GITAI, a Japanese trailblazer in space robotics, has embarked on a mission to redefine space operations. Their flagship project, the GITAI-IN1, is an inchworm-like robotic arm that can be operated independently or affixed to another vehicle, like a lunar rover. These arms are not just machines but represent the potential to expand our reach into the cosmos. The inchworm robot is designed for use in In-Space Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) and is currently used on the International Space Station.
The core of GITAI's innovation lies in their robotic arms, notably the "Inchworm" model. Its design is a masterclass in engineering, enabling it to move in a slinky-like fashion across surfaces. Everyone loves a slinky!
OK back to our robot slinky.
This unique capability stems from its modular structure, allowing for exceptional versatility in movement and function. The arms are crafted from materials that endure the harsh conditions of space, including extreme temperatures and vacuum.
GITAI's robotic arms exhibit a wide range of abilities crucial for space missions. They can perform intricate construction tasks like turning screws, operating various tools, and even shoveling lunar regolith.
This versatility is further enhanced by their interchangeable hands, including shovels, grappling effectors, and cutting tools. There are currently both 1m and 1.5m models, but arms can attach to each other to extend their reach.
They can be used for a range of tasks inside the ISS, from complex construction and maintenance activities in the vacuum of space.
While boasting 99% autonomy, GITAI's robotic arms employ a human-in-the-loop system for critical decision-making. This approach combines the precision and endurance of robotics with human insight and adaptability, ensuring efficiency and safety in space operations.
Whether it's installing solar panels or assembling communication towers, it can deal with any contingencies that come its way.
In a recently unveiled demonstration, GITAI showcased some of the IN1’s more advanced capabilities. Among these was the ability to move around a dummy enclosure fitted with gripping fixtures.
Thanks to its extreme articulation and grappling effectors, it manages to effortlessly move up walls and across ceilings in a Tarzan-like fashion.
Another test showed it in action on a Moon-like surface. GITAI independently moved from the dummy space shuttle to GITAI’s R1 lunar rover using the same grappling fixtures. It could then equip the necessary tools - like a shovel to dig and a cutting tool to resize samples for collection.
To really show off its versatility, the GITAI even acted as a towing fixture between the rover and a collection troth so that it could be towed to the lunar lander.
The first iteration of its robotic inchworm has already been tested on the ISS, where it has been assembling solar panels since 2001. GITAI launched its autonomous, dual robotic arm system (S2) to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (NG-20 mission) on January 30th.
GITAI envisions a future where robots are the vanguards of space exploration and infrastructure development. Their goal extends beyond servicing the ISS; they aim to deploy these technologies for lunar and Martian missions, drastically reducing the costs and risks associated with human space travel.
This vision, powered by advanced robotics, could pioneer an era of sustainable and scalable space exploration.
GITAI was founded in Japan in 2016 by Sho Nakanose and is currently headquartered in the USA.
Another remarkable thing that we would like to shar - there is another awesome robotics organization that starts with a letter "G" that you should know about.
G-Force Robotics is a 12-member, all girl team that were recently crowned champions of the 2023 FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship.
These inspiring girls are pushing the barriers of STEM while developing skills in business, marketing, and leadership. They often host free technology classes that are open to elementary students in their area.
One of their robots, Electra, is a community outreach robot that has been going around the community to teach other about robotics and how women can empower STEM and robotics development.
Congratulation G-Force Robotics, may the force always be with you!
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Below is text from the project creators DevPost.
All Inclusive Hacks is a virtual student-led event centered on developing creative solutions to strengthen Web disability access, bias detection, and inclusion using computational linguistics/AI.
Every day, those of color, lower economic standards, and more face significant challenges in accessing affordable healthcare within their proximity. When we went through a drastic pandemic to make things worse, it brought these disparities in healthcare access into sharper focus and further revealed the troubling and unfair issue: those who needed help couldn't get any. This eye-opening experience inspired me to use what I know and have learned about app development to create a free and accessible tool while making a change in society. I want to help others get the access they need using modern technology and tools like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning while giving other resources through the click of a button.
MedBot gives users access to different AI toolkits and healthcare material. First, users can utilize an AI doctor for proper diagnosis and accurate measurements of their specific symptoms. Users can type in specific symptoms they have and MedBot's NLP model will handle the diagnosis. Furthermore, users can get advice using LLMs and generative-text models, which generate medical advice for the user.
Next, the user can use news features and NewsNow API, connected with MedBot, to seek the latest medical news about a specific topic. It comes with an in-built text reader for each news article that you want to read.
Finally, we used iOS HealthKit and Android Health Tracker to track different metrics such as calories burnt and steps taken.
For more information about the project, check out the DevPost here.
Congratulations! We hope the Monster Kit serves you well on your future endeavors of building more tools that help people.
]]>Is this Mushu from Mulan or Viserion from Game of Thrones?
In an innovative move, a research team from Japan has developed a firefighting flying “dragon” robot. Literally named the “Dragon Firefighter, it offers a novel approach to tackling challenging and hazardous fire scenarios.
Turning the traditional idea of a dragon on its head, this unassuming device spouts water instead of flames, putting out fires instead of starting them. Similar devices may not just help put out fires faster but also improve the safety and working conditions of firefighters, saving both valuable property and lives.
The project began in 2016 and was led by Professor Satoshi Tadokoro from Tohoku University. The team is comprised of both researchers and students from 3 different universities across Japan. The team also published its findings in a research paper in the Frontiers journal.
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The introduction of the Dragon Firefighter (DFF), a flying-hose-type robot which is likely to evolve existing firefighting strategies.
Its development stems from the need for rapid and safe fire extinguishing methods, especially in hazardous environments. Previous methods, mostly ground-based, although effective, often posed risks to firefighters and were limited in scope.
With its aerial capabilities, the DFF represents a significant step forward in firefighting technology, promising enhanced efficiency and safety.
The DFF is a 4-meter-long apparatus comprising a flexible hose equipped with two drone-like apparatus (called “nozzle units”), one in the middle and one at the end of the hose. Each nozzle unit is accompanied by four individual nozzles.
Diagram showing the DFF’s nozzle unit design
One of the most ingenious things about the DFF is that these nozzles serve a dual purpose. Not only do they spray the water to combat fires, but the sheer pressure of the water spray is what steers the hose and keeps it suspended in the air. With each nozzle spouting water at 6.6 liters per second, the jets are strong enough to fly the hose two meters above the ground.
The hose body, made from heat-resistant polypropylene, offers the necessary flexibility and durability for high-temperature operations.
