About Robotics? I click
NEWS ERASMUS Project April 2011
Robots in Space New Medical techniques - Robots in medecine
Tourism with Robots Education with Robots
Social and household robots
Literary and film reviews: robots everywhere EXOMARS Exomars is a space program that enables us to get data about life on Mars, created by the ESA (European Space Agency). The program was split in two missions: -The first in 2016 was a failure, the robot crashed on the surface of Mars. -The second is planned for 2020 and it is a collaboration between Russian engineers and ESA.
2016: bad year for the ESA This mission will help the ESA in their mission on Mars even if the landing gear So the first mission, as we said, was a (LG) was destroyed. This way the agency failure. The landing gear, whose name can learn a lot more from the landing was Schiaparelli crashed at the speed of process. 540 km/h. It was supposed to decelerate from 21 000 km/h to 10 km/h in only 6 2020: hope is permitted minutes. But a sensor malfunctioned, so The second mission, the real one, will the computer decided to throw the base itself onto the first one. In fact the parachutes and the thermal shield. This program was splitted in two parts mission is not entirely a failure because because of the hypothesis of a failure. So TGO is still working perfectly. Its mission the ESA could learn and approve was to measure the gases present in technologies and the process. The Mars’s atmosphere. At this moment it is objective of the second mission is to dig performing an aerobraking around Mars. in Mars’s soil. But today this mission is TGO will be a relay for the mission in threatened by the missing funding, 2020. This failure cost the ESA a lot of because the UE do not want to spend money and obviously the UE, because more money on this programm. In they provide money to the European conclusion we can hope that the second Space Agency. mission will be a success but there is still a lot of work to do in order to reach this objective.
Here is picture of what the robot should look like
Written by Ségui Damien and Benhenda Yannis (France)
About Robotics? I click - 2 - ROBONAUT 2
Robonaut 2 is a highly dexterous than astronauts with their suits in humanoid robot created by NASA in space. Indeed R2, as its name shows it, 2012. The device is meant to help was created to be a robotic assistant astronauts in space to maintain ISS that can work alongside astronauts in and it will aid in future exploration space. "This project exemplifies the missions. promise that a future generation of Robonaut 2, called R2, was created in robots can have both in space and on Houston, Texas by researchers at Earth, not as replacements for humans NASA Johnson Space Center in but as companions that can carry out collaboration with General Motors and key supporting roles," said John Olson, Oceaneering. It is a humanoid robot director of NASA's Exploration possessed of a head, a chest, arms and Systems Integration Office at NASA legs added in 2014. What makes it Headquarters in Washington. Some special is its ability to react to its advantages of a humanoid design is environment with many technologies that Robonaut 2 can take over simple, such as vision systems, image repetitive, or especially dangerous recognition systems, sensor tasks in places such as the integrations, control algorithms, and International Space Station (ISS) and much more. It also has a great tasks, such as changing out an air dexterity which makes it more skilled filter, that can be performed without
R2 aboard ISS with astronaut Dan Burbank
About Robotics? I click - 3 - « It will allow us to go farther and achieve more than we can probably even imagine today», also said John Olson.
modifications to the existing design, R2 was not only designed for space but moreover with human-like hands and was also developed more generally to arms, it is able to use the same tools accelerate the development of the next station crew members use. generation of robots and related Thus, NASA launched R2 on space technologies for use in the automotive shuttle Discovery to become a and aerospace industries. R2 is a permanent resident on the ISS in robotic assistant that can work February 24th 2011. Currently, alongside humans, whether they be Robonaut 2 is being tested inside the astronauts in space or workers at GM station. It is tried out in microgravity manufacturing plants on Earth Thus, and subjected to the station's radiation it has the potential to be a game- and electromagnetic interference changer in multiple industries, environments. The interior operations including logistics and distribution, will provide performance data about medical and industrial robotics, and how a robot may work side-by-side beyond. with astronauts. Station crews are provided with hardware and software to update R2 to enable it to do new tasks.
Robonaut being upgraded on orbit
Clémence, Soizic, Léa (France)
About Robotics? I click - 4 - Since the satellite's Spoutnik launch in 1957 by the Soviets, space exploration engines have left around Planet Earth a “belt of space debris” that endanger working spatial equipment. That’s why scientists from the Japanese space agency Jaxa have tested the cleaning robot, committed to the refueling spaceship Koutonori 6 (stork in Japanese) to the International Space Station (ISS).
