Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas from Robotics Under the Stole!




Before Thanksgiving, I got in touch with my friend, Ben Rollman, over at Robot Portraits or Robot Portraits Facebook. This is where my robot portraits came from - by the way! I asked him about creating a special robotic nativity scene and offered a few suggestions about the content. Ben said that he draws a Christmas Card every year and would be happy for me to use it here – and did he ever come through!

I have enjoyed looking at all the detail. Like any sort of art – its interpretation has multiple possibilities. Here are some of the things I notice and/or wonder about...
  • Many nativity scenes have animals present – Ben has included Boston Dynamics Big Dog, Sony Aibo Robotic Dog - and you might even include iRobot's Roomba as a small beast of burden!
  • To the left (with Big Dog) NASA's Valkyrie (R5) and Curiosity (Mars Science Lab) - Are these nomadic shepherds who are drawn by curiosity to come and see or are they wise visitors from afar bearing gifts of new discovery?
  • To the right (with Aibo and Roomba) are ASIMO and an industrial Robotic Arm - maybe they represent those who do common labor and are drawn to this scene...
  • In the skies are a heavenly host of quadcopters - robotic messengers from above.
  • Behind the family is IBM's Watson - does Watson represent another wise visitor or perhaps even the Jeopardy that the child and family face and so flee to Egypt? Watson's logo is also reminiscent of the star which shown over the place.
  • Mother and Father witness in wonder the "unboxing" of the "newborn" gadget with its friendly little face. Interestingly, in Clarence Jordan's Cotton Patch Gospel, it is said of the parents and the newborn child,  "They wrapped him in a comforter and laid him in an apple crate." Fun coincidence...
What do you see? How do you interpret this marvelous drawing? What did I miss?

May your Christmas this year be filled with wonder and creativity... I hope you find something robotic under your tree this year!

Thanks Ben!

Monday, December 21, 2015

Friday, December 18, 2015

Men's Robot Ugly Christmas Sweater

Men's Robot Ugly Christmas Sweater Red - 33 Degrees at Target for $28. See here.

Robots Can Feel...

Via my friend Ben at Robot Portraits...


The company has developed a haptic sensor that provides robots with a sense of touch that allows them to tell 500 textures apart.
WIRED.COM|BY KLINT FINLEY

Friday, December 11, 2015

It's About TIME...

December 14, 2015 - TIME Magazine Covers! Getting so excited about the new movie!



Thursday, December 10, 2015

Louisiana Tech's Engineering and Science Day 2016

Luke Villermin, the President of the Engineering and Science Association at Louisiana Tech University announces,
It is once again time for the annual Louisiana Tech Engineering and Science Day, sponsored by the Louisiana Tech Engineering and Science Association (ESA). This year's event will take place on Monday, April 11, 2016 on the Louisiana Tech campus in Ruston, LA. Engineering and Science Day is a wonderful opportunity to expose students to the various disciplines of engineering and science. We have an exciting line-up of activities and a guest speaker planned for your enjoyment and education.

Engineering and Science is a fascinating field that has great potential for the future. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us by email at esa@latech.edu. I hope to see you and your students at this year's Louisiana Tech Engineering and  Science Day. Make sure to mark your calendar!
 
I am sure that me and my son will attend this with others from his high school. 

Why?

Give me one good reason that this very cool long sleeve T shirt at Walmart is not available in an adult size. Why? Does anyone else see the injustice in this?