Podcast: Soft Robots Take Cues from Nature

Technology Podcast 348: This week, we hear about a new breed of soft, squishy robots that have been developed by researchers at Harvard. These bots take their cues from starfish and worms, not the Terminator.

Tech Podcast: Japan’s nuclear crisis

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This is one of the damaged reactors from the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. During the past week, the plant has been the focus of global attention, as plant operators try to avoid the release of radioactive material, caused by damage wrought by last week’s earthquake and subsequent tsunami. On this week’s Tech Podcast, you’ll hear a variety of viewpoints on the unfolding crisis. (Photo: BBC screengrab) Download MP3 (24:20)

Tech Podcast: Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks

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This week, the US Army charged Bradley Manning with 22 counts in connection with the alleged leaking of documents to WikiLeaks. The new charges include one that could carry the death penalty, although prosecutors say they will not ask for it. Find out more in this episode of The World’s Technology Podcast. (Photo: US Army) Download MP3 (19:33)

Tech Podcast: Non-stick chewing gum…finally

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Chewing gum – an international scourge so terrible that Singapore doesn’t even allow people to partake. But now, some British chemists have developed Rev 7, a “removable confectionary chewing gum” made from polymers that supposedly allow for easy removal. We’ll have that vital tech story, and a whole lot more, on this week’s Tech Podcast!

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Tech Podcast: World Cup matches go Lego

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If you love soccer, and you love Lego, then you’re going to want to listen to this week’s Tech Podcast. We’ve got an interview with Fabian Mortiz, a young German who is painstakingly recreating the highlights, and lowlights, of each World Cup match…in Lego. Plus, Estonia’s “Johnny Appleseed” of free wi-fi, and some robots that want to help you choose the right clothes online. (Photo: Fabian Moritz)

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Tech Podcast: Our new monthly tech round-up

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While all eyes are trained on South Africa and the soccer World Cup, we should note that Singapore this month played host to RoboCup 2010. That’s only one of the great tech stories you’ll hear about in this, our newly minted monthly round-up of the best in global technology news. We’ll also talk about Wikileaks, the .xxx domain name, the One Laptop Per Child Project, and cyber-security. (Photo: FUmanoids)

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Tech Podcast: The laser turns 50

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For this week’s podcast, we celebrate the 50th birthday of “Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,” aka the laser! Where would all of us Pink Floyd fans be without this not-so-humble technology? But seriously, we’ll look at the laser’s past, and future. Also, we have an oil spill update, we unmask Latvia’s digital Robin Hood, and we’ll hear about how the Japanese might choose robots over immigrants in caring for the county’s aging population. (Photo: Jeff Keyzer via Wikipedia).

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Tech Podcast: Germans prepare for RoboCup 2010

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In this week’s podcast, we feature a listener-generated segment on robotic soccer. Tell me, is there anything more awesome than teams of three kid-sized robots trying to score goals against one another? Absolutely not is the answer. We’ll hear from the FUmanoids, the German team that is currently the #2 team in the world. We’ll also talk about Google’s Europe woes, and about Latvia’s virtual “Robin Hood.”

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Tech Podcast: Can an ethical warrior robot be built?

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This week, we tackle a thorny issue: the use of robots on the battlefield. Now, you already know that drones are flying over Afghanistan, and robots are disarming IEDs in Iraq. But what about sending robots into the field to do actual combat? What is they were armed? How could you program them to make life-and-death decisions? All interesting questions that we try to get a handle on in WTP 278. Also, the newspaper YOU make, and an update on Global Pecha Kucha Night for Haiti.

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Programming an ethical robot warrior

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Can a robot be programmed to make life-and-death decisions on the battlefield? Some researchers are currently working to develop software that will help robots make moral and legal decisions on their own. Later today, we speak with Ronald Arkin, a professor of computer science at Georgia Tech who has just completed a three-year research project for the Army looking into the use of ethical battlefield robots. Download MP3

• Ronald Arkin’s homepage
• BBC: Can battlefield robots take the place of soldiers?
• BBC: Robots of the future unveiled

Pirate Bay Founders in the Brig, Obama Tech Policy, and Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto

First, we look at the Swedish court ruling against the founders of The Pirate Bay. We have an explainer and analysis on that. Also, how is Barack Obama’s embrace of new technologies during the campaign playing out now that his administration is in power? It’s a mixed report card. And we end with a segment on robots. They’re already helping soldiers dispose of improvised explosive devices, and helping ordinary folks vacuum the floors. What’s next for ‘bots? Listen

Robots, robots, robots!

Clark Boyd went to the Robo Business Conference and Expo in Boston. He managed to hear about some cutting edge stuff, and take a few pictures. View the audio slideshow