This prototype is comparable to a trawler: a module throwing a net that could recover some of the space trashes. The sail is equipped with a magnetic load, to attract more easily fragments but also to maintain them in the net and avoid diverting their trajectory. Once the net is full, the module of transport would close the latter then would take it in the atmosphere where it could destroy Wall-E in Space itself. At least that’s how it was supposed to go
However, the project proved a Nowadays, there are more complete failure. In February 2017, than 750,000 space debris Jaxa announced the disillusion: the around our blue planet. long cable did not deploy. After days Recently, scientists from all of trying to get the cable to deploy, the over the world wondered about mission planners had to give up. JAXA scientists only had one week to a way to destroy what humans complete the task, and they ran out of leave in space. Is the robot sent time. Koutonori 6 had to re-enter by the Japanese on December Earth’s atmosphere. This is not only a 2016, a sort of Wall-e, the failure for the agency that was equally solution ? disappointed with its astro-hitomi satellite, it is a failure for mankind. Even if the project aborted, Jaxa initiated the hard job of protecting space. This robot revealed the huge problem of Space trashes. For example “Airbus Defense and Space” created in 2017 a capture system which will be sent into space this year. Girard Mathilde, Raffarin Emma, Mouton Sophie About Robotics? I click - 5 - Hubble : Born to discover
Why did we choose to work on Hubble? Why is Hubble so famous? Why is it special? First, it’s an old telescope which is still famous. Also, it has enabled us to better Indeed, Hubble's four main instruments understand the world we are living in. allow seeing in the near UV, visible and Finally, it can take amazing pictures. near infrared spectra, with very high Nasa don’t contemplate developping resolution. It orbits at around 600 another telescope like Hubble to kilometers of the Earth and completes a replace it. Scientists have decided to full circle of it in 100 minutes. Thanks to focus on high redshift to study objects its data and pictures, science has which are further and objects which are considerably progressed, such as less warm. determining the rate of expansion of the universe. But the public particularly Spacecraft properties : enjoys its pictures, perhaps because The mass when Hubble was launched they emphasise humanity's was 11.110 kg. Its dimensions are of insignificance when compared with the 13.2x4.2 m. universe. These are pictures that you definitely need to see.
A little bit of history ...
The Hubble Space Telescope or HST was named after the astronomer Edwin Hubble. It is a space telescope, launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and still in operation. At the beginning, Hubble was built by NASA (US space agency) but received contributions from ESA (European Space Agency). The Challenger disaster and technical problems delayed the launch.
About Robotics? I click - 6 - Chang'e lunar space program
From the name of a Chinese Moon goddess; Following the success of Chang'e 1 and 2, Chang'e 1 is the first phase of the Chinese Chang'e 3 was launched in 2013 from Lunar Exploration Program. Chang'e 1 was Xichang. Chang'e 3 was made of a robotic launched in 2007 from Xichang in China. lander and a rover. This first Chinese rover The mission had to obtain 3D images from was named Yutu which translates as "Jade the Moon's surface. It was supposed to Rabbit", from the name of a Moon goddess's continue for a year, but it was later extended pet. Yutu was the first rover to land on the and the spacecraft was taken out of orbit in Moon since Lunokhod 2, a Soviet rover 2009 and crashed on the Moon later on. Its deployed in 1973. It was the third robotic sister Chang'e 2 was launched from Xichang rover mission to land on the lunar surface, in 2010 and had the same objective as but the Chinese vehicle carries a more Chang'e 1 but with more quality. Indeed, sophisticated payload than previous Chang'e 1 was flying 200 km away from the missions. The "Jade Rabbit" discovered some Moon and Chang'e 2 is flying 100km away rocks on the Moon but it died in 2016. The from it. It also had for mission to prepare the rover was originally designed to be landing of Chang'e 3 rover. Chang'e 2 was operational for twelve weeks but finally mainly the same spacecraft as Chang'e 1 but surveyed the lunar surface for 31 months, obviously with certain technical alternating technical problems and improvements. After completing its resurrections. The new Chinese lander/rover, objective, Change'2 was taken out of the Chang'e 4 will be launched end 2018 and has Moon orbit and then it entered orbit around for objective to land on the Moon's far side. L2 (a Lagrangian point) in 2011.
It will be the first landing ever on the lunar far side. The CNSA (China National Space Administration) has also prepared another mission: Chang'e 5 whose objective is a sample return mission with (at least) 2 kilograms of rock and soil samples from the Moon. It will be the very first Chinese sample return mission. Chang'e 5 is supposed to be launched in 2019 from Wenchang. With this long program of lunar exploration, China has become one of the major players of space conquest. André, Clément, Théo, Arthur (France)
About Robotics? I click - 7 - Space probe Philae and the mission Rosetta
Philae is a lander launched with the The lander was launched from space probe Rosetta in 2004. Philae Rosetta on November 2014. Both was an important robot because it harpoons meant to anchor Philae to taught us more about a comet’s the soil did not fan out. The robot composition. It was sent to explore a therefore rebounded twice before comet's composition (here Tchouri becoming stable in upright position 67P). This probe derived through at about a kilometre of the initially space unchecked during 3 years envisaged site in a shadow zone. So because it was too far from the sun the batteries could not be reloaded so it could not reload its batteries. by the sun. On the 14th November The agency which controlled the 2014 at 11.19 pm, contact was mission rebooted the space probe restored with Philae despite the when it was close to the comet concern about its initial autonomy Tchouri on the 20th January. The of 60 hours. The first drilling in the connexion was finally made after 3 pit of the comet was an achievement years. The next step was to follow as proven by the received data. the comet and try to go into the orbit of 67P.