The hose is piloted from a control unit with mounted wheels. The control unit is connected to a fire truck (or other water source) with a supply tube.
The DFF's capabilities extend beyond conventional firefighting. Its design allows for maneuvering in complex environments, reaching areas previously inaccessible to human firefighters.
Equipped with cameras and thermal imaging, it can identify and target fire sources with high precision. Operators guide the robot using real-time feedback from these various sensors for a high degree of precision. And, it gives operators to respond immediately in dynamic situations, for example, a structural collapse.
The robot's innovative use of water jets for both flight and firefighting demonstrates a dual-purpose functionality, enhancing its operational efficiency.
This remote operation significantly reduces the risk to human firefighters. It could be used in extremely hazardous situations, such as where there’s a risk of toxic gas emissions, explosions, or structural collapse.
We should all applaud the team for their contribution to both the fields of robotics and firefighting. Not only did they come up with an innovative and practical solution that could potentially save lives, but they also released their paper as Open Science, making it possible for anyone to use their base concept.
The LUF 60 by LUF Ltd in Austria.
Thermite by Howe & Howe from USA.
TAF 60 and TAF 60X by EMI Controls.
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In bustling Zurich, a groundbreaking fusion of artificial intelligence and high-speed robotics is rewriting the landscape of drone racing. Swift, the autonomous wonder from the University of Zurich, is leading the charge. It has seized the spotlight by not only challenging but also outpacing world-champion human pilots in the adrenaline-pumping arena of first-person view (FPV) drone racing.
This achievement promises a new era of possibilities where autonomous technology and high-speed maneuvers collide. One thing is for sure: thrilling advancements in the field of AI drone racing await.
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Swift, the brainchild of the University of Zurich's Robotics and Perception Group, has emerged as a trailblazer in autonomous drone racing.
With its racing quadrotors, it’s optimized for speed and agility, redefining the limits of what's possible in high-speed competitions. While Swift's success is a testament to its design and operational brilliance, it serves as an example for the broader AI drone racing world.
Image above is not the real swift and just a rendering of a cool looking drone..
One characteristic that always sticks out about racing quadrotors is their phenomenal power-to-weight ratio. With the ability to output 35 Newton meters of force, these drones, including Swift, operate at the peak of engineering precision.
Swift’s tri-bladed propellers spinning at 30,000 rpm propels it to accelerate at 4.5 gs. With the ability to reach 100 km/h in less than a second, its acceleration is completely mind-blowing.
Swift's sophisticated navigational system relies on a 36-camera infrared tracking system, compared to human-piloted drones relying on just an FPV camera.
This tracking system allows Swift to localize its exact position, within millimeters, 400 times every second, for unmatched precision. An off-board system continuously computes the optimal trajectory for Swift, allowing it to react in near real-time.
Swift’s remarkable performance could lead to a paradigm shift in autonomous drone racing. One where machines rely on deep-reinforcement learning to calculate time-optimal trajectories.
Swift's success is attributed to the fusion of simulation-based training and real-world adjustments through reinforcement learning.
While human pilots have limited adaptability and decision-making based on their limited view and experience, Swift aims for superhuman-level performance through vision-based autonomy.
As exciting as it is, the technologies powering Swift have applications that go far beyond autonomous drone racing competition.
These include site inspection, delivery services, and even search and rescue missions. With the ability to overcome challenges like changes in lighting conditions and navigating extreme environments, autonomous drones could emerge as an alternative solution for various tasks traditionally performed by humans.
On a similar but side note, see how AI beats Lee Sedol, the worlds top Go player..
Also AI beating the pros in the famous strategy game Starcraft II..which some say is harder than chess..
Swift's triumph against world-champion human pilots illustrates the strides made in realizing the potential of autonomous technology. The competition course, meticulously designed for both human and AI participants, served as an ideal testing ground for evaluating the progress of autonomous vision-based robotics.
The convergence of AI and high-speed robotics promises to reshape the way we perceive and interact with autonomous technology. The future, it seems, is not just autonomous; it's soaring beyond limits.
Speaking of things flying themselves, airplanes are already delivering cargo autonomously..
We should not be scared of technology and should harness its benefits and strengths. According to AI experts, humans have the innate ability to be creative, to think on the fly and be spontaneous and that ability gives us an infinite edge over AI and allows us to add the human touch and be kind to each other.
We do not own the rights to images and videos used in this article. Please let us know if there is something that needs to be removed.
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Imagine a world where robots are the frontline soldiers in the battle against environmental pollution. In this article, we introduce you to two remarkable robotic solutions—Bebot and PixieDrone—that are redefining waste management with their cutting-edge technology and versatile capabilities. These robots are working hard as part of a broader effort of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Initiative.
These robots are produced by the talented and innovative clean freaks at Searial Cleaners in France with a mission to restore shores and preserve our environment. Stop Wondering, Start Cleaning!
Bebot, the Beach Cleaner, is not your ordinary beachcomber. With its sleek design and groundbreaking technology, it’s revolutionizing the way we keep our beloved coastlines pristine.
Bebot is a multitasking marvel. It screens sand, rakes seaweed, levels out expanses of beach, and effortlessly lifts and carries loads. Moreover, it diligently collects all waste buried in the defined area, contributing to cleaner beaches.
Crafted from robust and weather-resistant materials, Bebot can withstand the harshest coastal conditions. Its durability ensures long-lasting performance in sand, saltwater, and sun.
Technical Specifications:
Bebot's user-friendly interface allows remote monitoring and control, offering operators the flexibility to oversee its cleaning patterns and real-time progress. Plus, its eco-friendly electric power source emits no harmful gases or greenhouse gases, allowing it to operate quietly and efficiently at any time of day or night.
PixieDrone is a game-changer in aquatic waste collection. Equipped with advanced technology and a commitment to environmental responsibility, it's redefining how we address waste in our water bodies.
PixieDrone's agile and lightweight design enables it to navigate diverse aquatic environments. Its video camera and LIDAR technology ensure precise and obstacle-free waste collection.
PixieDrone is designed to collect floating waste of all types, from organic to plastic, glass, metal, and more. It also provides a live camera feed so that the controller can see what the conditions are like and operate it more effectively. It's a versatile solution for harbors, marinas, rivers, lakes, and ponds.
PixieDrone is world famous at the Dubai Harbor!
Technical specifications:
With the ability to both be controlled remotely and function autonomously, PixieDrone offers adaptable waste collection. Its 160-liter collection capacity and compatibility with various water types make it a valuable asset for environmental cleanup efforts.
But don't wait for the robots to do it, the humans have to do their part!
