Robots: Part 1. Translating material from the Big Picture website

In this post , I present to your attention a translation of the first of three ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) articles about robots from boston.com , or rather its section “The Big Picture” . Articles are a selection of photographs about robots and robotics, supplemented by comments on the essence of what is happening, as well as on the place and time of events. My personal comments will be in italics.

1.

Twendy-One demonstrates the ability to delicately handle objects by manipulating a straw between its fingers in the laboratory of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Waseda University Institute in Tokyo, January 14, 2009. This robot was developed by the laboratory team led by Dr. Shigeki Sugano, in the hope that similar technologies can help older people in the future. © AP Photo / Shizuo Kambayashi

2.

LEMUR (NASA's Limbed Excursion Mechanical Utility Robot) was developed for the maintenance and repair of equipment in space. Its advanced version of Lemur IIa could serve as an assistant for the construction of overall structures in an airless space. “Lemur IIa” in the picture is shown standing on a model of a segmented telescope. © NASA / Planetary Robotics Laboratory

3.

A robot named da Vinci helps surgeons with hernia surgery at the University Hospital Geneva. University Hospitals of Geneva opened a robotic surgery department in 2008, from which 50 to 80 surgeons from around the world can be trained throughout the year. Geneva, Switzerland, November 13, 2008. © AP Photo / Keystone, Salvatore Di Nolfi

4.

Spanish Queen Sofia, King of Spain Juan Carlos, Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko watch a show in a robotic suit called “HAL” (Hybrid Assistive Limb), capable of lifting bags of rice up to 30 kg ( Ha ha, wimps! ), At the university Tsukuba University, located north of Tokyo, November 12, 2008. © KATSUMI KASAHARA / AFP / Getty Images

5.

The humanoid robots Wakamaru, designed and manufactured by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, take part in the play. On the right is Momoko, on the left is Takeo. The play is the world's first experiment of its kind with the simultaneous participation of robots and humans, written and directed by Hirata Oriza, and staged at Japan's Osaka University. Osaka, Japan, November 25, 2008. © YOSHIKAZU TSUNO / AFP / Getty Images

In the comments, one user says that in his hometown of Tomsk there is also a theater with robots. Of course, everything does not look so technological, but this factor is important only in terms of our stereotypes, in my opinion.

6.

A sapper robot examines a suspicious package for an explosive device during the Special Operations Command Central Command Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit for participants of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference 72 exercises (I can’t dare translate this name exactly ) in the Lemonier military camp. Djibouti, October 21, 2006. © Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby

7.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel poses with the Bruno robot at the Darmstadt University of Technology booth at the National IT Summit in Darmstadt on November 20, 2008. © REUTERS / Alex Grimm

8.

A rescue robot belonging to the Tokyo Fire Department loads a mock victim on a counter-terrorism exercise in response to a radiological device in Tokyo on November 7, 2008. The exercises were held in conjunction with 11 organizations, including the Metropolitan Police Department © TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA / AFP / Getty Images

9.

The biomimetic ( just like that ) underwater robot, dubbed "RoboLobster", was developed by Professor Joseph Ayers. "RoboLobster" is designed to study changes in sea water, as well as to search for and destroy underwater mines. Nahant, Massachusetts, August 17, 2007. © Robert Spencer

10.

Two ATHLETEs (All-Terrain Hex-Legged Extra-Terrestrial Explorer: designed for rugged terrain on other planets, six-wheeled) move across the desert terrain adjacent to Dumont Dunes, California. © NASA

eleven.

Robot manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation at an exhibition in the salon. Tokyo, December 11, 2008. © REUTERS / Michael Caronna

12.

The Urology Department at Milton, Dr. Clifford Gluck works with the da Vinci robot. Milton, Massachusetts, April 23, 2008. © Boston Globe / Milton Hospital

thirteen.

Japanese Health Minister Yoichi Masujo will test the My Spoon assistant robot during a presentation of robots designed for medical care in Tokyo on November 10, 2008. “My Spoon”, developed by Japan's Secom, is designed to help people with disabilities eat food by controlling the joystick and using their lower jaw, leg or arm for choice. © AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS

14.

Three robots manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation play musical instruments. Tokyo, May 4, 2008. © REUTERS / Toru Hanai

fifteen.

Demonstration of the capture of a criminal with the help of a "network" by a robot with remote control T-34, in Tokyo, January 21, 2009. T-34 operators can monitor events in real time using the camera and control it through a mobile phone. The T-34 has sensors that respond to heat and sounds, through which it can be controlled in real time. © REUTERS / Kim Kyung-Hoon

16.