In time, analysis of the composition of the comet may give us answers as to the origin of life or what the universe is composed of.
Extraction of Philae from Rosetta Baptiste, Emilien, Denis (France)
About Robotics? I click - 8 - Philae was equipped with: -X-ray, alpha and proton spectrometer -Visible and infrared analyzer -Radar sounder -Pyrolysis and analyzer (spectrometer and chromatograph) -Analyzer of the isotopic composition of light elements -Detectors measuring the density, thermal and mechanical properties of the surface -High definition CCD camera under the undercarriage -Magnetometer to measure the intensity of the magnetic field and interactions with the solar wind -Driller and sampler -3 instruments to study: propagation of sound waves through the surface, electrical properties and dust falling to the surface. To conclude, Philae was an important robot because it taught us a lot about a comet’s composition.
About Robotics? I click - 9 - The biggest Martian rovers 3 meters long, weighing 900 kilograms: this Twingo sized robot has a 22 months lifespan. Curiosity is the leader of the Martian rovers; it’s 5 times heavier than its predecessors (Spirit or Opportunity, the latter still in use). Moreover, Curiosity is 90 times bigger than Sojourner, a Nasa little robot that was a success when it was launched in 1997.
Curiosity doesn’t work with solar energy Spirit and Opportunity worked with photovoltaic panels. But when winter arrived, they didn’t have enough fuel and consequently, they were immobilized. Moreover photovoltaic panels were covered by Martian dust. For its part, Curiosity can work all year long because it’s equipped with a motor generator that We could think that we are in a is thermoelectric. Its engine uses 4.8 kg of cartoon: a metallic box surfing on a red plutonium dioxide and disposes of 2.7 kW sand, in an hostile environment, a everyday. At last, contact between desert, the desert of Mars. Make no Curiosity and the earth can be assured mistake, it’s for real! Launched on thinks to radio waves supplied by space November 26th 2011, the robot created probes around Mars. So Curiosity is the by NASA landed on the Martian best rover sent on Mars, in terms of ground the 6th August 2012. progress, autonomy and ambition.
CURIOSITY
Objectives of this mission Curiosity While Sojourner was a technological display, Spirit and Opportunity provided data about Martian soil, was sent on Mars in order to: Curiosity is a real mobile laboratory prepared to face • Determine if life existed on Mars. 45° temperatures during at least 23 months. Its body hides in fact 2 mini laboratories used for 10 different • Analyse Mars’s climate. experiences and uses a complex manipulator arm 2.2 • Explain Mars’s geology metres long. CheMin (Chemistry & Mineralogy), one of the 10 • Prepare human exploration on the experiences, is an instrument meant to analyse the red planet. mineral composition of Martian rocks (by diffraction and fluorescence of the X rays ). "With a total budget of 2.5 billion dollars, this mission is one of the most A robot shaped laboratory Curiosity important for NASA" says Francis Rocard, in charge of was built as big as the ambition we put the solar system exploration program at the CNES. "NASA only starts such an important project every 10 in it. years. And France has played a very important part in that process, especially in the creation of several Anthony Labatut, Zacharya Bekhouche instruments". The complexity and the innovative aspect of the project endangered the launching, (France) initially expected for 2009 but finally reported to 2011.
About Robotics? I click - 10 - NAO, future astronaut in the space station?
NAO, a French humanoid robot, was NAO will one day work in the manufactured by Aldebaran Robotics, International Space Station 400 km world leader in humanoid robotics, above our heads. Inserm researchers with offices in Paris, Boston (USA), have managed to give Nao what is Shanghai (CHINA) and Tokyo called an autobiographical memory. (JAPAN). It was created in 2006. It Like us, it is now able to learn, but also was presented at the Robocup. to teach what it has learned. Aboard the ISS, researchers have imagined NAO has already been a customer that Nao could help repair an advisor in a big brand of home electronic card, for example. At first, appliances, coach in a retirement an astronaut needs to explain it the home - it had led a gym class for the repairing process and how to do it, and residents. then, Nao, thanks to its autobiographical memory, will store the technique in its head and use it, if necessary, after a while.
It weighs 5 kilograms.
It is 58 cm tall.
It costs 6000 euros.
It has 2 cameras.
It has 4 microphones.
It has an autonomy of 90 minutes.
Alissa, Julie, Fanny (France)
About Robotics? I click - 11 - NASA's Centennial Challenges Space Robotics
id you know that every year, NASA holds an Inducement Prize Contest (IPC) awarding the most brilliant and inventive engineers? It’s called the Centennial Challenges, and it was first created in 2003 D to commemorate the centenary of the Wright brothers' first flight.