In a world where environmental challenges are on the rise, Bebot and PixieDrone emerge as beacons of hope. Bebot rejuvenates our beaches, while PixieDrone transforms our water bodies into cleaner, more sustainable environments. These innovative robots showcase the potential of technology in preserving our planet.
Microplastics are very small but its actually a big issue. You probably have plastic in your body. See video from the Robert B. Annis Water Resources institute at Grand Valley State University.
We are GAR, advancing robotics technology through the youth and spearheading the fight against evil.
We do not own the rights to images or videos in this article.
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Everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid. Very wise words from Max Eastepp from University of Alabama.
]]>These projects are winning projects in various hackathon event and the creators of the winning projects received a Monster Kit.
The projects below range from fitness platforms and accident prevention systems to scientific exploration and pet health monitoring, these innovative creations will ignite your curiosity and spark your imagination.
Winner of best Solo Hacker award at PeddieHacks 2022. Out of New Jersey USA, Baker Mrad creates a platform to help keep you strong.
GlobalElite is a fitness platform designed to inspire and guide individuals on their fitness journey. With access to workout routines, exercises, and valuable tips, users can overcome the fear and lack of knowledge that prevents many from embarking on a fitness journey.
The project incorporates a recommendation system that suggests similar exercises based on equipment or target muscle. Built using React and ExerciseDB API, it provides a user-friendly interface. This experience has expanded our understanding of fitness and React capabilities. Moving forward, our aim is to create a mobile version where users can share their exercise routines, fostering collaboration and advancements in the fitness industry.
Winner of Best Hardware Hack at MesoHacks 2022. Aman from India is part of the solution to reduce accidents and keep drivers safe.
AccidentNot is a interesting solution to prevent accidents on highways and expressways. By alerting drivers and enhancing external sounds blocked by car vibrations and music, AccidentNOT aims to help ensure road safety.
With AccidentNOT, drivers receive alerts when a second vehicle honks, reducing lane cutting incidents. By reducing distractions caused by loud music, it helps mitigate driver errors. This low-cost system can be easily installed in any vehicle, leveraging motion sensors and Arduino or NodeMCU compatibility.
Despite some challenges finding sensors in a short timeframe and the NodeMCU board burning out due to excess power supply, the creators were able to come up with a promising prototype.
Winner of Best High School Hack at TreasureHacks 3.0. Alexandra Kim from California USA inspires science literacy, curiosity and creativity.
Scispire is an innovative platform that aims to inspire scientific exploration. With thousands of GPT-generated research ideas, Scispire engages the next generation of scientists and innovators with STEM-related topics. It addresses the need for scientific literacy, providing intriguing project ideas across disciplines. "Scispire" combines "science" and "inspire" in a unique endeavor to ignite curiosity.
Built using GPT Playground, HTML, JS, and CSS, Scispire offers a user-friendly experience. The creator never worked with JS, HTML, or CSS before which lead to some development challenges, but she nevertheless managed to pull of a clean and minimal design.
Future plans include tags for customized project ideas in specific fields.
Winner of Best Duo Hack and Most Aesthetically Pleasing Project at TreasureHacks 3.0. Kedar and Siddhi from India brings us a platform to help navigate the exciting world of learning code.
Roadmap Runner is an app designed to simplify the software development learning process. Addressing common challenges faced by learners, it provides expert-created roadmaps, progress tracking, consistency analysis, a leaderboard, and social sharing capabilities.
Built with React JS for a responsive UI, and powered by Node JS, Express JS, and MongoDB, Roadmap Runner offers a comprehensive solution for efficient learning.
Despite time constraints and a fast-paced environment, the team successfully delivered a user-friendly app. Plans for the future include expanding roadmaps, enhancing data analytics, fostering community interaction, and introducing challenges and badges for increased engagement. Roadmap Runner aims to make software development learning enjoyable and effective.
Winner of the Hackware Hack at Hack the Woodz 2022. Samuel Adesola from Canada found a way to monitor your pets health remotely.
Pet Guide is a groundbreaking solution for remote pet health monitoring and location tracking. This IoT-based collar offers peace of mind, enabling pet owners to monitor their furry friends' well-being and quickly locate them in emergencies.
Developed using a NodeMCU microcontroller, V.KEL GPS module, and DHT11 sensor, Pet Guide sends data to the Microsoft Azure IoT Central platform for seamless monitoring. The IoT board is NodeMCU, and the software is written in C++ using the Arduino IDE.
Despite facing numerous challenges, such as C++ integration with Azure, internet connectivity issues, and weather-dependent GPS accuracy, the team managed to come up with a working prototype. Going forward, they hope to build an actual device that could potentially become commercially viable.
Take the first step towards creating your own tech project. With determination and these remarkable examples as guides, you can embark on your own innovative journey in the exciting world of software development.
We have been busy with Project Athena. Here is and updated list to Project Athena participants. Thank you to all that participated!
The hard drive used to be the limit, but now we have the cloud and there is no limit - Someone at GAR
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In a business, time and cost are two critical factors that can determine its success or failure. The ability to quickly adapt to changing market dynamics, reduce operational costs, and increase efficiency can help businesses gain a competitive edge. However, achieving these goals is not always easy. Investing in advanced process intelligence solutions is one way businesses can improve their operations to increase efficiency, reduce time, and lower costs. In this article from Goliath Automation & Robotics, we will discuss the top ways that advanced process intelligence solutions can help businesses reduce time and cost.
One of the main benefits of advanced process intelligence solutions is that it helps businesses streamline their operations by automating many of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks that employees perform. This can lead to significant time savings and reduced operational costs. The use of intelligent automation apps and tools can help automate tasks such as data entry, data processing, customer support, and more. This, in turn, frees up employees' time to focus on more important tasks such as innovation and growth.
In today's fast-paced business world, data has become a critical asset. However, businesses face the challenge of managing, processing, and analyzing vast amounts of data. Investing in a customer data platform (CDP) that incorporates advanced process intelligence solutions can help businesses collect, analyze, and use customer data to make data-driven decisions. This can help businesses identify key trends, patterns, and customer behavior to optimize their operations and achieve better business outcomes.
Human error can sometimes result in costly mistakes that can impact business operations, reputation, and financial performance. Advanced process intelligence solutions help businesses mitigate the risk of human error by automating many of the routine tasks that employees perform and providing real-time monitoring and alerts. This reduces the likelihood of errors occurring and ensures that the business operations comply with internal and external regulations.
