October 2000, F. WullschlegerIn 1997, the three German specialists in robotics Uwe R. Zimmer, Thomas Christaller, Christfried Webers had been touring through Japanese labs of robotics and their experiences are kept in the report "Recent Developments in Japanese Robotics Research — Notes of a Japan Tour". In addition, a very detailed list of Japanese labs, classified in specific research fields, including links to the respective homepages is available under the address transit-port.net/Lists/Robotics.in.Japan.html.
The Leg Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge (USA) deals entirely with locomotions on legs. Under the link "Our Robots" different locomotion machines are presented including text, fotos and films. In any case, the slow-motion pictures of the Quadruped and the 3D Biped which turns a somersault should not be missed.
The private research project on the creeping of snakes shows remarkable results. Short films demonstrate that Gavin Miller’s creations fairly approach the motion of genuine snakes.
The way of locomotion of the "Platonic Beast" of Dinesh Pai from the University of British Columbia seems to be extraordinary even among robots. Incredible, but under the above address there exists a film.
An internet-address for all fans of robots. The latest information on artificial muscles, the last football championships and autonomous vacuum cleaners. In addition, there are books and films for sale of the "Forbidden Planet" from 1956 up to the latest documentary of the Discovery Channel.
Collection of links to robots. Categories: basic research, companies, patents, toys, discussion groups, etc.
A short introduction is given into the history of robots and many links are listed, too.
A survey on Sojouner and other extraterrestrial vehicles
Some "Art Wired" on robots
Sony’s robodog Aibo, with emotions
First reasonable childrens‘ kit for playing and programming your own robot
Isaac Asimov: Alle Robotergeschichten (auf deutsch), Lübbe, 1986
Isaac Asimov: The Complete Robot (in English), Panther Granada Publishing, London, 1984
Asimov’s utopic and entertaining novels, first published in 1940, contain the famous three Laws of Robotics, requiring a robot not to endanger a human being but to obey him or her.
Institute of Robotics Homepage
October 2000, F. Wullschleger