This Week in Robots!!

Back in the early days of the Quail (uh, last month), robots were pretty much a daily feature around these parts. We even contemplated turning the site into an all-robots all-the-time blog, but the marketing department didn't approve of the move.

All things considered, it probably worked out for the best because there just hasn't been much noise on the robot front lately. Lucky for me, and you the faithful reader, I have two (yes two) robot-related links to post today!

First up, the Washington Post has an article about robobugs being used as spying devices at political rallies. While no federal agency is willing to admit usage of the bug, the article lists eye-witness accounts of the tiny devices arriving at anti-war rallies over the past year. From the article:

"'I'd never seen anything like it in my life,' [a] Washington lawyer said. 'They were large for dragonflies. I thought, 'Is that mechanical, or is that alive?''"

Second, we have a CNN article on robots helping elderly Japanese people carry out everyday tasks. 22 percent of Japan's population is over the age of 65, and this number will inflate rapidly over the next few years; with this in mind, companies are building machines that cater to the problems faced by elderly people. The article mentions robots that help people eat, operate wheelchairs, and even move around; a special 'muscle suit' that enhances a person's physical strength can be used by elderly patients or the nurses who must be able to lift and carry them.

Update: CNN has an article on a Japanese robot that gives facial massages.