In today's dynamic business environment, businesses must be agile and adaptable to succeed. Advanced process intelligence solutions help businesses quickly adapt to changing business needs by providing real-time insights into business performance. This allows businesses to make informed decisions, adjust their operations, respond to changes in the market, and harness their resources effectively.
Intelligent automation apps and tools can be incredibly powerful when it comes to streamlining processes and workflows, leading to significant improvements in efficiency and productivity. With the capabilities of this automation success platform, you can automate routine tasks, freeing up your time to focus on high-value activities and strategic initiatives. By leveraging the power of automation and data analytics, you can drive growth and achieve greater success in your business.
Advanced process intelligence solutions provide real-time performance monitoring and analytics that businesses can use to manage their operations better. With real-time insights into business performance, businesses can identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement. By using this information, businesses can optimize their operations and achieve better business outcomes.
Advanced process intelligence solutions provide a suite of tools and technologies that can help businesses improve their operational efficiency, reduce time, and lower costs. By deploying automation apps and tools, investing in customer data platforms, eliminating the risk of human error, and improving their ability to quickly respond to changing market dynamics, businesses can streamline their operations effectively. By taking advantage of these benefits, businesses can achieve better results and gain a competitive edge in their respective industries.
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Exosapien Technologies, a pioneering company in the realm of enhanced human mobility, has recently unveiled its latest innovation, the VX1 Exoquad. This groundbreaking hybrid vehicle represents a fusion of the unrivaled versatility and all-terrain capabilities of a powered exoskeleton with the speed and agility of a wheeled vehicle.
By leveraging six years of real-world mech suit development, Exosapien Technologies has introduced a revolutionary class of electric mech-vehicle that pushes the boundaries of mobility.
Making its debut in February 2023 at the prestigious SOLIDWORKS 3D Experience World in Nashville, Tennessee, the VX1 Exoquad looks at least ten years ahead of its time.
Exosapien Technologies is diligently working on engineering development, with plans to unveil the first EXOQUAD prototype, the VX1, from their Mech R&D laboratory in Q2/Q3 of 2024.
Combining elements from a motorcycle, a quad, and a mech suit, this cutting-edge machine allows the pilot to sit in a leaned-forward position, akin to a sport bike. With independent control over the ride height of each wheel using their hands and feet, the pilot can maneuver with unparalleled agility and a sense of flight without needing wings. Leaning the vehicle facilitates seamless turns, while the ability to jump defies the limits of traditional vehicles.
At the heart of the VX1 Exoquad lies Exosapien's patented motion control technology, elevating the pilot's role to that of an active part of the vehicle's suspension system. This innovation amplifies the pilot's movements, providing real-time force and positional feedback. With the ability to intuitively alter the vehicle's ride height, the pilot can preemptively overcome obstacles and adapt to extreme terrain. This allows the Exoquad to perform way beyond the abilities of typical passive suspension systems.
Designed for applications where ultra-extreme mobility is essential, the VX1 Exoquad opens up new frontiers in various fields. It is an invaluable asset in search and rescue operations, enabling efficient access to hard-to-reach locations. In disaster response scenarios, it allows first responders to reach areas inaccessible to other ground vehicles.
Furthermore, the Exoquad proves instrumental in wildfire fighting, effortlessly navigating steep and rugged terrain that poses challenges to conventional machinery. It also has the potential to revolutionize extreme sports and entertainment, introducing a whole new dimension of possible terrain traversal.
Exosapien Technologies was founded on April 18, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Jonathan Tippet created it with help from members of the eatART foundation. They call themselves the "Global pioneers of large-scale, all-terrain, powered exo-skeletons for sport and beyond."
The company develops mech suits with innovative control mechanisms that look straight out of a comic book. Their flagship Prosthesis mech was inducted into the Guinness World Book of Records as the World's Largest Four-Legged Exoskeleton in 2020.
With the VX1 Exoquad, Exosapien Technologies continues to push the boundaries of human mobility, pioneering a new era of transportation. As the first prototype prepares to emerge, the future promises an extraordinary fusion of innovation and exploration that will transform how we perceive and navigate the world around us.
On a side note, $2.7 million can buy you the Truckbot.
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images are from roperobotics
With many more wind turbines on their way in Europe, concerns regarding the safety and efficiency of maintenance will become an everyday concern. Luckily, one company is helping to solve that problem with their flagship product, the BR-8.
The BR-8 Robot is a unique piece of robotic equipment used to perform wind turbine maintenance. It consists of a locomotive body with a modular design that allows it to equip various equipment to carry out wind turbine blade maintenance tasks.
The BR-8 is hoisted up the wind turbine using a powered pulley system. Once it comes in contact with the blade, it can be maneuvered across its service. An electronic, articulated arm operates the equipment used to service the blade.
Wind turbines inevitably pick up damage to the blades, denting, warping, or removing paint from the surface. Most maintenance operations are launched to repair this damage and restore the wind turbine’s aerodynamics.
Here is how the BR-8 achieves its blade servicing tasks:
The main benefit of the BR-8 is that it removes the risk of manned maintenance missions. Today, most wind turbine maintenance is still performed by specially trained rope access technicians that hang from the nacelle of the wind turbine.
Putting people to work on top of wind turbines between 90 - 500 feet high is inherently dangerous. Not only does replacing maintenance staff with the BR-8 eliminate this risk, but it also allows for extended maintenance windows that aren’t as weather dependent.
It can also help operators reduce the cost related to training, safety measures, and the high-risk pay that wind turbine maintenance workers demand.
Rope Robotics is a Danish robotics startup dedicated to designing, innovating, and manufacturing groundbreaking robotics solutions within the wind energy industry. The company was founded on 1 May 2016 by Hans Laurberg and Martin Huus Bjerge - both of whom have over ten years in the wind industry. The company is currently based out of Aarhus with 20 employees.
They are dedicated to delivering turnkey leading-edge repair solutions that make it safe and easy to work at heights. And to improve the quality of service operations and documentation.
In 2021 alone, 17 GW (11 GW in the EU-27) of wind turbine energy capacity was installed throughout Europe. Europe has set ambitious targets for its renewable energy goals by 2030, and wind energy is a key part of that strategy.
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Image from nationworldnews.com
Main image from singularityhub.com
An early-stage startup in the US is attempting to shake up the utility tunneling industry like nothing before. Using plasma drilling bots, they aim to drastically reduce the cost and time needed to create tunnels for Tunnels for Fiber, Energy, Water, Gas, Vehicles, Pedestrians, and High-Speed Transit.
