Robots Everywhere » technology

Human Exoskeleton Helps People Walk

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:36:07 +0000

An Israeli company Argo Medical Technologies has developed a human exoskeleton that can help people with lower limb paralysis to walk. The technology is called ReWalk and “enables wheelchair users with lower-limb disabilities to stand, walk, and even climb stairs.” It is a robotic suit that can be partially concealed by clothing. The users walk with crutches, and the suit senses changes in the center of mass and the limb position to detect and respond to user intentions.

A Reuters article on the topic can be found here.

Robotics Seen as a Disruptive Technology

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:09:28 +0000

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

: Technology Roadmap: Service Robotics

Webcast on New Mars Science Laboratory Rover

admin — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:19:41 +0000

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

The Rise of the Robots

admin — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:12:00 +0000

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