Takara Tomy I-SODOG

Takara Tomy has unveiled the latest in their line of Omnibot toy robots at Tokyo Toy Show 2012.  The I-SODOG is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but boasts 15 servo motors that can reproduce realistic movement.

When activated, its eyes light up and users can interact with it through more than 50 voice commands or with a smartphone thanks to a Bluetooth connection.  Using a custom app, it will perform tricks on command such as shake a paw, dance to songs you’ve downloaded, or move intuitively by simply tilting the phone.  There’s also a Tamagotchi-style artificial life component, allowing you to scold bad behavior or reward it with digital doggy treats, which will foster different “personalities” over time.

Self Balancing Robot

This self balancing robot still uses just two wheels, but it’s balancing very differently than we’re used to seeing. Where most of the projects use a form factor that’s similar to a Segway, this works just like a bicycle. But it doesn’t need to keep the front and rear wheels spinning to stay upright. This Self balancing robot isn’t stuck in one place, with distance sensors on the front and back which are used to move the bike as if by repulsion.

TELESAR V Avatar Transfers Touch, Vibration, Temperature

The Japanese Science and Technology Agency (JST) and Keio University’s Tachi Lab presented their newest telexistence system, the TELESAR V, at SIGGRAPH 2012 Emerging Technologies.  The avatar system’s ability to relay tactile sensation has improved since its original reveal in November 2011.  In a world first, a human operator can now distinguish if the robot is handling cloth or paper by touch alone.