Category: Technology

Japanese were the first to create a humanoid robot. It’s been almost 10 years since Asimo’s launch, nowadays there are dozens of humanoid robots in Japan. There is a company called Kondo Robot that makes low cost humanoid mini-robots. They cost around 1.000$, and are usually available in electronics shops around Akihabara.

Kondo robots are programmable, but people usually use them using remote controllers. For example, there are competitions where humanoid remote controlled robot teams play soccer. Every year there is a pretty popular competition in Akihabara organized by Robo dreams.

There are lots of “robot competitions”, I personally know: Robolympics, Robogames andRobocup.

Since 2004 a Japanese company is selling clothes with incorporated fans, maybe they copied they idea from the beds with ventilation. You can order online from Rakuten if you are interested, it seems there are many models and variations. Here are some pictures that called my atention.

Por detrás

y por delante.

This is how it works 🙂

Ciro Altabás sent me a link about a Japanese company that is selling urine rechargeable batteries. This thing about the urine is a false rumor, the batteries are rechargeable with WATER, but they could also be filled with any other liquid like for example urine or saliva; that’s why urine “false”/exaggerated rumors appeared. In many blogs and news sites it is so exaggerated you could think that nowadays Japanese people are peeing on their digital cameras in order to recharge them.

The batteries are called NoPoPo, they can be found in packs with 2 batteries and a water filling adapter. The batteries keep their charge during 10 years and can be recharged around five times until the carbon and magnesium they have inside is depleted. The NoPoPo batteries are environmentally friendly, no mercury or any other contaminant components.

Liquid rechargeable batteries.