DARPA has outlined the program stating, “The Avatar program will develop interfaces and algorithms to enable a soldier to effectively partner with a semi-autonomous bi-pedal machine and allow it to act as the soldier’s surrogate.” See, DARPA even used the word “surrogate.” DARPA also wants these robots to be bipedal and walk upright like humans. The soldiers would interface using breakthroughs DARPA wants made in telepresence and possibly through thought control.

The reality is this program may not be as far-fetched as it sounds. We already have a number of robots in the military today for tasks like bomb disposal. There are also a number of toys and computer peripherals that have been available that allow rudimentary control using your mind. I can only imagine what DARPA will be able to conjure up with $7 million in funding. This may be one of the coolest projects DARPA has ever worked on this side of those all-terrain vehicles that can also fly. Coincidentally, those were also named after a Hollywood blockbuster – Transformers.

[via Wired]

The idea behind Alex Jantschke’s concept called Megacity Aviation is that in crowded cities, the flying machine could fly around and reduce the congestion on the roads. The personal aircraft would be made from reinforced bio-plastic and have a hollow frame like a bird’s bones.

The dual coaxial rotors would be hydraulically operated. The designer figures the real deal would be about the size of a Mini Cooper and get you to your destination about twice as fast. Sign me up. I want one.

[via YankoDesign]

The OriHime ‘bot is actually supposed to be an emotive avatar for video chats, but can strike some sexy robo-poses controlled by the party on the other end of the line. I suppose that’s cool, but somewhat freaky, if you find it attractive this way. It’s really designed to act as a remote “friend” for lonely people, like children in hospitals, and not robo-perverts though.

Do you think that robots will take over for runway models? Well, not anytime soon as we all know that simply walking on two feet is still a real challenge for most robots.

[via Plastic Pals]

Since human beings are so naturally curious, some scientists have implanted several monkeys with implants that have allowed them to “move and feel virtual objects” much like humans can do with just their (well, our) imaginations. These researchers from the Duke University Center for Neuroengineering say they have achieved the “first-ever demonstration of a two-way interaction between a primate brain and a virtual body” using brain-machine-brain interfaces.

Like Jake Sully in Cameron’s Avatar, these primates were able to control simian avatars in a virtual world filled with virtual objects. What was impressive was that they were able to identify what an object was, simply by feeling it out virtually in the virtual world. Now that’s virtual identification.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Neurobiology professor Miguel Nicolelis, who serves as the leader for the study, describes some practical uses for this technology in the future: “We hope that in the next few years this technology could help to restore a more autonomous life to many patients who are currently locked in without being able to move or experience any tactile sensation of the surrounding world.”

…or we could use it to send monkeys into space to convince some aliens to give up their Unobtanium.

[via io9 via Dvice and Geeks Are Sexy]

She created the mosaic as a gift to her hubby, who is obviously an Avatar geek as well. She put the display together on the floor of the London Film Museum, and it reportedly took the woman only a few hours to complete. She obviously has more artistic talent in her finger than I have in my entire body.

What I really want to know is where she came up with 4,000 Blu-ray discs. I would think that many discs, even if they were blank would have cost a lot of money. I’d also like to know how she got some of the discs into different colors than the other. I would assume they are painted or printed, but I might be off.

The website is called Avatarize Yourself. You simply upload a photo of yourself and let it work its magic. Soon, you’ll have your own Avatar. That being said, they definitely give some comical results. It’s true that Avatars don’t look like Smurfs, but some of these photos made me wonder if that would be better.

Anyway, go check it out and share it with your friends. It’s sure to give some interesting results, depending on the type of photos that you upload. I wonder what would happen if I avatarized my dog?

[via Presurfer]

The robot is called QB and with a few keystrokes, will leave its charging station, and meet and greet other corporate denizens. It’s not supposed to replace video conferencing, but allows remote viewers to interact with people even if they’re sitting on opposite sides of the world. It’s a little hard to tell from the picture, but I think that little tiny screen is supposed to show your picture so people can see you when you’re bumping into them in the hallway with your remote ‘bot.

The QB is made by Anybots, who specialize in robots that will serve as a person’s physical presence in a remote location.

The QB robot is expected ship in the fall of this year and will cost $15,000 (USD).

[via DVice]

This little gizmo will work with mobile devices, digital cameras and portable gaming systems. That’s pretty cool, although I wonder how much footage they will be able to capture with their limited storage. There aren’t many details available, however Sharp says that the module will allow you to shoot both 3D photos and 3D videos in 720p.

If you thought this was going to be released in a few years, you’d be wrong because Sharp plans on shipping these to hardware makers as early as July. Mass production will follow later this year. I guess it won’t be long before kids will be shooting 3D footage with their Nintendo DS gaming systems.

[via Crunchgear]

This chubby little Na’vi was created for the That Takes The Cake cake competition (aka 2010: A Cake Odyssey) in Austin, TX last week. For those of you wondering what a Na’vi tastes like when you cut into it with a cake knife… it tastes… blue.

[via Great White Snark, photo: FlipImages]

This thing has got doors that open, a sort of hydraulic cargo door, and get this, the blades actually work thanks to a small LEGO motor. That’s not all. There is this joystick in the middle of the roof of the helicopter that lets you control the orientation of the four helicopter blades. It’s amazing.

This model was built by Barman and I think that it could easily be transformed into a fully working R/C helicopter. I can just imagine how maneuverable it would be. Check out the video to be astounded!

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[NoWhereElse via CrunchGear]

The least they could have done was include a tiny oxygen mask for Jake so he could go outside on Pandora. But it looks like Sully definitely has to remain confined to his earthly quarters. The only “action” wheelchair Jake Sully (I really want to say “Jake Soooo-Lee”) will see is inside of his Avatar control bed (also not included.)

If you really want one of these stupid things on your desk, you can grab one over at Entertainment Earth for about $13 bucks. Personally, I’m saving my money for an investment in an unobtanium mine.

I love the Snakes on a Plane game cartridge. The whole movie is boiled down to playing the classic Snake game.

It’s kind of cool. Prison Break is Breakout. It’s true that they’ve been breaking out from different prisons for four seasons now. Avatar and Cloverfield are also classics. Although Penney’s version of Avatar isn’t in 3D.

[via this isn't happiness]

Peter Ammentorp Lund is a creative art director and just used his digital photo manipulation skills to create this effect. He’s done a really great job. As you might already know, some of the features of the Avatar stay the same, while others change.

And while the Na’vi aren’t really blue Smurfs, hopefully the following video is blue enough for you. In the movie, the Avatars are created by mixing human and Navi DNA. In this case, it’s human DNA plus Photoshop.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via Fubiz]

See that little guy? That’s your dog. He’s pretty cute for simple 2D. Let’s hope for his sake you know what a Zune is. See, here’s the thing: are you going to trot up to a Transformers toon in the middle of your gaming session to get information on the film? Probably not. But… what if you got paid to do just that?

The documentation on the ad avatars (or advertars, as Spencer of Siliconera calls them; I’d choose advatars, me) includes a compensation system. Talk to a bot, answer some questions, and  you get some sort of reward… which, in the examples given, can include food for a virtual pet, like the doggy above.

Is this lame? Entirely, but if it’s not too intrusive, then an optional system like this would, to me, be better than just about any other system of ads! So long as the avatars stayed away, it would be voluntary. But that probably wouldn’t be the case. Let’s hope you can at least shoot them.

[via Siliconera]

Despite the limitations on design, the pins are really great representations of the Mii avatars. Not only are they true to the look, but there’s something about the way the little felt features are tacked on that really evokes the feel of Miis. Now if only you could order custom pins….

The Mii pins are available for $10.50 per pin.

[craftholic's store via Etsy]

Okay so the website’s name doesn’t exactly make sense. I think it would be better off with Mangafy Your Face, or Face Your Mangafied Face. Or Here You Ugly Bastard. Also, I don’t exactly understand why the main page is asking me to shake myself. But except for the engrish, the site delivers as promised. It’s not exactly the Mii Channel, but the avatar creator is really easy to use and has enough options that you can create a fairly accurate yet cuter version of yourself. Some options though, like the clothes, are quite limited and bland.

When you’re done you can either have your mangatar emailed as a low-res JPEG file or pay 1.50 euros to directly download a high-res version. Both methods are inconvenient of course; just take a screenshot of the page instead. I did make my own mangatar, and overall I’m satisfied. It didn’t really capture my essence but the resemblance is there:

My nipples should be a bit higher. Yeah. I think that’s the deal breaker there.

This couple took this project very seriously. The Mr. lovingly designed individual placecards for 77 guests, assigning each person his or her own specially chosen avatar. The Mrs. came up with themes and appropriately assigned each guest to the appropriate game table.

Each table included characters from one game, with retro games like Pac-Man and Zelda represented, as well as newer faves like Guitar Hero and World of Warcraft.

I know people stress about their weddings, but I can’t believe the incredible amount of effort and artistry that went into this! You can see all of the pictures and get the details here.

[via GeekSugar]

Luxury Swiss watch maker Hublot has revealed to our friends over at WatchLuxus that they’ll be setting up an impressive virtual shop on Second Life a little later this month. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in the upscale environs of the Hublot Island store, complete with elegant contemporary interior design, fancy landscaping, bars to hang out in and even a place to dock your imaginary yacht.

You’ll be able to peruse the collection of Hublot’s elegant high-tech and traditional watches and let your avatar accessorize with them. The Hublot virtual store will open its doors on September 12th. I’m not sure how many virtual bucks their timepieces will cost, but given the fancy digs, I’m sure that you’ll have to save up a few Lindens. But your virtual friends will certainly be impressed.

[via WatchLuxus]

Model makers Fabjectory are offering a service which will take your Mii avatar and output a real-life miniature figurine. Simply upload a picture of your Mii, and they’ll create either a 3-inch figure ($50) or a 5-inch figure ($100). Each model is made from thousands of layers of color-infused plaster using their Z-Corp digital prototyping equipment.

If you’re not a Nintendo Wii fan, Fabjectory can also generate 3D models from your Second Life avatar or from a SketchUp model.

[via Dave Curry via Make]