robot – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog Articles and news about Mobile Security, Android, Apps, Social Media and Technology in general. Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:49:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/cropped-psafe_blog_purple-shield-32x32.png robot – PSafe Blog https://www.psafe.com/en/blog 32 32 <![CDATA[Robots Can Deliver Straight to Your Front Door in Virginia]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/robots-can-deliver-straight-front-door-virginia/ Wed, 26 Apr 2017 16:00:59 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=10372 Too many pizzas to carry? Is that box of donuts just one box too much? Delivery workers can now use robots to lend a helping hand — at least in Virginia. Virginia is the first state in the country to pass a law allowing delivery robots to help deliver food on sidewalks and crosswalks. The new law was only recently signed and will not go into effect until July 1, 2017. After that, it is expected that robots will take to the streets, with their human helpers. Each municipality will determine how they want to regulate the robots in their area. They could slow them down even further or not even allow them in the first place.

Virginia’s Delivery Robots

Two Virginia lawmakers, Ron Villanueva and Bill DeSteph, paired up with Starship Technologies in proposing this new law. Starship Technologies is a company headquartered in London, but it has engineering operations in Tallinn, Estonia. It was created by Skype co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Launched in 2014, Starship Technologies develops small self-driving robotic delivery helpmates.

Read More: The Rise of Food Delivery Apps on Your Phone

Virginia has made a few restrictions regarding these delivery robots. They cannot drive more than 10 mph and they cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. They will not be free-roaming robots, either. Instead, someone will need to remotely monitor the robots and take over if anything goes wrong.

Amazon and Grubhub sent in their letters of support for the delivery robot proposal. No one is surprised by this. Other companies are now working to bring in robots for their own delivery needs. Idaho and Florida have had similar legislature proposed. How many other states actually adopt the delivery robot idea is anyone’s guess.

Robots are currently being tested in other areas. Since January of this year, both home addresses and businesses can opt for robot delivery in Redwood City, California and Washington, D.C. There is no extra charge for the experience and, in the case of Postmates, you don’t have to use the delivery robot. The robots were estimated to make roughly ten deliveries in a day.

Food Delivery, Fast

Who knew that delivery robots would become the next big thing? Start good habits now by taking care of your device so, if delivery bots are rolled out in your neck of the woods, you can hop on your fave mobile food app. After all, no one wants to miss out on delivery bots!

]]> <![CDATA[Meet Cozmo: Children’s Toy or Robotics Revolution?]]> https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/meet-cozmo-childrens-toy-robotics-revolution/ Mon, 25 Jul 2016 20:01:50 +0000 https://www.psafe.com/en/blog/?p=2355 Remember those legos you played with as a kid? Or, if you’re slightly younger, those mechanized animals that could bark or meow? Anki, a robotics startup in the Silicon Valley, has taken the kid’s playroom to the next level by creating a self-programmable robot. Cozmo is the newest invention from Hanns Tappeiner’s small company and is capable of performing simple and complex tasks like stacking blocks, making noises, and recognizing certain faces, all stemming from a few lines of code. Here is the even cooler part: Anki is claiming that users can actually program their new toys with a few simple steps.

Where did this come from?

Anki is a robotics startup in the Silicon Valley. A seemingly little-known company, Anki is getting a lot of attention for its newest invention. Famous venture capitalist Marc Andreesen has even claimed that Anki is “the best robotics startup I’ve ever seen.” Anki is committed to making state of the art technology and robotics accessible to the average consumer.

How does it work?

Cozmo comes to life due to Anki’s new software development kit. Founder, Hanns Tappeiner, claims that this kit is simple enough that anyone can program this new robot at home, making it a new kind of customizable kids’ toy. Users can tap into the functions of Cozmo, including its sensors, computer vision, and planning capabilities. With a few lines of code, developers can influence all of the robots’ advanced functioning. Anki equates this level of programming at home to Apple allowing users to create new iPhone apps.

What can it do?

However, this robot is immensely intelligent. It is capable of recognizing faces and navigating new environments, as well as completing basic tasks. It has focused vision and sensing and possesses an artificial intelligence similar to a person functioning in a room of people. Anki claims that its emotions seem authentic and it can “plot and plan” in an almost-human manner.

How do you get it?

This device is, shockingly, only going to be about $180. It is available starting in October, along with its entire software development kit. However, allegedly, the company has only started mass production as of last week, so the number available may be limited for the next calendar year. This is predicted to change the face of programming and robotics, as it is the first device that is accompanied by the option of self-programming. So, while it is somewhat realistic to expect this little guy in your Christmas stocking, just know that when you unwrap him, you are participating in the start of a new robotics movement.

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