Earthgrid calls itself a “Public Benefit Corporation” that aims to “revolutionize the way to a National Super-Grid using patented tunnel boring robots (TBRs) to lower costs by up to 98%.”
For comparison, The Boring Company's tunneling machine Prufrock can bore up to 0.15 miles per day and Earthgrid claims their robot can bore up to 0.68 miles per day.
Speaking of a new power grid, check out this utility pole in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Its a wonderful place with these bizarre webs of power, telephone and internet cables hanging along the streets. Some of these cables can definitely find a new home underground.
Part of why networking infrastructure is so expensive is how much it costs to install and maintain. You can imagine how much weathering above-ground wiring goes through in a given year.
Not only does it have to stand through daily weather, but it has to endure storms, seasonal changes, and other physical hazards.
On the other hand, underground cabling can also be expensive due to the costs of boring at such a large scale. Large, mechanical rotary boring machines are used for most tunnels today. However, some of these machines build the tunnel wall as they bore along.
A rotating bore churns soil up, soil from the front, and pushes it against the sides of the tunnel or spits it out behind. This equipment needs regular maintenance and is expensive to operate.
Earthgrid is trying to bring down the cost and time needed to install this type of large-scale infrastructure.
Earthgrid is attempting to create these nationwide underground tunnels using a plasma boring robot.
The concept of thermal drilling is not exactly new. The idea is that you blast the toughest underground rocks with such extreme heat that they blow apart or vaporize - a process called spallation.
Using this technique, the drilling machine never directly contacts the rock. This speeds up the process and limits equipment wear and tear.
So much so that Eathrid claims it’s up to 98% cheaper and 100x faster. They aim to operate at a rate of $300 per meter (3.3 ft) of the tunnel.
Earthgrid is also not the only player with skin in the game. Another player, Petra, is trying to establish a similar solution with many of the same claims.
Earthgrid’s project is still in the very early stages. They are still in the process of generating seed funding. Petra is much further along but is following a more conventional approach. Earthgrid is aiming to push the boundaries of thermal drilling bots even further.
Earthgrid’s proposed plasma drilling robot has some impressive specs:
When it’s ready, the final system will consist of three separate robots running in a train that goes from smallest to largest. A cabled trolley system will be used to carry debris from the front backward outside the tunnel.
The plasma torches are arranged in a Fibonacci pattern on forward-facing plates. This ensures that it covers everything in front of it.
Some critics think that there is no way that vaporizing rock would be cheaper than good old drilling and shovels. Time will tell but we may end up using a combination of both mechanical and plasma boring technologies.
Thinking calls for facts, and facts are found by digging - Henry Ford
]]>The DAMO academy is the Academy of Discovery, Adventure, Momentum and Outlook. Judging by its name, we can see the importance of discovery and adventure in the scientific journey.
The Academy is centered and dedicated to exploring "the unknown through scientific and technological research and innovation".
There are 5 main subjects that guide the research of the Academy. Machine learning, Data Computing, Robotics, Financial Technology and X Laboratory.
By sharing these trends, we hope to further grasp the magic of the future together. Some of these concepts are quite crazy so we included some videos that may help simplify.
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AI is opening new doors, even for scientific researchers working at the boundaries of what’s possible. AI combined with machine learning can collect and process multidimensional and multimodal data to solve complex scientific problems. All of this in a fraction of the time it would take human researchers. It might even help us discover new scientific laws or theories!
DAMO predicts that AI users will look to find ways to integrate large (general/foundational) and small-scale (specialized) AI models. In a way, the small-scale AI will be the eyes and ears of the large-scale AI, the brains. This will result in more scalable, efficient, and versatile AI systems.
Silicon Photonic Chips use photons instead of electrons to transmit data (moving data with light). Because photons don’t directly interact with each other and can travel longer distances, they aren’t limited by the same physical laws as electrons. Not only will silicon photonic chips enable more powerful computing, but they’re also increasingly energy efficient.
Challenges regarding grid integration, low energy utilization rate, weather prediction, and storage are holding back full-scale adoption of renewables. Researchers hope that AI can improve the efficiency and automation of electric power systems. For example, the AI can help to predict energy usage and availability patterns to stabilize the grid. The AI system can also improve safety and provide a more sustainable solution.
Perceptive soft robotics refers to the design of robots with physically flexible bodies and advanced mechanosensing. Creating more lifelike or human robots is only one use of perceptive soft robotics. Sensors and flexible bodies will also make it possible to deploy robots in a wider range of complex environments.
Using conventional methods, doctors would often have to resort to trial and error or guesswork to treat patients. AI can help quantify, compute, predict, and prevent severe diseases while reducing the time to diagnose and treat patients. As DAMO puts it, high-precision medicine will act as a healthcare “compass” for doctors and careers.
Due to performance bottlenecks, lack of confidence in the technology, and standardization issues, it has been challenging to enforce privacy-preserving computation at scale. New advancements in dedicated chips, cryptographic algorithms, whitebox implementation, and data trusts are making it possible.
Main question: Is it possible to answer a question using data we cannot see?
STICs refer to an integrated network of ground-based and extraterrestrial systems (not the aliens)—for example, satellites, aerial platforms, and terrestrial and nautical communication networks. The hope is to bring multidimensional communication network coverage to all areas on the ground and in the atmosphere.
Cloud technologies are soaring in popularity. The next evolution of cloud computing is a new system where clouds, networks, and devices work together with clear divisions of labor. In these systems, the cloud will be the brain, the network is the nervous system, and the end devices as the sensory organs.
Extended Reality aims to create more immersive experiences when people interact with various technologies, similar to AR and VR. The most likely scenario is that people will access XR experiences via special XR glasses. However, it will also impact how we use the internet and entertainment, social networking, office, shopping, education, and healthcare.
This article is not our standard article about robots but it is somewhat related to robotics. The future is going to be a much more interesting place and hopefully we can catch some of these trends and use them for the benefit of humankind..and also have some fun with it.
"As AI gets much smarter than humans, the relative intelligence ratio is probably similar to that between a person and a cat, maybe bigger" - Elon Musk
We do not own the rights to the images or videos used in this article.
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Doc Locke Cartoons/Locke Robotics was very generous to make art of our GAR Mascot. The level of detail is simply inspiring and we can feel the passion through the screen! Thank you and we wish all the good things in the universe for them and for whoever that sees this.
Everyone is creative and we can find a way to share our talents to inspire others to share their talents. From there on, we build a desired web of trust.
We are lucky to be able to sponsor prizes for Hackathons around the world. Below are some of the amazing projects the winners came up with.
Ryan Cheng from Canada recently won Best Solo Hack award at the TreasureHacks 2.0 Hackathon with his project Levelhead. As a lover of basketball and code, he built a program (computer thing) to ensure he keeps his head level while practicing his dribbling.
For a better understanding of this project, here is the link to Ryan's Github.
Juan Almanza and Sebastian Ponce are the winners of the Best Duo Hack at the TreasureHacks 2.0. The marvelous duo from Mexico and Colombia created a wonderful app to help with suicide prevention. The app connects patients with medical/psychiatric professionals for advice on anything that is going on in their lives, be it happy or sad.
We are happy to support the excellent minds and all the other fantastic hackers at TreasureHacks 2.0 and look forward to supporting another successful season in 2023!
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Farming and agriculture can benefit significantly from automation due to the time-consuming and often repetitive nature of many important tasks. In fact, the idea of driverless tractors has been around since the 1940s when Frank Andrew used the "follow me" technology. John Deere himself started making self-driving tractors in 1997.
However, a fully-automated tractor that can operate completely independently is a game-changer.
Far from being a futuristic concept to excite fans, it’s a fully-developed piece of machinery. The tractor is already in mass production and will be available to buy later in 2022 for about $58,000.
Traditionally, a farmer, or skilled worker, is needed to operate a tractor. However, the tasks tractors perform can take hours or even a whole day, such as plowing, tilling, sowing, or harrowing.
With an automated tractor, the farmer is free to spend their time managing other areas of their farm. In this way, John Deere aims to help farmers increase their yields and operate more efficiently.
The John Deere autonomous tractor combines the 8R tractor with a bunch of autonomous and robotics technology. Some features include:
What’s more impressive is that all these technologies are controlled via a deep neural network for intelligent decision-making. For example, when it comes to obstacle avoidance, the autonomous tractor classifies each pixel collected from its 12 cameras within approximately 100 milliseconds. This allows it to quickly calculate the risk of collision depending on the tractor’s speed and trajectory.
All this information, and even live video feeds, can be accessed from the mobile app at any time. Interestingly, John Deere also worked with NASA to develop the self driving tractor technology back in the day. They are also working on other cool machines like a fully autonomous electric tractor and an autonomous drone sprayer.
With all this software and data running through the tractors, some argue that the farmers don't actually own the tractors. That's up for debate but we should be aware of some of the downsides to our methods of handling technology.
Ok back to something more light hearted...
John Deere states that they created the autonomous tractor for a single purpose: “feeding the world.” Using its myriad of sensors and intelligent systems, this fully-automated tractor is meant to help farmers get more done with less time, land, and skilled workforce.
It also helps to help farmers deal with challenges, such as changing climate, weather conditions, and soil composition. Regardless of where the farmer is, they’ll be able to see precisely what the tractor is doing via the mobile app.
The resulting benefits should be:
Photo from Ohio Country Journal
John Deere is the brand name of the American corporation Deere & company. They are one of the leading manufacturers of various kinds of heavy equipment, such as agricultural machinery, forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains, and lawn care equipment.
On a related note, see our article on the autonomous weeder by FarmWise..
For more ideas in autonomous farming, check out video below. Happy growing!
Also, incase you didn't know, Lamborghini also makes tractors. Yeah, we didn't know either. It was the tractors that came before the cars. Pretty cool!
We do not own the rights to the images or videos used in this article.
]]>Ollie the Wheeled Robot was revealed by Tencent on June 3 at the 2021 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Xi'an, China. The creation is Tencent’s first bipedal robot that uses wheels instead of feet.
Capable of incredible feats of agility, including 360° aerial summersaults, this robot was introduced as a 'novel wheel-legged robot” by Tencent.
Ollie is not what you expect when someone talks about cutting-edge robotics. It looks very simple from the outside with a rectangular body and two legs, consisting of powered wheels at the end of two articulating limbs.
However, Ollie hides a secret. Under the body between its two legs is another leg, also with a powered wheel. Ollie’s makers got the idea for this third by modeling it after animals' tails.
Most of the time, this “tail” is tucked under the body. However, it can be deployed to help provide more balance and stability and enable Ollie to pull off some fantastic feats.
As part of a demonstration video, Ollie showed off some amazing capabilities:
Tencent also claims that ollie can hop 16 inches horizontally and 24 inches vertically.
The demonstration video didn’t contain any information on the interior technology of Ollie. However, a paper detailing its development has been submitted to the IEEE as part of the conference.
Ollie’s two-pronged legs can lengthen or shorten, so the robot's body moves up and down. If the demonstration video is to be believed, Ollie is capable of highly agile movement with rapid acceleration, sharp turning, on-the-spot swiveling, and even jumping between platforms.
What’s more, it features built-in trajectory planning capabilities so that Ollie can autonomously plan its approach when dealing with obstacles.
However, Ollie’s ingenious “tail” is the real show-stopper. Not only can it be used as a third wheel, but it can be flicked out to enable aerial acrobatics and used for balance. For example, Ollie will use it as a third wheel to carry heavy loads.
Ollie can also be outfitted with special, removable attachments like a robotic arm to lift and carry objects.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of this robot is that its creators came up with a new and unique balance control technique using the tail. It will be interesting to see how this technique can be applied to other robotic creations in the future.
Here is another super-mobile robot with wheels called Swiss-Mile.
The demonstration video of Ollie doesn’t give much to go on in terms of use cases, but it’s not too hard to guess.
First of all, its ability to balance and the possibility of adding attachments opens up many doors. Tencent showcased its ability to take a cup of coffee with this arm attachment and deliver it to a person sitting across the room.
Aside from cafes, this ability will also allow it to transport and deliver items in hazardous environments, like a construction site or warehouse.
However, Ollie’s immediate and perhaps most important use case is to show off the effectiveness of the new balance control mechanism developed by Tencent Robotics. The potential applications for this in future robotics projects are nearly limitless.
Tencent is a China-based technology and multimedia conglomerate, perhaps best known for its video games. However, the company has expanded into nearly all forms of digital technology, including music, streaming, film & cinema, utilities, and even healthcare.
Robotics X is a branch of the company founded in 2018 dedicated to researching and applying cutting-edge robotics technologies.
Ollie the wheeled robot is not the company’s first creation. They’ve also designed a multi-modal robot dog called Max that can reach speeds of 25 km/h.
How about a self-balancing motorcycle?
The Mech dreams are coming true...
We do not own the rights to the images or videos used in this article.
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Interior painting can be messy, time-consuming, and frustrating, particularly in large spaces. Now, an innovative robotics company thinks that they’ve produced the answer:
MYRO - the world’s first intelligent paint robot for the construction industry.
This innovative little worker made its debut at the Gitex Technology Week in Dubai late last year. It’s produced by a Indian-based company working to develop and distribute Robotics Products and Automation Solutions for the construction, painting, and coating sectors. The company Eternal Robotics is also responsible for the design of MYRO and also some other fascinating robots and tech.
But, how does it work? What does it do? And how will it make life for the humans easier? Let’s find out.
Simply put, MYRO is an indoor paint robot designed to paint bare spaces in a quick, efficient, and safe manner. While not completely autonomous, it takes simple commands from an iPad and can execute a work order based on a floor plan.
At 6.2ft x 2.3ft x 2.3ft and weighing just under 150kg, MYRO is not exactly a household appliance. Its primary target market is large companies in the construction, interior design, or remodeling industries that want to optimize their operations.
MYRO takes its commands from an iPad-based app. Basically, you only need to draw up a floor plan and set a work schedule, and then MYRO can autonomously paint the space.
When it’s time to get to work, the MYRO will scan its surroundings before getting started using its various cameras and sensors. Its high-speed actuation means that this initial scanning process is rapid, only taking a few seconds.
The MYRO will then methodically start spray painting the space, one wall at a time. It uses those same scanners and a high-precision paint spray system to work in vertical lines. So, it will spray paint a line, move to the right/left, spray another line, and so on. Using an extending arm, it can reach much higher than the standard height of the machine (up to 3.1m).
Once it detects a corner, the MYRO will rotate by itself and repeat the process along the direction of the new wall. It can even see windows, gaps, doors, and other non-paintable areas from the floor plan and skip them entirely. Proximity sensors will also help it avoid collisions.
At its top speed, it can paint surfaces at 40 sqft/min. And it uses machine learning to improve its performance continuously.
Lets digress for a moment and rebel with some graffiti robots.
Introducing The Style Machine - please use responsibly..
Here's another wall graffiti robot that can paint walls up to 300ft tall using spray cans. Introducing Sprayprinter..
Ok back to MYRO..
The MYRO will mostly be useful in situations where a lot of surface area needs to be painted a single color. This makes it ideal for the construction industry. Once a bare room is completed, the MYRO can pretty much navigate and finish the job of painting the walls a consistent color entirely by itself.
MYRO aims to help eliminate time-consuming menial work that can also be dangerous under certain conditions.
However, it also has several other benefits, according to its creators:
Hope you enjoyed the robot painters. Till next time...
"In 30 years, a robot will most likely be on the cover of magazines as the best CEO" - Jack Ma
We do not own the rights to the images or videos used in this article.
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Most businesses have some sort of product or inventory associated with operational functions. Monitoring and managing inventory, regardless of your business’ size, is essential to ensure you're staying on track with your suppliers and are able to service your customers well. Having appropriate systems in place for inventory management, as well as shift scheduling and time tracking, facilitates smooth operations for your company. We at Goliath Automation & Robotics invites you to read on to learn more.
If you have an established inventory tracking system, consider a software program that saves you time and money and allows you to manage functions on a mobile app. This might include things like setting alerts when it's time to re-order and tracking shipments, sales, and trends. According to Drutas, this approach allows you to manage your own time, operate on the go so you're never overstocked or understaffed, and build in some padding time in the event a vendor or supplier is off schedule. If you have vendors who are often behind schedule, consider having backs-ups on hand so there’s no slowdown in your operations.
To keep your business growing, you need to constantly be promoting your goods and/or services. Of course, spending large chunks of your day posting to your social media, adding to your website, or crafting messages to send to your email list isn’t practical. That’s why it’s a good idea to automate these tasks wherever possible. For example, for marketing through Instagram, you can become a pro Instagram post maker using the templates offered by Adobe Spark and then use a social media automation tool so that you’re regularly posting to social media without having to be in your feeds all day. You can also automate other aspects of your marketing; scheduling pre-prepared blog posts to post at a certain time or using email software to send customer reminders or sales information at certain times or points in a customer’s journey.
While you could use a system of paper tracking or even set up a computerized spreadsheet, you’ll save time and money and be more efficient if you utilize an online platform. Look for one that supports best inventory management practices along with employee scheduling options. Appropriate programs can generate reports and track and save data that can make it easier and more efficient when it comes time for bookkeeping and accounting. It also streamlines the tax filing process, and, according to Small Business Bonfire, can be useful when making budget projections — an essential element of keeping your business finances on track.
Depending on the type of industry you're in, you may be dealing with union representatives or employee advocacy groups and will need to ensure best practices around employee staffing and management. A disorganized system can lead to gaps in scheduling, which has the potential to slow productivity and reduce customer service efficiency. Mismanaged scheduling can potentially even result in accidents, errors, or claims of labor law violation. An organizational system can take away much of that stress and uncertainty.
When it comes to instituting new inventory tracking and employee scheduling programs, some people may resist adaptation, especially if they’re accustomed to another long-standing method or approach. To ensure compliance, provide training around any newly introduced systems, give people time to adjust, and be available to troubleshoot and monitor implementation. This will promote a smooth transition and help system users feel comfortable and confident in how they’re using these tools.
When you have a fast-growing business, organizational management at every level is absolutely critical to high functioning operations and quality customer care. It also ensures the fundamental elements of your business operate like a well-oiled machine.
Photo by Pixabay.
Written by Amy Collett at bizwell.org.
We do not own the rights to the images used in this article.
]]>According to Dhanush, the inspiration to build this project came from his daily tasks at home of turning off the pressure cooker once the rice is cooked. We have all been in similar situations that may have resulted in gulping down some burnt food.
Below are the the inventors own words on how on how he built the project.
I developed this app using Xcode 13.1 and the Swift programming language. I first gathered a decent amount of audio data samples (about #40) capturing pressure cooker whistle sounds, as well as background noises to train an accurate sound classification model using CreateML. Then I performed the machine learning classification in real-time using Apple's CoreML framework and updated the text view to reflect what sound it was currently detecting. I also requested the user to allow access to notifications if they choose that method of alert. The email alert feature was implemented using a restful API that I developed in Python using the Flask framework.
Very inspiring. In the video he explains the magic and elegance of the set of code to solve the problem of detecting the correct sounds of the whistles.
GAR is proud to support StemWarriorHacks and the outstanding project developed by Dhanush. We wish him the best going forward and trust he will continue use his scientific talents to bring extraordinary achievements in engineering, science and the analyzing of sounds!
