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MEET ROBODOG
RoboScience,
a new UK company specialising in commercial robotic technology, recently
launched
its RS-01 RoboDog - the world's most powerful, most advanced and largest
commercial legged robot. Compared to other robotic animals, such as those
produced by Sony, the Guardian newspaper described this new invention
as the "Formula 1" of robotic pets.
Mark
Oates, co-founder and marketing director ofNorthamptonshire
based RoboScience, said, "All legged robots now for sale are nothing more
than entertainment. This is an advanced computer in animal form - it's
history in the making. We have done
what was thought impossible - creating a robot that is light and strong,
yet large enough to show the true potential of legged robotics that are
genuinely
useful to human life." The RoboDog will be sold as a
hand-made limited edition product
tailored to the customers'
requirements. A maximum of 200 robots will be offered for sale worldwide
over the course of this year at a price of £20,000.
The
RoboDog is the size of an adult Labrador and is powerful enough to raise
itself from the ground carrying a five-year old child. Its sophisticated
motor
capabilities and balancing
software allow it to climb obstacles and performhandstands,
and its motion
and colour detection sensors enable it to find and kick a football.
It connects to the Internet via a wireless network, and can be controlled
from a PC. It can also recognise sixty oral commands.
Production
versions of the RoboDog will allow owners to view locations
remotely via an on-board camera or have the RoboDog access
and read aloud e-mails. The RoboDog is 820mm long, 670mm tall and 370 mm
wide and thanks to its advanced carbon-fibre and Kevlar construction, it
weighs only 12kg (26 lbs) and can operate
independently for 1.5 hours.
The
manufacturers intend to licence elements
of the RoboDog technology to companies in fields as diverse as industrial
automation, special effects, security and military services. Mark Oates
adds, "For companies struggling with the limitations of current robotics
technology, this is - quite literally - tomorrow's world today! This RoboDog
also proves that legged robots can now have the size and power to perform
in high-risk
environments, whether that is a power station
or a mine-field. After all, the loss of a robot is an inconvenience;
the death of a human being is a tragedy."
The
Robodog has been designed and developed in a remarkably short space of
time. Nick Wirth says "This is breakthrough technology created at breakneck
speed."
breakthrough:
new development - co
founder:
one of the creators - customer:
client - formerly:
who used to be - genuine:
real, authentic - highly
skilled:
extremely competent - in
the making:
taking place - inconvenience:
pity, disadvantage - involvement:
participation - launch:
put on the market, begin to sell - lbs:
pounds - licence:
allow the use of - limited
edition:
made in a limited number of units - location:
site, situation, place - motor
capabilities:
ability to move - perform
a handstand:
stand on one's hands, or one's front feet - pet:
domestic animal - platform:
basis - power
station:
place where electricity s generated - remotely:
from a distance - state-of-the-art:
most modern possible - tailored
to:
adapted to.
commercial
robotic technology
Technical
and design breakthroughs
Next-generation
lightweight robots
High
risk military environments
Computer
aided design tools
Northamptonshire
based Roboscience
Worldwide
Balancing
software
Motion
and colour detection sensors
High
risk environments
Reading
for information:
Answer
these questions....
1.Why
is Robodog an important technological breakthrough?
2.What
is perhaps its most significant feature?
3.How
does one operate a Robodog?
4.Why
is Robodog useful for military purposes?
Rephrasing:
Imagine
that Robodog 2 is just going to be launched. This it a general public version
of the original Robodog. Write a 150-200 word article about this new product,
for a non-technical teenage or women's magazine.
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