Trossen Robotics Blog

Trossen Robotics Blog

Link to Trossen Robotics Blog

Graceful Fall Algorithm

Posted: 07 Dec 2015 08:49 AM PST

Falling Robot

Researchers at Georgia Tech have identified a way to teach robots how to fall with grace and without serious injury. In the video, the top robot uses a novel algorithm to minimize impact when the robot falls. The algorithm is not used for the robot on the bottom of the screen.

The work is important as costly robots become more common in manufacturing. The skill becomes especially important, too, as robots are sought for healthcare or domestic tasks – working near the elderly, injured, children or pets.

Techy at day, Blogger at noon, and a Hobbyist at night

Techy at day, Blogger at noon, and a Hobbyist at night


Honda Beat DC-CDI maximum RPM

Posted: 07 Dec 2015 12:58 AM PST

This video is a test showing the maximum rpm a Honda Beat Scooter stock CDI can deliver. It tells us that whatever we do to our engine, If the ignition is not capable of delivering higher rpm threshold then, simply wasting money and effort.


IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


Intel Talks Thunderbolt 3

Posted: 04 Dec 2015 02:00 PM PST



One cable to rule them all, and it'll be optical in 2016

Laser-Induced Graphene Looks to Displace Batteries With Supercapacitors

Posted: 04 Dec 2015 01:00 PM PST



Researchers continue to refine the process for producing laser-induced graphene that promises big changes in energy storage

IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


Video Friday: Robot With Axe, Drone With Claw, and Droid With Kittens

Posted: 04 Dec 2015 09:09 AM PST



Your weekly selection of awesome robot videos

Tech Industry Vets Fight Effects of Climate Change

Posted: 04 Dec 2015 08:00 AM PST



This group of geriatric engineers probably can't stop global warming—but maybe they can cool down a few hot spots

Here's a Peek at the First Sodium-ion Rechargeable Battery

Posted: 03 Dec 2015 01:31 PM PST



Will sodium replace lithium as the material of choice for rechargeable batteries?

Bill Gates and Tech Billionaires Launch Clean Energy Coalition

Posted: 03 Dec 2015 01:30 PM PST



Can more R&D dollars deliver a clean energy future faster?

Light-scattering Nanoparticles Could Lead to Invisbility Cloaks and Smaller Optical Antennas

Posted: 03 Dec 2015 12:00 PM PST



The size and refrative index of transparent nanoparticles offer unique light scattering abilities

IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


Cars Could Follow the Flight of the Bumblebee

Posted: 03 Dec 2015 07:00 AM PST



Bee cognition gives hints of how radios could talk on the fly

Lessons Learned from Observing 90 Untrained Participants Abusing a Flying Robot

Posted: 02 Dec 2015 01:40 PM PST



No robots were harmed (much) during this research

How Supercomputing Can Survive Beyond Moore's Law

Posted: 02 Dec 2015 11:00 AM PST



Erik DeBenedictis from Sandia National Labs envisions several technologies that can unlock exascale supercomputing

IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


The Eight-Year Leap Second Delay Might Not Be As Bad As It Seems

Posted: 02 Dec 2015 07:00 AM PST



The UTC decision has been put off until 2023, but changes might happen fast at that point

Orion Spacecraft Ready for Major Test

Posted: 01 Dec 2015 02:00 PM PST



Its electricity and propulsion section have arrived for stress testing

Custom AI Programs Take on Top Ranked Humans in StarCraft

Posted: 01 Dec 2015 01:05 PM PST



As far as StarCraft goes, humans aren't doomed (yet)

Nanopillars Hide Solar Wiring

Posted: 01 Dec 2015 01:00 PM PST



Metal wires made invisible with nanostructures could increase silicon solar cell efficiency by over 20 percent

RoboBee Lidar Useful for Robocars?

Posted: 01 Dec 2015 11:00 AM PST



Laser eyes designed for robot bees could help driverless cars see

IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


New Flow Battery Ups Storage Capacity by Factor of Ten

Posted: 01 Dec 2015 09:00 AM PST



Redox flow lithium battery could store energy from wind and solar

Smartphone Gadget Makes Old Cars Smart

Posted: 01 Dec 2015 07:00 AM PST



Voyomotive's plug-in device is the latest to promise drivers more control over their cars through their smartphones

Patent Power 2015: Social Media and Smartphones Score Big

Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:00 PM PST



Our annual roundup of who has the most valuable high-tech patent portfolios

Interactive: Patent Power 2015

Posted: 30 Nov 2015 01:00 PM PST



The Scorecards

Build a Wireless Water Meter for Your Home

Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:00 PM PST



Watch over your usage with an Arduino and a Raspberry Pi

A DIY Water-Usage Monitor

Posted: 30 Nov 2015 12:00 PM PST



Use an Arduino and a Raspberry Pi to track your water use in real time

Amazon's Latest Drone Delivery Promo Answers Zero Important Questions

Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:50 AM PST



Surprise! It's Cyber Monday, and Amazon has a flashy but useless delivery drone announcement

Robot Cars To Join Formula E Racing

Posted: 30 Nov 2015 09:30 AM PST



Self-driving cars will be the opening act at the 2016-17 season