Latest news with #WALL-E
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Science
- Scotsman
Why we (probably) shouldn't fear new giant leap forward for robot-kind
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... From R2-D2 to WALL-E and the Terminator, robots have captured our imagination for years but, in the real world, such machines have proved pretty thin on the ground. However scientists at Edinburgh University have apparently made a giant leap forward for robot-kind by inventing ones that can walk straight out of the 3D printer that made them. The printer costs less than £400 and first-time users can begin cranking out bots within days. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lead engineer Maks Gepner said: 'Using our new platform, anyone can now easily print things which were previously thought to be impossible. This is a game-changer for engineers and artists alike... we believe soft robotics is ready to make a major real-world impact.' R2-D2 and C-3PO from the Star Wars films have fascinated generations for more than 40 years (Picture: Valerie Macon) | AFP via Getty Images Potential uses include in nuclear decommissioning, the biomedical sector and space. However, we suspect it won't be too long until a science fiction writer uses them to conjure up a dystopian tale of the world under attack by a robot army churned out from some wannabe Bond villain's basement.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Conan O'Brien joins cast of Toy Story 5
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — The fifth installment of the Toy Story franchise is introducing a new friend to audiences. Conan O'Brien announced Monday that he's joining the cast of next June's Pixar sequel. Tom Cruise says he'll act into his 100s: report 'You've got a friend in…Conan,' the comedian and host said in an Instagram post. All that's known about O'Brien's role at this time is that the character's name is SmartyPants. The film will also see the return of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack as Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie respectively. Ernie Hudson, of Ghostbusters fame, will take over the role of Combat Carl from Carl Weathers following his death. Andrew Stanton (WALL-E and Finding Nemo) and McKenna Harris (feature directorial debut) are co-directing, with production by Jessica Choi and Pete Docter executive producing. According to IMDb, the film will follow Buzz, Woody, Jessie, each of whom 'are challenged after being introduced to what kids are obsessed with today: electronics.' Toy Story 5 is set to release on June 19, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Geek Tyrant
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Conan O'Brien Joins the Cast of TOY STORY 5 — GeekTyrant
Comedian and host Conan O'Brien is set to take on the new role of Smarty Pants in Toy Story 5 , Disney and Pixar announced on Monday, during the Consumer Products section of Disney's Licensing Expo presentation. O'Brien appeared in a video Instagram message celebrating the news, saying, 'Isn't that crazy? Legendary franchise. These films are amazing. I can't believe this!' Admittedly, O'Brien said, he asked initially for the role of Woody and was told it was promised to Tom Hanks. 'And I was like, 'Uh, you kinda been there and done that. You know? You'e in a bit of a rut, don't you think?' And they said, 'No, Tom Hanks, it's his role,'' Conan shared. He joked that he then went after the role of Buzz Lightyear, only to be told he lost it to Tim Allen. 'And I went, 'Guys, you gotta think outside the box,'' O'Brien deadpanned. 'But anyway, then they showed me this new character, Smarty Pants. It's the best character of them all. I far prefer this character. I don't even wanna play Woody or Buzz anymore, even if they beg me. I'm Smarty Pants; I love this!' No further details on O'Brien's character were provided. In the new film, slated for release on June 19, 2026, it's Toy meets Tech when Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the rest of the gang's jobs are challenged after being introduced to what kids are obsessed with today—electronics! The film hails from writer-director Andrew Stanton, the two-time Oscar winner behind WALL-E and Finding Nemo . McKenna Harris is co-directing, with Jessica Choi producing and Pete Docter exec producing. Others newcomers to feature in the voice cast, as previously announced, include Ernie Hudson, who takes over the late Carl Weathers's role of action figure Combat Carl, and Anna Faris in an undisclosed part. Joan Cusack is expected to be among the other returning cast members, reprising her role as Jessie. via: Deadline
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Conan O'Brien joins ‘Toy Story 5' as new character Smarty Pants
