Martin Buehler's prototype jockey-ridden hopping robot will guarantee you look like a moron

robot-jockey-racing.jpgRemember those insane little hopping-machines in playgrounds, shaped like little animals attached to springs, and you sit on it and can jump up and down by about 5 inches? This is the adult, Jackass-esque version. Hours of fun! Hours spent in A&E!

According to the designer, Martin Buehler, it’s a ”prototype jockey ridden hopping robot that controlled forward speed, hopping height, and pitch balance, the jockey did sideways balance and steering.” I had to read that sentence over about five times before it made sense, you too?

Check out the video of it…

iRobot launches ConnectR remote-controlled VoIP video robot

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Having unveiled the Looj gutter-cleaning robot earlier today, iRobot has now shown off another new bot, the ConnectR. It’s a ‘virtual communication and interaction’ robot designed for families.

Basically, it hooks up to your home Wi-Fi network, and lets you dial in remotely to have videochats and VoIP calls with people in the house (or pets, weirdly – if your dog doesn’t mind woofing into a communication robot).

iRobot Looj: the robot that cleans your gutter

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Still think robots aren’t useful? Check this one out. It’s called the iRobot Looj, and it cleans your gutter so you don’t have to spend half a day shinning up and down a ladder doing the job yourself.

It stands 2.25-inches high, and sweeps out dirt, leaves and other debris while you settle down for a nice cup of tea. Or, if you’re like us, gather all your neighbours round to boast about your new gutter-cleaning robot.

Sony AIBO-like robot, the New4LR, is open-source and speccy

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Yet another robot for you, this time in the shape of a wee lil puppy. Watch women all around you swoon at the sight of it. Coochie-coochie-coo! Coochie-coochie-coo!

As your robot-savvy eyes can tell, it’s slightly Sony Aibo-like in its appearance, but has a lot more to it than what meets the eye. The German University working on the robot has developed open-source software for the product, ‘New4LR’, powered by two AMD Geode 500Mhz processors…

Mega Mech Airmagination inflatable robot at Wal-Mart is largest in market!

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Just what every little Timmy and Tricia needs, a giant inflatable robot. Maybe kids can program it to steal their Mummy’s Brooks Brothers’ cardigans, and key-scratch their Daddy’s Rolls Royce?

Ok, so it’s only $40 from Wal-Mart, so is unlikely to be given to little bourgeoisie kiddywinks in America, but still, does a child really need something twice the size of them to play with? The Mega Mech Airmagination inflates to 48 inches tall…