The principle is simple : the famous Space Agency gives the competitors a topic or a goal, and they have a limited time - months, or even years - to achieve it. And this is not a small competition: millions are at stake, provided that you’re an American citizen (but foreigners can win the honors). In august 2016, the Centennial Challenge’s theme was “Space Robotics”. It consisted in creating a virtual program for a robot, the long-shot goal being to create a robot able to help astronauts or even prepare their habitat for future Mars missions. All teams were given a virtual topic (“resolving the aftermath of a dust storm that has damaged a Martian habitat”), with three tasks their robot had to be able to execute : “aligning a communications dish, repairing a solar array, and fixing a habitat leak.”. The contest consisted in three stages: a qualifying round from mid-October to mid-December, an open practice held from January to early June, and the final in June 2017. Winners were announced at the end of June.
The top twenty teams having qualified for the Virtual Competition were from all over the world, but mainly from the United States. They all won $15,000. The Virtual Competition took place from June 13 to June 16, 2017. The 4th place was awarded to ZARJ, a team from St. Paul, Minnesota, United States who received $25,000. The 3rd was given to the team Olympus Mons from Barcelona, Spain who received no money since they are not from the United States. The second place was awarded to Walk Softly, a team from Niskayuna, New York, United States who received $100,000. Lastly, the team who won the competition is Coordinated Robotics from Newbury Park, California, United States who received $175,000 of which a $50,000 bonus because they completed all the tasks.
Margot, Clémence (France)
About Robotics? I click - 12 - Even if their work was virtual, the robot which the concurrents were working on really exists: it was NASA’s R5, aka Valkyrie. Johnson Space Center Engineering Directorate designed and built it, within 15 months. It was intended for the 2013 DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials. After the competition, the team who worked on the R5 improved it. Then, they prepared it for the Space Robotics Challenge, helped by the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, in order to “implement their walking algorithms on NASA hardware”. The R5 is 6 feet 2 inches high and weighes 300 pounds. Its battery produces 1.8kWh.
About Robotics? I click - 13 - Kirobo, or “the cutest robot in space”, by Toyota
For many years, Toyata has been working on the Kirobo project with Inspired by “Astro boy”, the character Kibo Robot Project, Dentsu, RCAST, of Osamu Tezuka’s manga, its cuteness Robo Garage and JAXA.This robot is a is boundless.With this invention, real revolution in Japan. For the Toyota has managed to change the moment, Kirobo is only used in space daily life of astronauts. missions but Toyota’s project is to commercialize this robot in other Now we know that robots and humans business fields. can live together and as Kirobo says: “hope creates a future where humans Kiribo visited astronauts of ISS and robots will live together and (International Spatial Station) on progress”. august 2013. Its mission? Provide some company to those men alone in our sky, fighting to discover the mysteries of the Universe. It’s able to speak and to hold a real conversation. Provided of an artificial intelligence, Kirobo is the best. It can interact with you like a real human.
It's a little robot, 30 cm high for those going to space and 10 cm high for those meant to be commercialized in businesses.
Mathieu, Guilhem, Paul (France)
About Robotics? I click - 14 - "New medical techniques" ROBOTS IN MEDECINE
TUG Non-medical personnel working DA VINCI in hospitals are in deep need of a The first robot surgeon in the world. break, and the use of robots like The Da Vinci was created in 2000, but Tug comes to lighten the load and it has continuously been perfected make processes faster for the these last 17 years, and, it is used all benefit of patients. This robot is over the world to perform complex responsible for taking medications surgeries in a less invasive way. This to nurses, emergency rooms, medical robot has a level of precision intensive care units or where impossible to reach by a human and, necessary, so that the remedies thanks to its speed and effectiveness, not only arrive faster, but there reduces blood loss, post-operative pain are no errors in the deliveries. and the risks associated with Thus, human failures are avoided. prolonged anesthesia. The most This android can also perform common uses for "Doctor Da Vinci" other functions, such as taking are in surgeries of extraction of samples to the laboratory, prostate, kidney, stomach, etc. transporting food trays and even Although it is quite autonomous, there helping with cleaning. are always human doctors checking that nothing bad happens.
ASSISTENTIAL ROBOTS Technological advances in robotics allow the design and construction of robots for disabled people, elderly people, etc. They need continuous supervision and attention and, above all, a more comfortable treatment. These types of robots are created to help in hospitals in order to save time for doctors to spend more time with other patients.
About Robotics? I click - 15 - "Robots in tourism"
Robots have arrived and are here to Robots in restaurants stay. In recent years the world has The company Miso Robotics has witnessed significant progress in shown Flippy, a robot based on artificial intelligence, robotics and artificial intelligence capable of service automation. Nowadays the cooking hamburgers. The robot has a tourism field has attracted the use of series of cameras and sensors that professional service robots. allow you to control the food and can differentiate if the meat is at its point, Robots in airports and cruises which side is the bread, if it is a In airports for example, a new robot hamburger or a chicken fillet, as well has appeared and it's called Spencer. as knowing what temperature is to be Have you ever been lost in an airport found on every part of the grill. In and you couldn't find your departure addition to these sensors and software, gate? Don't worry about that any more, Flippy has a robotic arm that allows because this robot takes you to your you to manipulate the product and gate and it can also check in your carry out a series of actions to take the suitcase if you want it to. reins of any of the sections of the kitchen, or serve as an assistant to one of the cooks (human) with those who share the kitchen.
