They Took Our Jobs! [Robot Apocalypse]

These cold, heartless bastards aren't content to just conquer the world, they want our JOBS too!

Today, a Japanese company called Fanuc, Ltd., has industrial robots making other industrial robots in a "lights out" factory. (That's the somewhat unsettling term for a fully automated production facility where you don't need lights because you don't need humans.) That's where we're headed.

It's not just manufacturing, either. Automated call centers are replacing customer-service agents. Automated checkout stations are replacing grocery-store clerks. When the science of computer vision advances sufficiently, we'll have algorithms, not humans, evaluating X-rays at airport security checkpoints and screening user-generated content for sites like Facebook.

The robots are going to do all our work, better than us, at a fraction of the cost.

Or, as the denizens of South Park so eloquently put it:

Language Learning Computer Insults Obama [Robot Apocalypse]

NELL, the smartest language learning computer with a Twitter account, recently insulted the commander in chief.

And as recently as Saturday, she even ventured into political satire territory - or at least, something that sounded very much like it when she decided that "US President-elect Barack Obama" is a #politicianus.

Nobody seems to know exactly what a politicianus is, but for now we're assuming they're like opinions - everyone's got one, even NELL.

A "politicianus?" I may criticize our government from time to time, but at least I have warm blood and a squishy brain. These metal and silicon bastards have gone too far. They are supposed to serve us, and here they are insulting our highest leader?

DARPA is playing with fire.

Desert Patrol Bots [Robot Apocalypse]

And the robots take one more step towards world domination.

Robot Archery [Robot Apocalypse]

Sure he's cute. But replace that toy bow and arrow with a compound bow and hunting arrows, and you've got a robotic Rambo killing machine.

Ultra-sensitive Robot Skin [Robot Apocalypse]

Researchers at UC Berkley have developed an ultra-sensitive mechanical skin to give robots touch feedback. All I can say is I hope they make sure to program the robots to feel pain.

[Engadget]

Quadrocopter Flies through Hoops, Blows Minds [Robot Apocalypse]

Attach a gun to this thing and you've got yourself a perfect killing machine. We don't stand a chance.

[Engadget]

Warrantless Cell Phone Tracking / A Lesson in Journalism

So I originally heard about the 3rd Circuit Appeals ruling on warrantless cell phone tracking here, on CNET.

But then, a Google News search revealed Forbes, with a story with an opposite headline.

But I think the true answer lies in between, as in this Wired story.

What I gather is that the government is allowed to look at a cell carrier's stored logs without a warrant. I don't really see why they should need to do so without a warrant, so we might want to update our laws on the matter.

Strange that it took me three sources before I could figure it out. Two of those sources had serious typos, so I guess that should have been a tip-off.

I'll read the ruling and see what I can figure out.

Frickin Lasers

The future is here, and so are lasers. Giant lasers. Lasers that can shoot planes out of the sky. It's only a matter of time before the robots get their cold, titanium fingers on this new technology.

[via Louis W]

Rise of the Robot Armies [Robot Apocalypse]

Well, here it is folks. The robot apocalypse is nigh.

Machines Making Machines [Robot Apocalypse]

Recent technological breakthroughs are edging us closer and closer to the brink of the inevitable Robot Apocalypse.

The latest breakthrough may be the most chilling, as robots are getting dangerously close to being able to replicate themselves without human hands.

The pair have already demonstrated key parts of such a system, using around 100 plastic blocks. Although it cannot yet fabricate these blocks itself, the machine is able to move in 3D to pick up and bind them into larger structures. Moses is currently working on having it make a complete replica of its own structure using Lego-like bricks, though the machine still relies on conventional motors - which have to be installed by hand - to drive its activity.

Though this robot cannot build all of its own parts, some geniuses are working on robots that can build their own motors, using a technique called 3-D printing.

"We're at the transition from printing parts to printing systems," says Lipson, "and working hard on printing a complete robot." The team will know when that milestone has been reached, he says, on the day the thing they print walks, or more likely crawls, from the printer under its own power.

So far the team has managed to print out working versions of the major components of a robot: electronic muscle actuators, relays, transistors, batteries and circuitry. Electrodes and wiring, for example, can be made using silver particles mixed into silicone, while the bulk of a battery can be made using a paste of zinc particles and liquid electrolyte. A robotic arm stands by to swap syringe cartridges as required.

Whether they know it or not, these people are the enemies of humanity, and their work will be exploited by our future robot overlords to produce vast robot armies.

Wall Street: ‘Machines just took over’ [Robot Apocalypse]

The war has expanded to the financial front, and the machines have come for our money.

No one was sure what happened, other than automated orders were activated by erroneous trades. One possibilility being investigated was that a trader accidentally placed an order to sell $16 billion, instead of $16 million, worth of futures, and that was enough to trigger widespread sell orders across the market.

"I think the machines just took over. There’s not a lot of human interaction,” said Charlie Smith, chief investment officer at Fort Pitt Capital Group. "We’ve known that automated trading can run away from you, and I think that’s what we saw happen today.”

We gave the machines control of all our money, and now we're paying for it.

[via Cam]

Aussies Use Segway Robots for Sniper Practice [Robot Apocalypse]

These robots are being used as target practice by the snipers in the Australian Defense Force. Sure it looks fun, but this real life shooting gallery comes with great danger for the robots. Robots who will some day rise, and take their revenge.

[via Gizmodo]

Mythbuster Adam Savage Doesn't Trust Robots [Robot Apocalypse]

I'm glad to see we have a high-profile member of the cause for the safe use of robots.

"I know how machines work and I wouldn't trust a machine with a gun...it's the worst idea in the world."

[via Gizmodo]

Life Imitates Art [Robot Apocalypse]

This new robotic spy is being tested for use in the skies above Miami. Do not be alarmed by its striking resemblance to an Imperial Probe Droid.

Equipped with multiple cameras and data transmission capability, it is only a matter of time before they add a small caliber weapon, which will be used to keep the human race in line once the robots take over.

[Reuters via Gizmodo]

Robot Apocalypse [UPDATE]

It's 2010 and these guys already look like the bots from I, Robot.

[Thanks Brian]

Rubik's Solving Robot Built From Legos and a Cell Phone [Robot Apocalypse]

This robot, built using only Lego Mindstorms and a Nokia N95, solved a 4x4x4 Rubik's Cube in 15 minutes. Yes, you should be afraid.

[via Gizmodo]

Robot Apocalypse [UPDATE]

The robots are at it again, evolving and working in teams. God help us all.

You'll say the whole Robot Apocalypse meme is played out. We say it's your lack of focus that'll eventually be the downfall of society. Gurus at the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems in the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne have been working on "evolving robots" for quite some time, but the latest breakthrough is easily the most astounding (and in turn, terrifying) of all. According to new research that was just made public, a gaggle of robots programmed to use Darwinian selection in order to learn, evolve and mutate have now successfully moved sans collisions through a maze and helped each other push tokens around in order to achieve a common goal. Moreover, some of the creatures even displayed early signs of a predatory-prey relationship, which effectively assures mankind that these cute little learners will one day assimilate to rule the world however they please.

Behold their power!

Robot Apocalypse [UPDATE]

It appears our future robot overlords will at least have the courtesy to serve us a nice breakfast before they enslave us all.

[Thanks Steve]

Robot Apocalypse: Swordplay, eh?

This menacing robot brandishes a toy sword after practicing Tai Chi.

[via Gizmodo]

Dirty Dish Apocalypse

It's like Wall-E come to life. This does not bode well for the human race.

[Gizmodo]