A Beautiful Mind

Researchers at Linkoping University in Sweden have been developing a new method of programming robotic minds.  The COSPAL project aims to model robotic thinking after human thinking.  People don’t make decisions or react based on predetermined mathmatical equations.  Learning is based on experience and enviornment.

The COSPAL (Cognitive Systems: Perception, Action, Learning) project has led to a cognitive robotic system that enables the robot to make decisions based on its past experiences and observation of humans as well as use those experiences to create reactions in unforseen situations.

 Alng these lines, robots may soon find their way out of traditional laboratories and factories and eventually living and learning among humans.

 

Paging Doctor Roboto

Carnegie Mellon has developed a new robot–the CardioArm.

The purpose of the CardioArm is to aid doctors in surgeries; not just as a visusal aid but to actually perform the surgeries under the command of the surgeon.  The Cardio arm is tiny enough to snake in through only a small incision and is built with 102 joints, so it’s movements are fluid and precise.  In fact, it is able to fit thorugh the some arteries and wrap itself around organs to avoid damaging delicate tissue.

In its experiemental stage, the CardioArm has already performed successful surgeries on pigs and human cadavers.  Blood loss is very minimal, and with just a few more upgrades, the final product is expected to fit inside the tiny blood vessels of the human body.

 

Pleo Gets an Upgrade

Pleo’s makers have recently announced that the robotic dinosaur will be getting a personality upgrade, available for download from the company’s site.  Ugobe’s new program aims to correct some glitches in the earlier versions by allowing for larger steps and reaches (for when pleo has to climb stairs), the ability to sit on his hind legs when resting and better interaction with the controls that allow for training.

Pleo’s upgrades arent only functional though.  He (or she) will now be able to sing and even catch a cold.  I’m starting to think a robotic dinosaur might be easier and more rewarding to care care of than my family’s dog.

 

RoboCup German Open

In the US, soccer is already flying below the radar–so a soccer competition for robots is bound to turn some heads.

Over 80 teams are expected to compete from April 21-25 at the Hannover Messe.

And if you thought soccer training for people was intense, you have no idea what it takes for a robot to compete.  A complex series of sensors, camera and processors are required in order for the robot to recognize the ball, sidelines and other ‘players’.

The leagues are split into classes which include robots on wheels, four-legged competitors and humanoids.

 

Robots Aid in the Fight Against Global Warming

 

The British Antarctic Survey and the University of Braunschweig have joined forces to organize a series of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles flights over the Antarctic continent to survey damage caused by global warming.  The UAV’s take off and land with the help of humans, but the rest of the flight is automatic.  Thusfar, over 20 flights have been completed and lasts about 40 minutes.  Readings are sent back to headquarters and computed.  Unfortunately, as the snow and ice melt, less sunlight is reflected and the continental warming becomes exponential.

 

Long Island Hosts Robotics Contest

This story hits close to home–literally.

Back on the homefront of Long Island 46 teams of students (40 of which were from the island) competed for top spots in robotics engineering at Hofstra University for the first Regional Robotics Competition.

The students were challenged to manipulate the robots to move plastic balls in order to earn points.  Patchogue-Medford High School recieved top prize with Sayville High School also earning the chance to compete at the next level in Atlanta.  The prize?  Over 9 million dollars in scholarship money is being awarded to contestants.

 

New Robot Toy Gets Mixed Reviews

It’s been too long, so I’ve decided I had to find another toy.

Except this one seems to have attracted a few questionable stares.

WowWee (the creators of the Bladestar) have created a follow-up to their popular Robosapien.  The Roboquad sports 4 insect-like legs, a long neck and two sizeable ‘eyes’.  The result is something out of a bad sci-fi movie.  Even The New York Times seems to be put off by the robotic creature.

Still, the novelty is cool and you have to admit, the idea is definately different.  It even responds to what is going on around it. Younger kids may not want this running around them, but 20 year olds have to play too! 

 

Playing Fetch

 

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have made strides in overcoming the language barrier between humans and robots.  As robots are not nearly advanced enough to understand the many dialects, imperfections and complications involved in juman speech, and binary code isn’t offered as a foreign language at most schools, the solution doesnt involve speaking at all.

Instead, programmers have created El-E (Ellie).  El-E is designed to help users with limited mobility retrieve and move objects.  The user simply uses a green laser pointer to direct El-E to an object to bring to them, to another person or simply to another location.  She will follow the laser to the objects new location and scan for a face.  If none is present, she will search for a table or somewhere to place the object.

 

Good things, small packages

 

Researchers at Harvard University are continuing developments on robots that might seem more of a nuissance than helpful.

Scientists have been working for over 10 years on tiny robots based on the common housefly.  But the purpose of these guys isnt to annoy mom or get Rover jumping on the furnature–its to save the lives of those who human rescue workers can’t safely get to.

The insect robots can be used to fly over battle fields and scan for body heat or the carbon dioxide in exhaled breaths.  It’s likely the military may be the only one utilizing this technology for a while as each robot comes with the pricetag of $100,000.

For the full article, click here.

 

ArtBots 2008!

In case your robot is gifted, then ArtBots might be for you.

ArtBots is a sort of talents show–an exhibition for artwork created by robots.  Now the people in charge of the event don’t have very specific idea on what constitutes a robot (or artowkr for that matter) so entry is somewhat liberal.  It might as well be, I’m not sure how many people have Michaelangelo 2.0’s.

As far as the prizes go there’s an Audience Choice Award and an Artist Choice Award.