daylife.com - July 3, 2009… hyper rescue robot “T-53 Enryu”, developed by Japanese robot venture Tmsuk… Kitakyushu Fire Department deployed the 2.8-meter tall, three-ton robot which can be operated manually by a person aboard it as well as by remote control to lift heavy objects with its two arms.
The 3Yen has covered the previously-named iSwing, which has been now renamed the “i-REAL” and repurposed for security patrols and visitor assistance at at Nagoya’s airport starting June 27. Read more about the i-Real electric vehicles here (machine translation).
The iSwing was named by Time magazine as one of the ”coolest inventions” of 2005 as part of the magazine’s ”The Most Amazing Inventions” issue. However until now the invention was not sold because it cannot pass any safety regulations. Tokyo reworked from a 4-wheel into a 3-wheel vehicle so it could pass as a “wheelchair” but as it is now it is only legal as a golf cart for use on private property (such as an airport).
Kit Kat Wins Cannes Media Grand Prix for Edible Postcard - Advertising Age … the Japanese translation of Kit Kat — Kitto Katso means “surely win” — and the tradition of sending students good luck wishes before they take tough higher-education entrance exams. So Nestle partnered with Japan's postal service to create “Kit Kat Mail,” a postcard-like product sold only at the post office that could be mailed to students as an edible good-luck charm …more...
Over on boing-boing they posted the video below of the remix classic Katamari tracks for upcoming PS3 ‘tribute’ release Katamari Forever.
I remixed that remix and put it into MP3 format (2.5MB, 1.0min) for you to listen/download.
Check out the new Honda website featuring “ASIMO 360° - a computer-generated model depicting ASIMO’s capabilities” that have been improved recently.
Asimo.Honda.com/insideASIMO
Putting lipstick on an emo robot is a sure way to get more research funding in Japan was evidenced by this Waseda University joint venture with the Japanese robot manufacturer tmsuk (see their more menacing robot).
…KOBIAN cycling through a variety of stock emotional expressions. Tmsuk claims the robot's postural emoting will make it better able to interact with humans… enjoy interacting with an emo robot.
—via robots.net - Tmsuk KOBIAN Robot Emotes Through Posture