each day.

The Samu can be used for several months before it needs to be refilled with the substance that turns the garbage into compost. All that users need to do is put the poo into the robot, close the lid, push a button and let the magic work. Sized at 555×283mmx447mm, the robot weighs 14kg.

On February 17, 2009 in London, England, BERTI the robot interacted with a Sony AIBO robot dog at The Science Museum’s Antenna Gallery.

BERTI is a life size humanoid robot built to mimic human gestures. Visitors to the Antenna Gallery will witness BERTI’s gestural abilities and get the chance to participate in live research by telling scientists how they rate BERTI’s performance.

Source(s): Charlotte Observer