Archive for the 'Rise of the Machines' Category
Where’s the Lane? Self-Driving Cars Confused by Shabby U.S. Roadways
April 2nd, 2016*har* Via: Reuters: Volvo’s North American CEO, Lex Kerssemakers, lost his cool as the automaker’s semi-autonomous prototype sporadically refused to drive itself during a press event at the Los Angeles Auto Show. “It can’t find the lane markings!” Kerssemakers griped to Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was at the wheel. “You need to paint the bloody […]
America’s Million-Doctor Shortage Is Right Around the Corner
April 2nd, 2016Via: MarketWatch: The doctor is disappearing in America. And by most projections, it’s only going to get worse — the U.S. could lose as many as 1 million doctors by 2025, according to a Association of American Medical Colleges report. Primary-care physicians will account for as much as one-third of that shortage, meaning the doctor […]
Boeing’s Underwater Robot Can Wander the Ocean for 6 Months
March 29th, 2016Via: Wired: The Echo Voyager can spend six months at a time exploring the deep sea, with a 7,500-mile range, no ship needed. Structurally, the 51-foot Voyager’s not too different from its little brothers, the 32-foot Seeker and 18-foot Ranger. The big difference is the introduction of the hybrid rechargeable power system. Like Boeing’s other […]
PSYOP: Public Perception of Autonomous Machines
March 26th, 2016The vast majority of robotics research is funded by the military industrial complex. There is a lot of dancing around that fact, but the reality is that it’s governments’ desire for more, cheaper and deadlier killing machines that’s at the root of this. Sure, the corporate drive to shrink payrolls is a large factor, but […]
Apple’s Recycling Robot May Help Build iPhones, Too
March 23rd, 2016Via: MIT Technology Review: Apple now makes robots. What’s more, the company’s new recycling robot, called Liam, may be evidence of a push to automate the production of the iPhone. At Apple’s slightly humdrum event on Monday, the company showed a video of Liam carefully pulling iPhones apart for recycling. The cutesy clip showed the […]
Company Seeks to Test Self-Driving Delivery Robots in DC
March 22nd, 2016Via: Fox 5 DC: You could soon be sharing the sidewalk with robots in D.C. A test project will be presented to District leaders to allow delivery robots to operate on city sidewalks. These robots could be delivering your takeout meal or maybe some fresh groceries. The company that created them say they are safe, […]
Carl’s Jr. CEO Wants to Try Automated Restaurant
March 18th, 2016Seattle Hikes Minimum Wage to $15 Per Hour: Enjoy any higher minimum wages while you can because the Rise of the Machines grinds steadily onward, and the goal is to eliminate as many human workers from corporate payrolls as possible. Via: KFOR: A CEO of a fast-food company is causing a stir on social media […]
Domino’s to Trial Pizza Delivery by Robot in NZ
March 17th, 2016Via: New Zealand Herald: Domino’s says it’s working with the Government on a plan to permit robot pizza delivery to hungry New Zealanders. The government and Domino’s Pizza are working to explore and test driverless pizza delivery options with a four-wheeled unit named DRU (Domino’s Robotic Unit). Minister of Transport Simon Bridges said the use […]
Google Wants to Sell Boston Dynamics
March 17th, 2016Via: Bloomberg: Executives at Google parent Alphabet Inc., absorbed with making sure all the various companies under its corporate umbrella have plans to generate real revenue, concluded that Boston Dynamics isn’t likely to produce a marketable product in the next few years and have put the unit up for sale, according to two people familiar […]
$20,000 Honda Civic Comes with Self Drive Mode for Highways
March 16th, 2016Via: Fast Company: Honda is adding features to its $20,000 Honda Civic LX that will make the entry-level car able to drive itself down the highway, reports the Wall Street Journal. Drivers can take their hands off the wheel and their feet off the pedals when the car’s driving in highway conditions with clearly visible […]
