Lobster Robots
Dr. Joseph Ayers of Northeastern University and the Marine Science Center has been performing research in biomimetic underwater robots. He has been working on two types of robots: a lobster and a sea lamprey.
More info can be found here: http://www.huginn.com/knuth/blog/2007/03/24/biomimetic-underwater-robots/
Posted under biomimetic, locomotion, neuroscience, research
This post was written by admin on September 19, 2008
An article by ComputerWorld notes that a recent study by finds that robotics represent a technology that promises to be disruptive in the sense that it has
the potential to causes a noticeable — even if temporary — degradation or enhancement in one of the elements of U.S. national power
according to a preliminary report released by the National Intelligence Council in April 2008. This report contains the following graph prepared by SRI Consulting Business Intelligence and projects robotic capabilities beyond 2020.
Technology Roadmap: Service Robotics
Posted under projection, technology
This post was written by admin on September 16, 2008
Mars Science Laboratory
On Thursday October 16th at 7pm PST, JPL will host a webcast of a lecture on the new Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover. This webcast will require RealPlayer—the free RealPlayer 8 Basic can be downloaded from RealPlayer.
More info can be found here at JPL.
This talk is part of the JPL von Kármán Lecture Series.
Here is the Summary from the JPL Website:
New Wheels on Mars: The Mars Science Laboratory
Dr. Richard Cook
Mars Science Laboratory Project Manager
Building on the success of the two rover geologists that arrived at Mars in January, 2004, NASA’s next rover mission will depart for the Red Planet in 2009. Twice as long and five times as heavy as the Mars Exploration Rovers, the Mars Science Laboratory will collect Martian soil and rock samples and analyze them for organic compounds and minerals which demonstrate that Mars can or did support life. This sophisticated science laboratory will be delivered to the Martian surface using an innovative new landing system. The spacecraft will start by steering itself through the Martian atmosphere in a fashion similar to the way the Apollo entry capsule controlled its entry through Earth’s upper atmosphere. This approach will allow the spacecraft to fly to a desired location above the surface of Mars before deploying its parachute for the final landing. Then, in the final minutes before touchdown, the spacecraft will activate its parachute and retro rockets before lowering the rover package to the surface on a tether.
If you are local, you may be able to attend the talk:
Thursday, October 16, 2008, 7p.m.
The von Kármán Auditorium at JPL
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA
+Directions
Friday, October 17, 2008, 7p.m.
The Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College
1570 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
+Directions
Posted under exploration, research, technology
This post was written by admin on September 13, 2008
New Scientist has an interesting article the explores how science fiction can guide robot design.
The basic premise is that the most common conception of a robot comes from fiction, since few people have ever seen a real robot. This drives what they expect to see when they encounter a robot. To enable robot designers to develop robotic designs that will be readily accepted by the public, one can be guided by the way robots have been presented in the literature and film.
This post was written by admin on September 6, 2008
Vint Cerf, known as the father of the internet, looking into the future envisions little telepresence robots that physically represent you in far-away places. In a recent interview, he states:
Little robots, for example, that are instantiations of you, and are remotely operated, giving you what is called telepresence. It’s a step well beyond the kind of video telepresence we are accustomed to seeing today.
This image of little robots is different from the typical autonomous robot you see in the AI world. They could be sitting in a conference room, representing me — not autonomously, but allowing me to be in more than one place at the same time. They can move around, interact with things, talk to people, see like everyone else can.
Posted under telepresence
This post was written by admin on September 6, 2008
Professor Robert Full from UC Berkeley studies feet.
He studies how animals use feet to perform locomotion.
If you think you know feet… think again.
Robert Full gives a talk on TED titled: Secrets of movement, from geckos and roaches
Watch Robert Full’s talk on TED
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/robert_full_on_animal_movement.html
His findings and ideas are currently being used to design new robots that can scale walls and dive through underbrush… again at Boston Dynamics:
RHex from Boston Dynamics
RiSE from Boston Dynamics
Posted under companies, locomotion, research
This post was written by admin on September 4, 2008
Rodney Brooks, co-founder and chief technology officer of iRobot Corp., has stepped down from his position there to found a new company Heartland Robotics. Heartland Robotics will focus on industrial worker robots.
Posted under companies
This post was written by admin on September 3, 2008
In April of 2008, Jeff Hawkins founder of Numenta presented their biology-inspired Hierarchical Temporal Memory as keynote speaker at the 2008 RSA Conference.
This link points to the start page. You will have to register to watch the 45 minute talk online, but the keynote talks are free.
Posted under companies, intelligence, research, technology
This post was written by admin on September 2, 2008
Microprocessor developers are acknowledging that the advances in microprocessor technology may soon enable artificial intelligence systems to be as or more intelligent than human beings.
At the Intel Developer Forum, Justin Rattner, Intel chief technology officer announced:
The industry has taken much greater strides than anyone ever imagined 40 years ago.
There is speculation that we may be approaching an inflection point where the rate of technology advancements is accelerating at an exponential rate, and machines could even overtake humans in their ability to reason, in the not so distant future.
Full story here… The Star Online written by M. Madhavan
Posted under companies, intelligence, microprocessors, technology
This post was written by admin on September 2, 2008
Boston Dynamics’ Little Dog is in my opinion more impressive than their Big Dog.
I think it is because it seems to be taking more deliberate steps, although, I expect that it is the same basic control software in operation.
Posted under companies, mobility
This post was written by admin on August 31, 2008
