Video Friday: Talking Humanoids, Badminton Robots, and Boomerang Drone

The week's best robot videos are here
via Video Friday: Talking Humanoids, Badminton Robots, and Boomerang Drone

Manufacturing MakerBots for the Mass Market

How an engineer re-jiggered a 3D printer and its factory to streamline production
via Manufacturing MakerBots for the Mass Market

FAA: Wildfires and Drones Don’t Mix

In response to the recent reports of drones interfering with aerial firefighting operations combatting wildfires in California, the FAA issued a press release yesterday. The gist of it supports the message the firefighters themselves have been delivering, a message we also want to broadcast: If you fly, we can’t.

From the release: “Often a temporary flight restriction (TFR) is put in place around wildfires to protect firefighting aircraft. No one other than the agencies involved in the firefighting effort can fly any manned or unmanned aircraft in such a TFR. Anyone who violates a TFR and endangers the safety of manned aircraft could be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. Even if there is no TFR, operating a UAS could still pose a hazard to firefighting aircraft and would violate Federal Aviation Regulation.”

At 3DR, we can’t say this strongly enough: Don’t fly anywhere near these wildfires. Even if it seems like you’re in an isolated area, you may be interfering with operations and not know it.

To read the full press release, click here.

The post FAA: Wildfires and Drones Don’t Mix appeared first on 3DR | Drone & UAV Technology.

via FAA: Wildfires and Drones Don’t Mix

Robots Reveal How Water Striders Jump on Water

A tiny robot shows how water striders can jump without sinking
via Robots Reveal How Water Striders Jump on Water

Bill Dabbs obituary

My father, Bill Dabbs, who has died aged 84, played a key role in the development of the car industry in the UK, including the introduction of its first robot.

Bill was born in Southall, London, into a poor family during the Depression, the only boy among eight children. His father, William, suffering from the effects of mustard gas during the first world war, was often unemployed; his mother, Matilda – known as Kathleen – had been in domestic service. In 1940, to keep Bill safe from the London blitz, his parents booked him passage to Canada on the SS City of Benares. Shortly before he was due to leave, they changed their minds; a few days into its voyage, the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat and 77 evacuee children lost their lives.

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via Bill Dabbs obituary

We Should Not Ban ‘Killer Robots,’ and Here’s Why

What we really need is a way of making autonomous armed robots ethical, because we’re not going to be able to prevent them from existing
via We Should Not Ban ‘Killer Robots,’ and Here’s Why

Package Delivery By Drone

Workhorse Group presents its plan for package delivery by drone at NASA Convention
via Package Delivery By Drone