5 cool (and informative) robot videos you don’t want to miss

This wide-ranging group of robotics-related videos are worth watching. Set aside some time, make sure you have a hi-speed connection, and watch them. They range from cool to informative to downright scary.

Cool!
KMel Robotics – the spinoff from the GRASP Labs of the U of Penn – and Kurtis Films, have a new video of a squadron of KMel’s super-quiet flying robots creating music in ways never seen before. KMel is also providing flying entertainment robots for concerts and shows of all types.

Future cool
SRI has released a video showing a swarm of ant-sized robots manufacturing an intricate glued carbon rod structure. Using magnetically actuated micro-robots, SRI foresees a near-term future in small components manufacturing.

Yes … but
American milk producers, faced with choices regarding improving their milking methods and labor practices, and deteriorarting equipment, are beginning to choose robotic milking platforms – as this video from the NY Times attests. The affordability metrics, described here by a writer for DairyLogix, are slightly different in the EU where smaller dairies have long been using these robotic milkers.

Long-term planning
For the last 7 years, Schunk – the robot gripper manufacturer – has hosted (at their factory in Hausen, Germany) the International ExpertDays Service Robotics conference and exhibition. This video gives you a flavor of the event and, for me at least, a desire to attend their 8th annual 2015 conference.

Scary
The dialogue about arming robots – whether on the ground, in the air, or armed with tazers or Hellfire missiles – has focused on the West. But this training video shows Russian soldiers working alongside an unmanned armed mobile robot. Psst: Campaign to Stop Killer Robots: you should watch it.

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Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.

Frank Tobe is the owner and publisher of The Robot Report, and is also a panel member for Robohub's Robotics by Invitation series.