Farmer Wu Yulu drives a home-made walking robot from a rickshaw in a village on the outskirts of Beijing on January 8, 2009. This robot is Wu's last and largest invention, which he began to engage in robotics in 1986. The robot is made of wire, metal, screws and nails found in ordinary rubbish. © REUTERS / Reinhard Krause

17.

A man shakes the hand of the Berti robot at the Science Museum in London, February 17, 2009. The robot is a human-sized machine made in full size and designed to simulate human gestures. © AP Photo / Kirsty Wigglesworth

18.

NASA's K-10 “Red,” an experimental robot using a system to create 3D terrain models, WA in June of 2008. © NASA / Ames Research Center

19.

Thai and American soldiers film the Big Dog robots on their cameras and camcorders during the opening ceremony of the Cobra Gold military exercises at a hotel in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, February 4, 2009. © AP Photo / Apichart Weerawong

A selection of videos from Big Dog . I completely agree with the user in the comments - there is something frighteningly infernal in him.

20.

Visitors to the exhibition watch the human-like robot of the Justin Rollin system, preparing tea at the largest high-tech exhibition CeBIT, March 2, 2009 in Hanover, Germany. © RONNY HARTMANN / AFP / Getty Images

21.

The British Royal Marine poses with the Unmanned Vehicle Robot, Testudo during a presentation of military equipment in London on February 26, 2009. © REUTERS / Luke MacGregor

22.

Klara Wu, a software developer at Harvest Automation, is testing a robot called Mr. Incredible, a second-generation prototype, at the firm’s office. Massachusetts, August 29, 2008. The robot is a part of the greenhouse maintenance system, and is designed to place pots with plants in a special grid, for the best use of free space. © Ellen Harasimowicz for The Boston Globe

23.

Two-legged model Tyrannosaurus Rex, at the Expo 2008 Computer Achievement Show in Tokyo, Japan, October 23, 2008. © Koichi Kamoshida / Getty Images

24.

A student at the Tokyo Institute of Technology showcases a prototype robot watchman, “bino3,” during an exhibition of security systems advances in Tokyo, March 3, 2009. “Bino3” has four “eyes”, which are equipped with two wide-angle lenses, and are two stereo cameras and two tele-photo lenses that can track certain objects, including intruders. © AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO

25.

Vince Martinelli (right), the Kiva Systems storekeeper, conducts an inventory at the company's “demo warehouse” using robots of their own production ( these are the orange pieces under the shelves ). © Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

Here you can watch a demo of this process. Funny things, I would buy myself a couple for household needs.

26.

Matthew W. Fisher and Hanson Robotics are holding on to their highly controversial development, a synthetic human face designed to show how easy it is to mimic human emotions. Massachusetts, May 15, 2007. © David L. Ryan / Boston Globe

27.

A Talon 3B naval robot examines a claymore mine (M18A1 - an American anti-personnel mine) standing in the ground during exercises in sand dunes at a training ground in the African city of Djibouti, April 14, 2005. The robot is controlled from a safe place using monitors and video equipment installed on the robot. © DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Robert R. McRill, US Navy

I wonder if the Americans realized that their sappers can be easily calculated using a radio signal, which is probably not the most secure, and for example using one “super mine” having the ability to fly some distance and installed somewhere on the minefield, in one fell swoop to destroy the entire sapper platoon.

28.

Developed for psychiatric institutions, the Paro robot was shown at the Japan Robot Show 2008 in Yokohama on October 10, 2008. This “toy” is worth 350,000 yen (US $ 3,480). The robot is made in the form of a baby seal and is equipped with an intelligent behavior system that serves to reassure patients in hospitals and nursing homes. © AP Photo / Itsuo Inouye

29.

Robots assemble a Samand car at the Iran Khodro automobile plant, located west of Tehran, September 30, 2008. © BEHROUZ MEHRI / AFP / Getty Images

thirty.

MSI's Rich Robot takes a walking tour of Far Glory's Grand Hills Showroom in Linkou City, which in turn is located in the Taiwanese province of Taipei in October 2008. © REUTERS / Nicky Loh (TAIWAN)

31.

Intel CEO Craig R. Barrett, California Governor Arnold Schverzegger and German Chancellor Angela Merkel opposite a robotic arm at the opening of CeBIT's largest high-tech exhibition in Hanover, March 2, 2009. © NIGEL TREBLIN / AFP / Getty Images

Schwartz, with a constant smile on his face, is clearly trying to stay away from his alter ego.

32.

NASA Mars Research Laboratory. Photo of the rover during its assembly, before installing the manipulator, mast, laboratory equipment and other equipment, in August 2008. Its six wheels have a diameter of about 50 centimeters (20 inches). The frame is located 1.1 meters (3.6 feet) above the ground. The rover is now ready for launch in 2011. © NASA / JPL-Caltech