Tuesday
2 May 2006
19:00 - 20:30
For decades there have been promises of a robot revolution that has never fully materialised. Even though we don’t see them walking the streets, there are robots mowing lawns, assisting doctors in hospitals and even exploring Mars.
Leading roboticists came to the Dana Centre to chat about the robots that were sent floating, whirring and rolling around the d.café.
Videos
With the Dana Centre starting to fill up and the sound of relaxed conversation growing, audience member Alison explains why she’s come along.
A giant balloon is being inflated at one end of the café. Andy Shaw from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth explains its possible use on Mars.
Air balloons on Mars might be a new idea to most of us, but Andy Shaw explains the advantages they have over more familiar ground-based vehicles.
In the middle of the room, Alex Zivanovic from the Mechatronics in Medicine Research Group at Imperial College London explains how robots can help surgeons train for tricky operations.
A little later in the evening Claire Rocks and Mark Neal from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth demonstrate how to worry a robot and explain why you might want to. Everybody say aww!
As the event winds down, we catch Alison on her way out.