In cruises, another example is Pepper, a small humanoid robot that you can find in every cruise of the Italian company 'Costa Cruceros'. It entertains the passengers by dancing with them, talking or even taking photos of them. It can also speak several languages and the most amazing is that it can detect emotions.
About Robotics? I click - 16 - A robot in Liberec called Thespian gave children their certificates.
Humanoid robot in RoboThespian measures iQlandia was given the 175 centimeters and oportunity to give children weighs 33 kilograms. If their certificates. The robot you are talking to him he is very smart, you can also can analyse your voice and talk with him, he speaks 20 speak with exactly the languages for example: same voice as you. English, Czech, Spanish, Vietnameese, Rusian, so he even told the students what they should improve, and what they are good at. He was made in England in 2005.
This robot is not even as expensive as others of his kind, he costs 2mil czech crounds. Thespian is being used by 15 countries all around the world. For example he helps people in big airports to get around.
Kamil Trochta, Adam Březina
About Robotics? I click - 17 - “Handle can move hard objects, do squats and jump over obstacles.”
Boston Dynamics released a new robot In this picture you can see robot Atlas - called Handle. It looks like a hybrid of one of Handle’s ancestors - it has legs robot Atlas and carriage Segway, but it and arms. Its creators taught it to tidy can do a lot of things. Boston up, throw paper airplanes and kick. Dynamics is an engineering and We know that Handle can move hard robotics design company. Marc objects. It can also do squats or jump Raibert is the company's president. He over obstacles. It moves really fast and spun the company off from the it is faster than its ancestors because it Massachusetts Institute of Technology doesn’t have legs. But it can move fast in 1992. only on flat ground. It can work in storages or in supermarkets.
This article is from Michaela Jandačková, Viola Muchová Nela Znamcová from the Czech Republic.
About Robotics? I click - 18 - Petr Koribanic, FIRST EVER Vendula Zajicova, MARRIAGE TO BE Eliška Strakošova The BLESSED BY ROBOT Czech Republic F PRIEST The first marriage to be officiated by a robot took place in Japan. A humanoid robot named I-Fairy stood in as witness at a ceremony in Tokyo. It happened in 2016.
About Robotics? I click - 19 - HOUSEHOLD ROBOTS ZENBO A robot for the whole family
Zenbo is an innovative robot that is Furthermore, Zenbo is well suited for able to show emotions and take children. It plays with them, reads photos. It helps families in many areas stories and plays music for the kids. of life. For the benefit of the whole family, the The robot is great for seniors, because robot can stream movies and series or it reminds them of their appointments read out recipes. Besides, it can control and to take their medication. If there is systems in your home like lighting, the an emergency, it can call the family TV and your home surveillance. and send them live-pictures. Unfortunately, its release date hasn't been published yet. It will cost 535€.
Zenbo - a friend, consoler and great help for families
About Robotics? I click - 20 - Are you interested in getting intelligent help for your chores at home? Take a look at theses innovative devices.
lawn mower robot - moves by itself to mow the grass - ca. 700 – 1.000€
vacuum cleaner robot - cleans the floor of a house; sweeps crumbs, hair and dirt - ca. 100 – 1.000€
window cleaning robot - cleans windows without human help - ca. 200 – 500€
floor wiping robot - cleans and polishes the floor of a house with wet towels - ca. 150 – 300€
About Robotics? I click - 21 - Ready for a three million-years journey ?
In a futuristic world where flying cars On board only remain Lister, his and robotic brothels are commonplace, hologramatic friend Rimmer, a senile AI the story of Red Dwarf begins. and a mutant cat. Grant Naylor, the Hangovered David Lister, the main author, lightly depicts the journey of the group with humour off the wall, making character, cannot remember how he th arrived on this foreign planet he woke many references to 20 century people. Red Dwarf can be assimilated to a up on. Going back on Earth became comedy but its scientific points are not thus his main priority. As a third-class realistic enough to make it into a popular technician, Lister got hired on a science journal or anything similar. mining spaceship for a several years- Nevertheless it does not seem to be the long trip. So begins a tedious routine author’s aim. Indeed Red Dwarf is a book punctuated by heavy-but-entertaining whose place is rather on the bedside table humour. Bored at the idea of waiting than in the scientific section of a library. for years before going back to Earth, Without any embarrassment, Grant Lister manages to get locked up in Naylor exposes the characters' thoughts stasis… For three million years. and desires. Buried into their minds, everyone can enter the story of Red Dwarf and enjoy the interstellar trip.
The Red Dward has been adapted as a TV show since 1988. For the moment, twelve seasons have been aired on cable channel Dave.
