Posted on 05/10/2019 8:09:11 PM PDT by ETL
Think robots are all square corners and rigid metal parts? Think again.
Two interns at NASA are part of a larger group working on "soft robots" that could be used for exploring worlds beyond Earth.
This includes the moon, NASA's next major destination for astronauts.
The advantage of a soft robot is that it's flexible and, in some ways, better able to adapt to new environments.
Soft robots move in ways similar to living organisms, which expands their range of motion, perhaps making it easier to squeeze into a tight spot, for example. ..."
"By design, the actuator has chambers, or air bladders, that expand and compress based on the amount of air in them," NASA said in the statement.
"Currently, these two interns are operating the design through a series of tubes in the air bladders, allowing them to control the movement of the robot.
By adjusting the amount of air in the chamber of the soft robotic actuator, the robot can flex and relax, just like a human muscle." ..."
In particular, the interns are investigating four key properties of the actuators — mobility, joining, leveling and shaping — and how to use them in space exploration.
Mobility refers to how the soft robot moves in its environment , while joining concerns how robots can link together (for example, to make a large temporary shelter).
Leveling refers to how actuators can create a surface, such as filling in space underneath a lunar habitat, while shaping examines ways of adding strength to materials like dust shields. ..."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Working with a grant from NASA, BYU engineers (led by mechanical engineering professor Marc Killpack) are programming inflatable robots so that they can be used in everything from space research to home care.
Because they are inflatable, these robots — like BYU’s King Louie - can operate safely in homes and around people where rigid robots might cause injury to people or structures. ..."
Inflatable Sexbots. You know that they are coming next.
Ping.
Good ol’ Fawlty Towers!
Posted on 9/25/2018, 1:19:07 PM by ETL
The first so-called "robot sex brothel" in the U.S. slated to open in the Houston area this month has prompted a massive backlash from residents and activists who say it will ruin the neighborhood.
The company opened its first location last year near Toronto, where $60 buys a half-hour alone with a robot sex doll, according to the Washington Examiner. The dolls start at $2,500 to buy.
Yuval Gavriel, the founder of KinkySdollS, made the announcement during an interview with the Examiner last week, telling the paper he plans to expand to 10 locations throughout the United States by 2020.
Elijah Rising, a Houston-based non-profit organization aimed at ending sex trafficking, started a petition titled “Keep Robot Brothels Out Of Houston.” The non-profit has more than 6,500 signatures as of early Tuesday morning.
“As a nonprofit whose mission is to end sex trafficking we have seen the progression as sex buyers go from pornography to strip clubs to purchasing sex—robot brothels will ultimately harm men, their understanding of healthy sexuality, and increase the demand for the prostitution and sexual exploitation of women and children,” the petition states.
-snip-
Residents are also expressing their opposition to the brothel, which Gavriel described as a “showroom” where customers can test and rent dolls before deciding to purchase one.
"There's kids around here and it's a family-oriented neighborhood and I live right here and to have that here is just gross," Andrea Paul told KTRK.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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Don’t panic, on the belt line of the automatic pilot there’s a tube, now that is the manual inflation nozzle. Take it out and blow on it.
I wonder how many such ventures Billy Jeff Clinton has invested some cash.
If they used helium instead of air, the robots could fly on the moon. Just a suggestion.
Just think of what this will do to the Cialis/Viagra market if they come up with a remote-controlled wifi version of this tech...........
Precisely.
That’s perverted.
Not so much. Helium does not float in a vacuum. Fluid mechanics is clearly not your strong suit.
*ping*
Well, Amy likes me... 
just the way I am!
She might like you more if a part of you was inflatable...
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