Originally published June 5 2005
RoboBusiness convention hypes robotics for military, private use
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
On May 10, robotics manufacturers, designers and potential customers gathered for the second annual RoboBusiness conference. The conference highlighted offerings from such big names as Sony and iRobot, maker of the Roomba robotic vacuum. iRobot's offering for the conference was a "PackBot" which could be put in backpacks and be used by the military to dispose of improvised explosive devices. CoroWare unveiled the CoroBot, which is a robot made entirely of off-the-shelf computer parts, and sells for around $1,000. Company executives say uses for the robots are showing up on their own, and from unexpected places, such as real estate agents using them to show remote locations.
Robotics manufacturers, components makers and their potential customers assembled on Tuesday for the second annual RoboBusiness conference.
The overwhelming consensus of those gathered at the event was that the latest generation of the machines will further transform the market for robots because the devices are rapidly becoming more useful, dependable and cost-effective.
Among the gadgets showcased at the RoboBusiness conference were robots built to be controlled by children, serve tough duty in hostile parts of Iraq, or perform a range of functions in many settings.
Companies well known for robotics technology, such as Roomba maker iRobot and electronics giant Sony, were also in attendance.
In an attempt to demonstrate just how quickly newfangled robots are finding their way into customers' hands, iRobot Chairman and Co-founder Helen Greiner pointed out that these relatively new machines are being purchased at a faster rate than were some of the world's most commonly used devices.
According to Greiner's numbers, black-and-white televisions were on the market for six years before 1 million of the sets were sold, and mobile phones were available for four years before they hit the million-sales mark.
In addition to greater customer demand for robots and a larger pool of manufacturers bringing new products to market, Greiner said, a growing number of venture capital firms is looking to help fund development.
Whereas investors would laugh robotics makers out of the building when they came calling for funding only several years ago, she said, breakthroughs such as Roomba have finally convinced Wall Street that there are profits to be made in the robotics business sooner rather than later.
One firm, CoroWare, displayed a prototype it calls CoroBot that was built entirely from off-the-shelf computer and electronics components in an effort to create powerful yet affordable robotics gadgets.
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