The seventy-three episodes recount the character's adventures, with the same gap as in the novel.
Mathieu (France)
About Robotics? I click - 22 - Literary Criticism
EVANGELION Neon Genesis by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto SadamotoSadamotoSada
"Futuristic when it was published. Wholly outdated now." - Claire The story? Basic: robots, apocalypse, monsters almost unbeatable, more enormous each time... In the midst of all that? A kid who discovers an "unbelievable" mastery talent in a gigantic robotic armour. His duty? Protect his country (pretty obvious, right?). Sadly, we are not reading this manga in the appropriate decade: the subject has been seen and seen again, adapted on our screens. What would distinguish the manga should be a flowing story, which should absorb readers without discontinuity. Yet, Evangelion is divided, actions sometimes develop without any logical connection. We enter the script in an abrupt manner, relationships between characters seem occasionally absurd: the young man is in a totally unknown world where he is pulled down to no good purpose while he holds an essential role, which is imposed on him. I appreciate neither the inner workings between the characters, nor the unfolding of the action. One word to conclude : muddled.
"An iconic manga from the 90’s" - Justine
Evangelion seems to be one of the most iconic anime created. The drawings are well-done and ambitious for its decade. The different fight scenes are dynamic, entailing, and sometimes generating suspense to the reader. The main characters are well built and lovable (even if they can seem easily influenced ar first). Each relationship between the different characters denounces social problems regarding the family, loneliness, the use of children, the work world… It can sound cliché for a lot of people, but it looks really futuristic to me; giant robots, environment troubles, cataclysms… Some religious references are notable, creating a strange atmosphere, questioning Christianity with the end of the world. To conclude, in my opinion, Evangelion is an iconic work which marked its time, and a work which can find its public with the people who are able to enjoy the originality represented here.
About Robotics? I click - 23 - Originally a japanese anime realized by Hideaki Anno, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a manga written by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto in fourteen volumes in 1995. It is a Mecha Shonen, a manga for teenagers talking about robots. In 2000, a huge explosion, due to the fall of an asteroid, wiped Antarctica, causing the destruction of a portion of the Earth. Called the Second Impact, this disaster keeps springing problems onto mankind, even fifteen years later; it has brought on Earth several creatures nicknamed Angels, which try to eradicate human beings. In order to protect Tokyo-3, the new city- fortress built after the cataclysm, a secret organisation, the NERV, has created a big humanoid, called the Evangelion. Shinji, a young teenager who has not seen his father for ten years, the NERV’s director, is invited to meet him in Tokyo-3. But he does not know yet which secrets the mechas are carrying…
About Robotics? I click - 24 - The Windup girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
Discovering the future...
Bioterrorism in Thailand...
The author stages a futurist but not unrealistic society affected by global warming. Several cities such as New York have been ovherwhelmed and most of the countries are under agro-industries' control because of their seeds monopoly position. The story takes place in Bangkok where a government successfully resists these industries as best it can. Particularly centered on environmental issues, the novel leads the reader to think about current issues through this apocalyptic world. The author shows the different responses of people when facing genetic manipulation, corruption and so on. The author's opinion never appears, which gives the reader total freedom of reflexion.
Louise (France)
In this world where energy is missing, technology isn't present. However, Emiko, a humanoïd with a perfectly optimized human body is the memory of a recent technological peak. She is endowed with an incredible artificial intelligence but she cannot show the whole of her potential because she is enslaved in a bar where she has to sell her body. We follow the psychological evolution of the robot, stuck in a body with programmed reactions which acts against her wishes. Emiko learns from human errors to cast off her chains. At the end, there is more humanity in her than in most humans.
About Robotics? I click - 25 - MockingBird Walter Tevis
The author: Walter Tevis (1928-1984) Tevis is a famous American writter of sci-fi. His most known novel is "Mockingbird". He wrote seven novels, not really a prolific writer, but his plots and writting are quite elaborate.
The summary
This story takes place in a distopic world where the human kind is declining. Mankind has forgotten how to read and write. Spofforth, a very advanced robot, tries to kill himself but his programm makes it impossible. One day a man, Paul, calls him to say that he knows how to read. Paul, will then be forced to record the full script of an old movie. He also meets a rebellious girl. They will discover the passion of reading but this knowledge won't be accepted by Sporfforth.
Is this a good novel?
