Humanoid Robots on the Rise: Get Ready to Invite One Home
From: Electronic Design - 10/27/2005 -  Vol. 53, No. 24, P. 17
By; Mark David

The future of smart motion was on display at September's 2005 Robots and
Vision show in Chicago, with Michael Lutomski of NASA presenting a humanoid
robot designed to handle tools and repair missions considered to be too
dangerous for astronauts. Although the Robonaut, which was developed by the
Robot Systems Technology Branch at NASA's Johnson Space Center and DARPA, has
the same range of motion and dexterity as an astronaut in a spacesuit, the
technological developments of the specialized machine are unlikely to make
their way into larger society over the next few years. However, the advances
involving the partner robots of Toyota could become a part of everyday life
soon, considering the walking, rolling, and ridable units are designed to
serve as personal assistants, operate with emotional attributes, and have
enough intelligence to handle elder care and mobile-work tasks, such as
retrieving cups of coffee. Toyota's Yasuhiro Ota presented the robots at the
show, where they played music instruments. Meanwhile, US startup Gecko
Systems showed off its version of the partner robot on the show floor, and
its Mobile Service Robot has autonomous self-navigation capabilities that
allow it to plan routes and maneuver around obstacles. Gecko is already
moving toward production with the MSR. The concept of smart motion extends to
Intuitive Surgical's daVinci Surgical System that older surgeons can turn to
for making steadier surgical incisions.  

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Links:
2005 International Robots & Vision Show and Conference
http://www.robots-vision-show.info/robots_vision_show_info_main.html

Prospects for manned space flight
http://www.reed-electronics.com/tmworld/blog/640000064/post/1130001513.html?

Robonaut
http://vesuvius.jsc.nasa.gov/er_er/html/robonaut/robonaut.html

Toyota Exec Reveals Humanoid Robot Goals
http://blog.assemblymag.com/content/view/57/9/

Gecko Systems
http://www.geckosystems.com/

CareBot 3.4 - The most advanced personal robot in the world
http://www.geckosystems.com/products/carebot3.php

CareBot 2.2
http://www.geckosystems.com/products/carebot.php