Meet Jimmy. He's the friendly walking robot that Intel is designing for consumers, and he can do all the things you might require of a robotic pal, including singing, translating languages, sending tweets on your behalf and even serving you beer.
Intel describes Jimmy as a research robot, but a less sophisticated version of the adorable droid will go on sale later this year for $1,600 (£957). The caveat is that you will have to 3D print your Jimmy. The 3D printing blueprints will be available without charge, but to construct the robot you will also need to purchase a kit from Intel that will contain all the parts of Jimmy that aren't printable, including motors and an Intel Edison processor.
If you manage to get your hands on a Jimmy and you're the tech savvy sort, you'll be able to get your robot to perform unique tasks and share your discoveries with other users. The robot was created by Intel's resident futurist Brian David Johnson, who compares Jimmy to a smartphone with customisable apps.
"What's so exciting about the open source model is the public gets involved in developing this first generation of crowdsourced, consumer robots. We all get a say in what they do, and together we will come up with far more ideas, more innovation, and more creativity," he is quoted as saying in an Intel blog post. ... 持續閱讀
英特爾出招 讓機器人在家列印
英特爾力拱3D列印再出招，昨（29）日發表售價1,600美元（約新台幣4.8萬元）的3D列印製造機器人相關套件，讓消費者在家透過3D列印，便可以製作會講話、會走路的機器人，引爆3D列印市場商機。
業界人士指出，鴻海董事長郭台銘力推機器人帶動工廠自動化，使得機器人成為市場新寵兒，英特爾將3D列印與機器人兩大市場當紅話題結合在一起，預料將掀起旋風。過去消費者使用3D列印，由於多數不具備美工背景，在缺乏軟體支援情況下，無法透過3D列印隨心所欲製作想要的成品。英特爾提供低價軟體套件，讓消費者能很快上手，透過3D列印製作機器人，將引爆3D列印市場龐大商機。
英特爾昨天並發表會走路、會講話的機器人，特別的是，這個機器人零件是由3D列印而成。這個機器人名叫做吉米（Jimmy），英特爾執行長科再奇（Brian Krzanich）在它陪伴下走上加州蘭喬帕洛斯維第斯（Rancho Palos Verdes）的程式碼大會（Code Conference ）舞台。
英特爾說，吉米是研究型機器人，將不收費提供消費者比較低階的 3D列印機器人方案，合作夥伴則出售非 3D列印的零件組，例如引擎與一個英特爾艾迪生電腦處理器。使用者可以透過電腦程式讓吉米唱歌、翻譯語言、發送推特推文，甚至為主人拿罐冰涼的啤酒。
英特爾說，「Jimmy」這個會走路、會講話的機器人，零件是由3D列印而成，並透過其 Edison 晶片模組驅動，用戶只要有 3D印表機，購買工具組後，就能自行打造機器人。
英特爾預計今年下半年推出相關套件，任何人都可以透過網路下載打印零部件，再組裝機器人，其他如馬達、電池、處理器、電線等無法藉由3D印表機打印的零件，也可以在網路上購買。
英特爾表示，機器人套件針對一般消費市場版本售價約1,600美元，並希望未來五年內降至1,000美元 ... 持續閱讀
Imagine Your Robot Today Design One Tomorrow
Did you know according to predictions by the International Federation of Robotics, by the end of 2011, the world’s population of service robots could exceed 17 million units? Intel’s 21st Century Robot program aims to increase the growth rate, diversity, and utility of robots by giving anyone the ability to create their own robot—just as Intel Researcher Brian Johnson did by creating his robot, Jimmy—with its own unique purpose.
Imagine if you could create your own robot. What would it look like? What would it do? Would it remind you to take medication? Feed your pets? Set the table? According to Intel’s resident futurist, Brian David Johnson, that’s pretty much up to you. Working with a team of Intel researchers and engineers through Intel’s 21st Century Robot initiative, Johnson has created files for an open source robot that can be printed on a 3-D printer and programmed to do whatever you might like.
Johnson’s team has already shared the template for a pilot robot, Jimmy, with 10 teams at various universities, to download, print, and program their own smart mascots.
Best of all, this technology is already here. In May 2014, Johnson’s 21st Century Robot event will unveil new robots created by 10 university teams–the first open source robotics demonstration of its kind. Soon after, you’ll be able to download the files and create your own customizable robot, likely for under $1000 ... 持續閱讀
