Today on Engineering Newswire, we’re enjoying a robotic massage, taking a ride in the world’s first golf cart jetpack, and herding cattle with a rugged robot.
Massaging Robot Hits the Right Spot
Say hello to Emma – your new massage therapist! She’ll never tire or forget where you need applied pressure. How is this possible?
Well, Emma, short for Expert Manipulative Massage Automation, is actually a robot which can assist physicians and physiotherapists by giving targeted massages.
It is the product of Singaporean startup AiTreat, and was developed by Nanyang Technological University graduate Albert Zhang. Zhang’s aim was to address the shortage of trained therapists found in China. With Emma, physicians will still retain control of the treatment plan, while Emma steps in to do the heavy lifting.
World’s First Golf Cart Jetpack
As some of you may know, Bubba Watson, one of the top five golf players in the world, loves to experiment with different ways of getting around the course. In fact, just three years ago he boarded a hovercraft and glided over fairways and bunkers.
Bubba has now moved onto his next mode of gold course transit – the world’s first golf cart jetpack, known as the BW-Air. Based on Martin Aircraft’s current pre-production prototypes, the Golf Cart Jetpack can fly as high as 3,000 feet and as fast as 46 mph, thanks to a 210 horsepower engine powering two ducted fans.
All-Terrain Robot Herds Cattle
I’ve never been to Australia, but I hear it’s a big place. And all that space makes it a great habitat for raising cattle. The only downside for ranchers is that they don’t get to check on their cattle very regularly.
To assist with this issue, researchers from the Australian Centre for Field Robotics at the University of Sydney have designed an all-terrain robot called SwagBot. And they recently just completed its first field test.
What makes the robot unique is that it can drive over almost anything while helping humans manage their ranchland in a variety of capacities, from towing equipment to herding animals.
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense
