Boat traffic currently relies on GPS technology to determine positioning at sea, but the solution is not always fool-proof, and submarines can’t take advantage of it because of visibility requirements. At Linköping University, doctoral candidate Rickard Karlsson has developed a system that uses a ship’s own radar to measure distance to the surrounding shore, after which position can be determined by comparison with a digital sea chart. For subs, sonar measurements get compared to digital depth charts to achieve the same effect. The entire system is software-based, obviating the need for any external GPS hardware, so is not susceptible to interference. This same particle filtering mathematical algorithm is also expected to be utilized to track industrial robots, avoid vehicular collisions, and track marine vehicles from aircraft. [Via Near Near Future]

We’re used to seeing unintentionally creepy robots, but not quite so often do we witness drones that are supposedly intentionally scary but ultimately laughable. The Robart III is a mechanical rent-a-cop replacement currently in prototype from the U.S. military’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems. It detects intruders and caps ‘em with a six-barrel Gatling-style tranquilizer (or rubber bullets, if that’s your pleasure) gun. It uses head-mounted sensors of several varieties: two Polaroid sonar transducers, a Banner near-infrared proximity sensor, an AM Sensors microwave motion detector, topped off with a video surveillance camera. All this sex-appeal may backfire for the Robart III, who ends up looking like some comical mixture of a Dalek and Johnny Five. Robart III apparently has some new developers coming on board who want to develop a whole fleet of slave robots to accompany Robart III on its missions. We figure this troupe will either nab a bunch of bad guys, or perhaps end up with a starring role in the next Austin Powers movie.

Peep that photo at right and tell us you wouldn’t have to do a double-take. The Actroid robot, developed by Kokoro and Advanced Media, will greet guests at the information booth of Japan’s World Expo opening March 25 in Aichi. She understands 40,000 phrases in each of four languages and has nuanced facial expressions to match the more than 2,000 types of answers she can give. She’s even imbued with a sense of irony; when asked if she is a robot, she answers disconnectedly and with clumsy movements — followed by a “just kidding!” before reverting to smooth humanoid motions. If you skim the article too quickly, you might miss the glorious factoid that she can also perform rap music. It’s gonna be a party up in Aichi! [Via Near Near future]

Sony Ericsson really better not just be messing with us, because you rarely see a gadget with as much potential for mischief and abuse as their new ROB-1 Bluetooth Motion Cam. Yeah, it looks like a yo-yo, but the ROB-1 is actually a robot with a built-in digital camera that you control from your (Sony Ericsson) cellphone using Bluetooth and that can wheel around and snap pics or stream video back to your cellphone. No word on cost, but the ROB-1 (which is 11cm in diameter, by the way) should be out sometime in the third quarter of this year.

Awwww, c’mon, you know we couldn’t resist that one. Continuing the recent trend in robotic pooches, Outrageous Toys International is launching a mechanical mutt that hopes to give the AIBO some canine competition. The i-Cybie does some typical doggie moves such as sit, stand, shake and lie down, as well as using its robotic brain to respond based on how it’s treated: praise it and the dog will be in a good mood, but scold it and i-Cybie will behave more passively. Sensors throughout its body help prevent it from bumping into things, and enable i-Cybie to be sensitive to light changes. As if to kill us with cuteness, when it’s getting low on batteries the dog will go into the “downward-facing dog” yoga pose to let you know it needs recharging. We’re pretty sure that makes i-Cybie the only robot dog at home in an ashram. Available in July starting at $199. [Thanks, eric]

Remember how everyone used to drop that example of researchers testing the viscosity of catchup (catsup? ketchup? whatever) to exemplify wasteful spending and useless science? Well, boffins at Mcvitie’s laboratory in High Wycombe (that’d be in the UK, mate) have created the Crumb Test Dummy. Sole purpose? To test which baking techniques and recipes produce the most crumbs by continuous mastication (yes, that’s mastication). And why was it created you ask? A Mcvitie rep said it’s because “they haven’t yet found a human who can test on this scale.” Duh, why didn’t you tap Cookie Monster, dude? [Via Near Near Future]