The novel is really interresting, the atmosphere is completely captivating. The characters are charismatic. It makes you wonder what would become of humankind if writing disappeared. And it emphasises the importance of writing and the capacity of thinking by yourself. Lucas Cousinet (France)
About Robotics? I click - 26 - "Once upon a time a robot..." THE COMPLETE RODERICK, by John Sladek
You are wondering how a robot can grow As the French book Candide, written two up, learn and live in our world? You should hundred years before, the philosophical side read The Complete Roderick to have of the book denounces certain types of answers. human behaviour which Sladek disagrees with or simply shows them from a different The first part of the book focuses on the point of view. He delivers his positions with construction of the robot and it shows in humor which renders the book very funny and which environment it was built. At this agreeable to read. moment we cannot imagine all the things that the robot will be able to do in the future. I loved reading this book because I saw The rest clearly deals with the question of the robot grow up in a hard adult world and I the eventual place of robots in our current life. was touched by the robot's childish reactions The author fairly describes this world, taking and its first looking on things which have been Roderick from strange situations to funny normal for us for a long time, like sexual happenings, exploring thus the naive intercourse for instance that he describes reactions of his character and developing it with the eyes of an innocent man and the more and more. rendering is hilarious. During the story he explores each kind of use that an AI can have. Roderick is faced with many different life universes and forces us to ask ourselves questions on what we would have done at this or that moment.
The adventures he will live won’t be believed by most humans. Hope you’re not a muggle like them and you will enjoy the story...
Pierre (France)
About Robotics? I click - 27 - And you, what would you do during a robot uprising? How to survive a robot uprising, a book written by Daniel H. Wilson will help you to answer this question. This book, a mix of comedy, novel and science fiction is the perfect book in order to fight back a potential big attack! This book gives funny and crazy advice about a possible invasion and robot attack. It shows us what behaviour to adopt if they become smartest than humans and manage to control us. It warns the reader in a funny way about too close relationships between us and robots, which can become very dangerous if the latter were to rebel. In this book, robots are the enemy. The first part of the book consists in knowing them better on every point. Actually, the different types of robots which exist are presented to us such as their very accurate features, for example vision, the sixth sense or all their detection systems for humans. Then, a second part initiates the reader to fighting methods against this extraordinary enemy. It reveals robots’ weaknesses and the best tools to use in order to beat them in case they became smarter than humans. Finally, this novel shows us what we have to do if, despite all the precautions listed above, robots do become smarter than humans and succeed in taking over. It explains the way to escape from a kidnapping or how to enrol the best scientists in order to find solutions to stop the uprising. The book also offers a short briefing to synthesize in a funny way all the advice given in the book. How to survive a robot uprising can be read by all readers, children, teenagers or adults. This funny book is about an event never experienced by humans, so Daniel H. Wilson invented everything. Even if this book is meant to be taken seriously, the amusing side gains the upper hand and we spend a good time reading the story. We enjoy discovering what we can do in case of a robot uprising, and we advise people who are looking for a book to read to choose this one. Some parts are a little bit too long and too “science-fictioned” but generally, we have a positive view about this book.
Valentine, Lisa, Zoé (France)
About Robots? I click - 28 - Gods and Androids, Andre Norton
About Robotics? I click - 29 - "The sky's no limit to Andre Norton's imagination ... a superb storyteller." From the Chicago Tribune
As the huge book reader I am, I have Then there is Yolyos, a combination of a become quite selective about the plot and feline and a human. the style of a book. After perusing great The group finally escape in a spaceship. classics as The Picture of Dorian Gray and After a chaotic travel, the two characters Edgar Allan Poe, you develop a critical land on Andas' planet where another eye. Science fiction is a difficult style, Andas took the prince's place, a long time writers are easily cliché, and their books ago. Is Andas an android - who did not seem quite insipid for me. grow old - or the rightful Emperor, held Thus I started reading Andre Norton's prisoner while an android impersonated book apprehensively. But never once, was him on the throne of Inyanga? The novel I sorry to have started it. The topic deals questions us about the differences with a group of people who wake up one between humans and robots and the day on an unknown planet, locked in a dangers of scientific progress, which are disused building. They all remember their real in our age. identity, they come from different planets This captivating story is divided in two and different times. What happend parts, Android at Arms written in 1971 during their sleep? Why were they and Wraiths of Time in 1976. Norton is a brought on this planet? The main living legend in science fiction, she has character is Andas, the prince heir of become one of our greatest storytellers planet Inyanga. with her fifty years experience.
To conclude, if you want to fight your prejudices against Sci-Fi stories, please try this author. There are no unnecessary actions, everything sends a message. Have a nice reading!
Inès (France)
About Robotics? I click - 30 - WILLIAM HERTLING A.I. APOCALYPSE
First of all we have two major However, we have to warn the arguments in favour of this book: reader on two points: For The main character is a young someone who is not fluent in teenager fascinated with English or who is not interested computing. The choice of the in new technologies, the reading author of a classic hero can thus will be complicated. It is due to allow a lot of young people to the author's heavy use and identify themselves with Leon. reliance on precise terms and a For young readers, this book is sometimes complicated. The story technical vocabulary. So, we begins slowly, but suddenly have to specify that all of this is everything accelerates rendering a fiction and that you should, on then the reading very interesting. no account, get your kicks by The plot is modern, because it developing a virus! deals with new technologies, at the heart of our everyday life.
A.I. Apocalypse is a book written by William Hertling and published in 2012. This book tells us the story of a young teenager named Leon Tsarev, who attends a prestigious school. However, one day his life will be suddenly turned upside down when his uncle, a Russian potentate is going to ask him to create a virus. Leon will create a virus, that proves to be much more dangerous than they had intended. The virus is then going to develop largely by affecting all the computers of the world; even going as far as paralyzing the networks of the emergency services, putting then in danger the lives of millions of people. The whole plot is then going to turn around the solution which Leon and his friends will have to find in order to face this plague. Alexandre, Anthony, Ambroise, Théo (France)
About Robotics? I click - 31 - Last week, we had the opportunity to interview William Hertling about his new book, A.I. Apocalypse. William Hertling is an American writer, specialized in science-fiction stories. He’s also a programmer, computing is one of his passions. You probably know who he is because of his famous book “Avogadro Corp” William, why did you choose to write this book? W.H: First of all, I’m really interested in computer-science, to be honest I created my first algorithm at the age of 14 when it was little spread. In the last few years, the press has been alerting heavily about IT security and computer viruses in particular. People are very suspicious because viruses represent a threat especially with the on-line banking payments. One day, I made a strange dream in which I controlled all the computers of the world and it gave me an idea. I imagined a story in which a character was going to create a computer virus and infect all the computers of the world. It was going to create a kind of apocalypse, hence the title. That’s all that I can tell you because I don’t want to spoil the story!
About Robotics? I click - 32 - Reviews Recent Sci-Fi Movies
Star Trek Beyond Together they are able to fight Krall. His only goal is to bring an artefact into The crew of the USS Enterprise is on a his possession, which has been located five-years mission through space. They on the Enterprise. encounter the captain of another spaceship, who asks for their help. Originally, Krall is a fugitive captain Some of the crew have been killed by an who has thought that he had been attack. deliberately abandoned by the USS Federation. He wants to use the However, during the rescue mission, artefact to activate a giant weapon on Krall – the villain – and his troops the planet to avenge himself. attack the crew of the Enterprise. It is him who has also attacked the other The Sci-Fi movie convinces with an spaceship. intriguing story line, believable characters, a good dose of humour and The Enterprise is damaged, and most magnificent special effects. If you liked crew members are caught. The others the first two parts of the Star Trek can save themselves on a planet; there reboot, you will definitely not be they meet the Jaylah. disappointed by this third instalment.
An adventurous Sci-Fi movie set in space - encountering species of vividly different races
About Robotics? I click - 33 - PASSENGERS, By J. Spaiths & M. Tyldam
Their only companion is a mechanical The Sci-Fi movie by Jon Spaiths and bar tender to whom they can talk about Morten Tyldam is about the spaceship their problems. In the end, both of Avalon, which is on its way to a new them face the dilemma to either die colony bringing 5,000 settlers from together during the long journey or get Earth. separated from each other and only put Aurora back to sleep. Since the travel takes 120 years, the passengers and the crew are in a hyper The movie gives the spectator a hint of sleep, which prevents aging. a future in which humankind will settle other planets using modern Jim Preston and Aurora Lane, who technology. Furthermore, the two wake up too early due to a bug in the protagonists carry the movie system, try to fix the mistake and – extraordinarily well with humour and after some struggles and arguments – drama. fall in love with each other.
Passengers is a Sci-Fi movie for the whole family.
About Robotics? I click - 34 - Famous Movie Robots
C-3PO is a protocol-droid and he is a class 3 model. His most famous features are his golden overwrap and his laborious attitude. Furthermore, he possesses the ability to translate the uncountable languages in space.
R2-D2 is an automech-droid and he is a class 2 model.
His specific characteristic is naughtiness andHis partner in crime is C-3PO.
WALL-E is one of the cutest robots ever! He occurs in a movie of the same name
‘WALL-E’ stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter – Earth class. He is a robot which lives on Earth and cleans up while the humans are waiting in a spaceship until they find a new planet to live on.
EVE is a female robot type from the same movie as WALL-E
EVE means Extra-terrestrial Vegetation Evaluator. EVE is a bit sceptical about WALL-E at first. Her task is to search for plants and habitable planets. In the movie, there is even a love story between them.
About Robotics? I click - 35 - The newest robot in a movie is Cyborg in Justice League from 2017
Cyborg is, at the beginning, a human called Victor Stone, who dies in an accident. His father undertakes experiments on his dead body and finally Victor comes back to life technically advanced as Cyborg. Cyborg is much stronger and faster than humans – equipped with weapons and intelligent instruments.
Arthur is a human-like robot and a barkeeper
Arthur acts like a real human and you can talk with him as you would talk to a real barkeeper. However, Arthur can’t keep secrets, which helps the protagonists to come together.
Johnny Number 5 was originally called S-A-I-N-T Prototype
He is an intelligent military robot who also feels emotions. In the movie, he becomes aware of himself and is more like a human than a machine. The military searches for him but friends help him to escape. At the end of the movie, he calls himself Johnny 5 after hearing a song called “Who’s Johnny”.
About Robotics? I click - 36 -