Networking, japanese style
Bear with me here - this may well sound like the most ridiculous idea ever - but Japanese companies are heralding the mobile-phone-controlled-net-throwing-robot as a new dawn in office security and hope one day to roll it out to residential homes too...
Picture this - you are working late in your office and most people have gone home.
Suddenly, you hear a noise from the corridor and fear it could be an intruder coming to try their luck and steal some paperclips.
What do you do? Well, as of today, you can whip out your mobile phone, watch the intruder in real time on the screen and, whilst they are busy filling their swag sack, you can direct a robot to them, which will launch a net, leaving the intruder all tangled up.
Jointly designed and developed by robot developer tmsuk and security company Alacom, the security robot can be operated remotely by mobile phone. The prototype model T-34 looks like a small wheeled vehicle and is loaded with sensors that detect body heat and sound and anything untoward in an office building.
It can move at a maximum speed of 10km/h under the command of a person who Sees images of where the robot is on his phone.
"Security sensors often set off false alarms but examining the location with the robot will lead to more efficient operations," the Japanese companies said.
Feeling right at home
Fujitsu first began sales in Japan of a Windows-powered robot back in 2003, which they hoped would become the foundation of more sophisticated household robots in the future.
The Maron-1 robot - which moved on three small wheels and came up to the average person's knees - could be used for butler-type tasks and also home security.
It has a built-in mobile phone, through which it can remotely receive instructions from its owner, such as turning on the central heating or DVD player.
A forerunner to the latest robot, which was launched today, the Maron-1 was designed with proximity sensors that allowed it to detect movement, and, should there be an intruder, it could sound an alarm and alert the owner by mobile phone.
In 2005, the Guardrobo D1 robot was developed and launched by Japanese security firm Sohgo Security Services to patrol along preprogrammed paths and keep an electronic eye out for signs of trouble.
Equipped with a camera and sensors, the 109 cm robot will alert human guards via radio and by sending camera footage if it detects intruders, fires or even water leaks.
Japan's high-tech firms believe that household robots will drive the next wave of consumer spending on electronics.
The country's aging population and declining birth rate means that the elderly may have to rely on robots for care, entertainment and even companionship.
Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has invested millions to nurture and develop the robotics industry within Japan and to make the country a leader in the sector.
1984 to 1084
It seems like the UK is also in line for some electronic action. According to a top UK robotics expert, ‘Robocop' will become a reality by 2084.
Robotics Expert Professor Noel Sharkey of the University of Sheffield said, ‘Robots with human-like features and expressions will be patrolling the streets of the UK to cut crime, detect weapons, carry out drink and drugs tests and free-up police officers' time.
"Chips in the brains of these tin guardians would give them instant access to bank accounts, tax, motoring, shopping and criminal records, allowing them to instantly identify and determine who people were.
"But, the robots will have to be constrained to prevent them from inadvertently using excessive force due to their super strength and inability to feel pain," added Mr Sharkey.
Picture by Shiny Things