X

RoboUniverse, where bots build, teach and sell (pictures)

Among the dozens of robots present at the New York trade show this week, one helps autistic children practice social skills and another is a roving kiosk for big-box stores.

Ben Fox Rubin
Ben Fox Rubin was a senior reporter for CNET News in Manhattan, reporting on Amazon, e-commerce and mobile payments. He previously worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and got his start at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Ben Fox Rubin
dsc0502.jpg
1 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Welcome to RoboUniverse

This robotics trade show, held at the Javits Center in Manhattan this week, included presentations from iRobot and Wolfram Research, along with an exhibit hall filled with dozens of robots.

dsc0500.jpg
2 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Entering the exhibit hall

The floor, which was filled with about two dozen booths, hosted all kinds of robots inside, including robot arms for industrial work, a heavy-duty drone and a roving kiosk by Fellow Robots -- pictured here -- that can lead store customers to the specific items they are searching for.

dsc0313.jpg
3 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

The Universal Robots arm

Universal Robots, based in Denmark, sells robotic arms for assembly lines in auto and pharmaceutical factories. The arms use different kinds of connectors to allow them to weld, glue, suction or clamp.

dsc0334.jpg
4 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Training the machine

Brian Kobus, a technical support worker for Universal Robots, demonstrates how to program an arm's motions using a tablet computer.

dsc0346.jpg
5 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Tablet controls

Here Kobus shows off the tablet remote and its controls.

dsc0351.jpg
6 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

A robot to help kids with autism

This is Milo, developed by RoboKind Robots, which is a robot that can assist children with autism to practice social skills.

dsc0353.jpg
7 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Up-close with Milo

This $5,000 robot went on sale in January and is used in special-education classrooms and homes.

dsc0356.jpg
8 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

It dances, monitors, talks

Milo can dance and walk around to keep children engaged in its lessons. It can also record its conversations with children and has an HD camera to allow therapists to monitor students' progress and participation.

dsc0367.jpg
9 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Playing with Baxter

Baxter, by Rethink Robotics, is a type of robot created to operate simple, repeatable tasks next to people in a production line without the need for safety cages. Here's 10-year-old Ishai Benari using a Baxter's clamp to pick up a calculator.

dsc0403.jpg
10 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Baxter in manufacturing

Baxters can be used for packaging, material handling, line loading and other simple tasks. In this demonstration, it uses suctions to pick up and move plastic pieces and a metal sheet.

dsc0360.jpg
11 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

The follower

Doog created the robotic version of a duckling. You stand in front of it, press a button and it will start following you around once you start walking. These robots are used at malls to follow around salespeople with banner ads, but Doog may also use this same technology in the future for shopping carts, stretchers or wheelchairs.

dsc0438.jpg
12 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

A delivery bot

The boxy QC Bot can deliver all kinds of products around a warehouse or manufacturing plant. So far, the robots have found a place in hospitals, safely delivering drugs from a pharmacy to doctors and nurses.

dsc0444.jpg
13 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

A robot assistant for disabled people

This robotic arm by Kinova Robotics can be placed on a power wheelchair to help disabled people or those in rehabilitation grab and manipulate objects around them.

dsc0453.jpg
14 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

A big drone

AeroCine shows off one of its drones, which are used for film production, capturing news events and inspecting real estate.

dsc0456.jpg
15 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

Emergency-response bot

Acorn executive Barry Braunstein presents a first-responder robot built by RoboteX that his company helped develop. The bot can be utilized for hostage situations, fires and other emergencies.

dsc0488.jpg
16 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

A tiny robotic arm

Tyler Chaulk, right, a "residential roboticist" for Newbotic, explains the uses of a small robotic arm by Energid to an expo attendant. The arm, he said, can be used for R&D, parts inspection and light manufacturing.

dsc0463.jpg
17 of 17 Ben Fox Rubin

JD Humanoid

JD is made from a robotics kit sold for $430 by EZ-Robot, which targets these kits for science and technology learning. After clipping the robot together, JD can walk, grip objects and see around it.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos