robots in disguise!

The RobuCab, an autonomous vehicle about the size of a golf cart, trundles at 10kph along a quiet French street. Alarmingly, it looks like it is driving itself.

Taxi business is rapidly changing, with the Ford Crown Victoria set to take a permanent buyout, hybrids ready to invade Manhattan by 2012, and now robuCab. The driver-free robuCab was developed in France by Robosoft, and the technology is limited for now. It’s a 4WD electric vehicle relying on a camera that reads a nearby curb and sensors reading both the curb angle and devices planted in the ground.

French company Robosoft has developed a rather frightening driverless cab, whose goal seems to be to revolutionize the commercial transportation business. The self-motivated cab is a four-wheel-drive electric vehicle, which uses a series of cameras and sensors to monitor the street curb angle. The robot is then able to follow the curb and theoretically deliver passengers safely to whichever destination they choose. We’re not sure if they accept tips or not.

The slow-moving robuCab prototypes can carry four passengers. The robuCab prototypes seat four-passengers and are said to be rather slow-moving. They also seem to have a limited amount of cargo capacity for things like luggage, which would seem to be an immediate drawback in terms of taxi service. While having a personalized automated system could eventually lead to some positive results in areas like airport terminals and large parking areas, don’t envision the robuCab putting many taxi drivers out of work soon.

The Barricade we’ve seen on the Transformers movie last year was a Saleen S281 Mustang Police patrol car, which is absolutely radical! However, during the first generation Transformers, Barricade surfaced as a different character in the animated version. Barricade first appeared in 1990 as a new member of a Decepticon race track patrol team. Before getting the Sallen Mustang with solid nerf bars as his vehicle mode in the 2007 movie, he was a Formula One racing car in the first generation.

This smart and fast-chasing Decepticon learned how to take care of himself while blasting along with Cybertron’s most nasty racing groups. Being vicious has been his character that brought the same wicked boundary his position as the Race Track Patrol’s leader. His groupmates are familiar that the slightest error will result in a heartless killing in front of the others. His troops learned to strive to meet his demanding standards. His uncompromising, obnoxious leadership approach doesn’t do much for self-esteem, however, Barricade thinks off the best solution for the sake of his team.

Barricade was formerly named “Runner”. He was created as part of a cross-factional testing in which new Micromasters were permitted to work as neutrals, and to pick their own connections.

William “Red” Whittaker. That’s one solid name in the robotics industry. And he will let loose his robots… soon.

Imagine yourself holding your life thread. Pull it as fast as you can until you find yourself in the year 2035. There, you will find that humanoid robots are as common as cars. Yes, as many as cars.

But whether or not these cars have catalytic converters, well, that’s the big question. But focus on the main thing: living among humanoid cars. That’s exactly the scenario in the 2004 movie I, Robot starring the legendary actor Will Smith. Set in Chicago in year 2035, the movie pictured the future where robots are normal part of everyday life. In the film, Smith played the role of a detective who investigated about the real cause of death of the inventor of the Three Laws of Robotics who in the end found a friend in an NS-5 robot.

Audi’s RSQ, a two-seat, mid-engine sports car of the future, was the car-star used by Will Smith in the movie. This car’s power generates from four bulbous spheres unlike standard cars that run on wheels and tires. That gives the car a computer mouse appearance. Still, it has the common features of Audi cars such as the Audi front-end as well as the single-frame grille. In the movie, the Audi RSQ raced through the future Chicago via its spheres instead of wheels while the butterfly principle was applied in opening its two doors.

Designed as a concept car and made spectacular mainly for the I, Robot movie, the Audi RSQ was displayed during the 2004 New York Automobile Show.

This was the first time Audi developed a car solely for a major Hollywood movie.

I, Robot was directed by Alex Proyas, the same man who directed other fabulous movies like Dark City and The Crow. 

A couple of days ago, my friends and I were talking about our childhood and aside from the Thundercats, our favorite Transformers popped up as one of the things that symbolize our times as a child. And because I wanted to share with them something way cooler than what they already know, I decided to go on a search for a robot that could transform into a Ford Focus. Too bad I was not successful.

But I did chance upon the TV series in Japan “Transformers: CarRobot” which has been dubbed in English with the title “Robots in Disguise”. Because of my love for the TV series, I did continue searching for more information on this and found a list of their episodes (which I’ll be downloading later).

So maybe you’d like to download the stuff later too, here’s the list from Wikipedia:

1. Battle Protocol! (First Movement! Fire Convoy)
2. An Explosive Situation (A High Speed Battle! Gelshark)
3. Bullet Train to the Rescue (Unite! Bullet Train Robo)
4. Spy Changers to the Rescue (Ninja Robo - Spy Changers Go!)
5. The Hunt for Black Pyramid (Deadly Jump! Mach Alert)
6. The Secret of the Ruins (Gigatron’s Revenge!)
7. Side Burn’s Obsession (Speedbreaker’s in Danger)
8. Secret Weapon D-5 (Mysterious Weapon! D-5)
9. Mirage’s Betrayal (Counter Arrow’s Betrayal?!)
10. Skid-Z’s Choice (Out of Control! Indy Heat!!)
11. Tow-Line Goes Haywire (Parking Violation! Wrecker Hook)
12. The Ultimate Robot Warrior (The Ultimate Extreme! Buddha-Transformer)
13. Hope for the Future (Gigatron Reveals His Ambition!) (clip show)
14. The Decepticons (Friend!? Foe!? Black Convoy!)
15. Commandos (Quintuple Merge! Valdigus)
16. Volcano (En Garde! Two Convoys!)
17. Attack from Outer Space (Aiming From Space! Shuttler!!)
18. The Test (Awaken to Justice, Black Convoy!)
19. The Fish Test (Secret Strategy! Gelshark!)
20. Wedge’s Short Fuse (Raging Warriors: The Build Masters!)
21. Landfill (Quadruple Merge - Build King!)
22. Sky-Byte Saves The Day (Gelshark Returning)
23. A Test of Metal (Target: Build Masters)
24. Ultra Magnus (Enter: God Magnus)
25. Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion! (Mighty Combination: God Fire Convoy)
26. Lessons of the Past (Focus: New Warriors) (clip show)
27. The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus (Body and Mind - Three Car Robot Brothers)
28. Power to Burn! (Double Matrix, Open!)
29. Fortress Maximus (Arise, Cybertron City!)
30. Koji Gets His Wish (JRX vs. Valdigus)
31. A Friendly Contest (Gelshark’s Trap)
32. Peril From the Past (The Final Key? Sayonara, Ai)
33. Maximus Emerges (Stolen Plasma)
34. The Human Element (The Mystery of Brave Maximus)
35. The Mystery of Ultra Magnus (Gelshark’s Blues) (clip show)
36. Mistaken Identity (Black Convoy’s Ambition)
37. Surprise Attack (Arise, Brave Maximus!)
38. Galvatron’s Revenge (Devil Gigatron’s Counterstrike)
39. The Final Battle (Fire Convoy’s Final Battle)

Here’s another fantastic member of the Autobots that you definitely haven’t encountered yet if you’re not an avid Transformer fan. The Generation 1 series featured various unique characters that made the story even more interesting. One of them is Cliffjumper!

This dedicated Autobot pays off for his small physical attribute by being the front liner and the first one to attack in hazardous situations. Cliffjumper always desires to smash arch-enemy Decepticons which he calls “Decepti-creeps”. His bravery won him respect from the rest of the team, although at times his ‘being too aggressive’ led him into situations where he finds himself helpless and losing control of the situation. He was well-known because of his cool motto, “Let me at ‘em!”

One of the coolest things about Cliffjumper is his vehicle mode. He is a Porsche 924 Turbo with the radical ignition switch! Wow… And according to Wikipedia, the original tech spec interpretation written by Bob Budiansky revealed that Cliffjumper was also known as Blow-Out, a name later used for a Generation 2 Autobot.

Cliffjumper was a member of the original Autobot squad of the Ark. Cliffjumper was given the alternate mode of an Earth car when the Autobots and Decepticons were revived. Cliffjumper and Hound were sent to inspect out the location of the Decepticons. Cliffjumper took the chance to try to shoot Megatron, even though he was ordered not to take on the Decepticons. As a result, their existence was revealed by Megatron and the Decepticons.

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Rodimus Prime is the improvized, reformatted figure of the young Autobot Hot Rod. He was also the Chosen One of Autobot legend who would ascend from their lines and unlock the Autobot Matrix of Leadership to “light their darkest hour”, making him as the new-fangled Autobot leader.

In fact, at his heart, he still remained as Hot Rod, and accepted the load of leadership deeply even though Rodimus articulates with the confident voice of an experienced veteran. He continually anticipates himself and sensing that he can never live up to the legacy of their great leader, Optimus Prime.

In some occasion, Rodimus Prime can be hot-headed, be likely to act first and ask questions later on. However, he has devoted himself to the safeguarding of life in its myriad forms. He alters into a ultramodern recreational vehicle, similar to a 1980 concept car, the Citroën Penthouse CX. On the other hand, he wields a photon eliminator that shoots high voltage electricity in robot form.

I know most of you have seen this TV series during its roll during the 80s era. For some who don’t have any idea about this cool robot, listen up and drop those catalytic converters first!

Voltron is a colossal mecha robot that was first introduced in the 1980s animated television series “Voltron: Defender of the Universe”. After a successful launch, there was a second series made in the 1990s using CGI methods. The 1980s Voltron TV series was inspired on a couple of unclearly-related Japanese anime series GoLion and Dairugger XV that were formerly created by Toei Animation & Bandai. The anime was later on edited and dubbed into English by the North American television production and distribution company World Events Productions.

The robot Voltron is composed of several teams, parts and vehicles. We have the allies, land, air and sea team. This time, let’s meet the team stationed in land with their awesome vehicles! Check this out courtesy of WikiPedia.com:

The Land Team:
Cliff: Leader of the Land Team. He has a well-built Australian accent, and from time to time is likely to have a ironic funny side. He pilots the Jet Radar Station (#11) that figures the lower torso/hips of Voltron. Lance and Wolo tugged him into the pool when he first arrived to the academy.

Cinda: Member of the Land Team. Similar to Lisa, Cinda is too is nice and kindhearted, particularly when it talks about the environment. She comes from the same water planet as Cric. She pilots the Rotating Personnel Carrier (#12) that forms the right forearm of Voltron.

Modoch: The biggest member of the Land Team, who can best be illustrated as the “gentle giant.” Just like Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets! Anyway, he maneuvers the Armored Equipment Carrier (#13) that forms the left forearm of Voltron.

Marvin & Hutch: Best buddies and members of the Land Team. This duo is frequently seen together. They are often seen playing cards or scuffling with each other. They pilot the All-Terrain Space Vehicles (#14 and #15) that form the right and left feet of Voltron, respectively.