Conan O'Brien has officially joined the cast of Toy Story 5, Disney and Pixar revealed during their Consumer Products presentation at the Disney Licensing Expo. The veteran comedian and talk show host will voice a new character named 'Smarty Pants,' though further details about the role remain under wraps. Set for theatrical release on June 19, 2026, Toy Story 5 marks the return of beloved characters like Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and Jessie, while also introducing new voices and storylines. The film's plot centers on a clash between classic toys and modern tech gadgets, exploring how traditional playthings adapt in a world dominated by electronics. The upcoming installment will be directed by Finding Nemo and WALL-E filmmaker Andrew Stanton, with McKenna Harris serving as co-director. Jessica Choi is producing, and Pete Docter will executive produce. In addition to O'Brien, the voice cast includes Ernie Hudson, who will take over the role of Combat Carl previously voiced by the late Carl Weathers, and Anna Faris in a mystery role. Franchise staples Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack are expected to return as Woody, Buzz, and Jessie, respectively. Conan O'Brien is currently the host of HBO Max's Conan O'Brien Must Go, now heading into its third season. He recently garnered acclaim for hosting the 2025 Oscars and will return to host next year's ceremony. His upcoming film project, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, premiered at Sundance to critical praise.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Meet the little robot helping Ukrainian deminers clean up the massive mess of buried Russian explosives
Russia's invasion has turned Ukraine into the most heavily mined country in the world. Ukraine's deminers are tasked with cleaning up the deadly mess, which will take years. To help them do this safely, deminers use a small robot and other tools. BILA TSERKVA, Ukraine — For the demining crews of Ukraine's State Emergency Services, removing Russian explosives is a dangerous game. These individuals are tasked with cleaning up land mines, fallen missiles, and other unexploded ordnance from fields and villages across the Ukrainian countryside. Their work must be done cautiously, as one wrong move could prove fatal. But even when the Russian bombs stop falling one day, the work will continue for years to come. Ukraine is now the most heavily mined country in the world, with up to 23% of its territory potentially contaminated with land mines and unexploded ordnance, according to the United Nations Development Programme. Some other estimates say this figure is even higher; clearing such a mess will cost tens of billions of dollars. To help clean up land mines and minimize the risk to humans, the State Emergency Service relies on a collection of drones and robots to spot and then remove the buried explosives. Business Insider recently met with two members of a 72-person demining unit that operates these tools to see how they work. At a mine-clearing site south of Kyiv, the deminers explained to BI how they remove mines from the ground. One of the safest ways they do this is with the help of a small, remote-controlled robot resembling the character "WALL-E" from the animated film of the same name. The robot can only clear anti-personnel mines like POM-3 or PFM-1 that are designed to be used against people and not anti-tank mines, which are more sensitive to heavier objects like vehicles. The Ukrainian mine-clearing unit does operate larger, remote-controlled vehicles that can tackle anti-tank mines. The robot, which Ukraine got from Poland, is about the size of a carry-on suitcase, and it's controlled by a tablet-like device that shows the situation through a camera. Volodymyr and Ivan, the two Ukrainian deminers, showed BI the robot in action. Every move is slow and methodical and requires precision maneuvering by the operator, similar to an arcade claw machine. It has little plastic treads and can seamlessly transition from road to grass like a tank, though obviously a fraction of the size. When the Ukrainian deminers arrive at a contaminated site, they size up the situation and decide which tool to use. They can either blow up the mines on the spot or use the robots to remove them with their claws and then detonate them later or disable the threat. The unit prefers to work during the day since it is easier to spot threats on the ground. They work five days a week all around the Kyiv region and spend the other two days back at the base waiting for a call to clean up some potentially deadly mess. The Ukrainian deminers told BI that they will be cleaning up mines for a very long time. But robots like this one make the job just a little easier — and a lot safer. The small robot is part of a family of tools that Ukrainian deminers use to remove mines from the battlefield and civilian areas. The unit has the larger ones to clear anti-tank mines and aerial drones to map out contaminated areas. And there's always the more old-school method of waving handheld detectors, but that carries much more risk. Drones and robots have become an increasingly common presence in the Ukraine war, with both sides using small, remote-controlled vehicles and aircraft for both lethal and nonlethal tasks. Read the original article on Business Insider