Congratulations Dhanush and all the 2021 StemWarriorHacks winners!
"If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses" - Henry Ford
We do not own the rights to any videos or images used in this article
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Everyone likes donuts!!
How about donuts + drones?
According to its makers, Cleo Robotics, the D X1 (or, Dronut® X1) is the "Next Generation Unmanned Flight." It's a portable, rugged and reliable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) drone that can be used almost anywhere that's hard for humans to access - straight up from Star Wars.
Read on to find out more about what powers this cutting-edge drone and its potential benefits.
The "D" in D X1 is short for "Dronut," a clever play on words because of the drone's doughnut-shaped body. As Cleo Robotic's flagship product, it's a drone designed for indoor use across various industries.
While it has many potential uses, its primary purpose is for inspection and surveillance in environments that are difficult to reach or cover by humans. For example, massive warehouses, crawl spaces, tanks or vessels, and even other vehicles.
At just 15.5 oz and with dimensions of 6.5" x 4", the D X1 can fit in the palm of your hand. While speed is not its main priority, it can fly at up to 4m/s.
First of all, the D X1 uses WiFi to communicate with a range of up to 1 km, depending on the environment.
To be both hyper-efficient and stable in-flight (12 min flight time after 40 min charging), it uses Cleo's patented thrust vectoring ducted fan design.
While the D X1 is undeniably impressive from the outside, the inside is just as enjoyable. The drone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and a suite of cutting-edge sensors, including 3D LiDAR.
This combination is what gives it the autonomous capabilities to make decisions about its environment and maneuver itself. With LED headlights, it can also navigate in the dark.
Finally, a 4K global shutter camera allows it to take crystal clear footage of its environment.
Best of all, the drone can be controlled in several ways via a convenient smartphone app, even using a PlayStation controller.
There are possible applications for the D X1 drone across nearly all industries, including:
Cleo Robotics is a Boston-based company specializing in unconventional robotic systems. Most of their products are designed to help clients collect data and surveil dangerous and challenging to reach areas. They were the first to develop a stable and highly maneuverable ducted bi-rotor drone, such as the D X1.
We do not own the rights to images or videos used in this blog post.
Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently - Henry Ford
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PeddieHacks 2021 is a 48 hour online hackathon hosted by the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey.
The event which commenced on August 20th to 21st 2021 was open to all high school and college graduates. Together these brave and exceptional students came together to show off their skills in hacking and bringing wonderful ideas to life very quickly.
Naturally, GAR is actively involved in many hackathons around the country and has been actively sponsoring hackathons (and schools!) since 2019. This year has been the second year GAR has been involved with PeddieHacks and we decided to provide the infamous Colossus Starter Kit for Arduino to the winner of the Solo Hacker category.
Introducing the Solo Hacker winner..... Han Solo!
Just kidding, this guy is much better than Han Solo. Introducing Aaron Zhou, a college student from Canada (we love the Canadians eh!) with his winning project - The CryptoSub Sentiment Analyzer.
We want to thank Aaron for his generosity in letting us share a little bit about his winning project on the GAR blog.
Below are the creators words explaining the nature of his project:
It's basically a stock subreddit sentiment analyzer that also compares the sentiment with the stock's price in order to find an overall "accuracy" for the subreddit.
For instance r/Bitcoin's sentiment would be compared with USD-BTC's value. Sentiment over time is multiplied by the stock's change per day over time in order to come up with r/Bitcoin's accuracy score (e.g. if the subreddit is happy and stock is up, that's positive accuracy; if the subreddit is sad and stock is down, that's positive accuracy; if the subreddit is happy and stock is down, that's negative accuracy).
The idea is basically to track the reliability of subreddits since it can be difficult to tell the difference between a legitimate altcoin and a widely proliferated/supported scam nowadays (Dogecoin etc.).
You should be able to run it yourself by downloading it from Github and following the directions: https://github.com/zhoaa/
GAR is extremely proud to support exceptional designers and hackers like Aaron and will continue to dedicate resources to supporting future leaders in technology. With tremendous effort and dedication, together we can help develop leaders of the future that are well versed in technology.
Congratulations Aaron! Keep up the good work and we trust the Colossus Kit is in great hands.
Please note that this project is not meant to be used in any way as investment advice in Cryptocurrencies.
If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself - Henry Ford.
We do not own the rights to any images or videos used in this article.
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Have you ever daydreamed about strolling around in an armored mech suit, protecting you from harm and giving you impossible strength? Well, soon, this won't just be the stuff of dreams or over-the-top sci-fi franchises.
In fact, robotics manufacturer Sarcos Robotics is planning to release its creation sometime in 2021.
Sarcos Robotics is a pioneering company creating revolutionary industrial equipment to help humans work faster, safer, and more efficiently. Their products are aimed at combining the intelligence and decision-making of humans with the power of robotics.
Their latest invention, the Guardian XO, seems to take its queues straight from Hollywood sci-fi like the Matrix and Edge of Tomorrow. However, this robotic exosuit has some exciting and critical real-life applications.
Plus, it just looks cool!
The Guardian XO is the world's first full-body battery-powered industrial exoskeleton. At first sight, it doesn't look much different than its sci-fi counterparts. Standing on its own, it features legs, arms, and a large torso. When worn, the operator can also put on a protective helmet and chestguard.
The limbs cover the outside of the arms and legs, protecting them with a hard shell cover and articulating alongside the wearer's joints. Its wearer will be able to lift, move, and manipulate objects of up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms) without breaking a sweat.
The robotic suit will also automatically offload 100% of its weight, so it doesn't strain the user.
However, it does more than provide brute strength. The exoskeleton uses built-in intelligence combined with over 250 sensors to read environmental conditions and respond to the operator's movements.
This helps the suit automatically compensate for gravity and helping you stay balanced while lifting heavy objects.
The current model provides up to 20 hours of battery life. The hot-swappable batteries can be changed on the fly to keep the Guardian XO in action even longer.
If all of this isn't futuristic enough for you, it comes with its own XO® Pod docking station for charging and storage.
It was developed specifically for hard-working environments like manufacturing/assembly, construction, fieldwork, or warehouse/logistics. More specifically, it helps in situations where it's impossible to replace humans with the limited AI we have today.
So, you get the best of both worlds: a human brain and the power, endurance, and safety of a machine.
In construction, it can help with moving heavy equipment or materials across the site or loading it onto transportation. In the aviation industry, it can help with regular, routine maintenance on airplanes - See Sarcos Robotics partnering with Delta Air Lines.
Another obvious use is in a shipping warehouse, like an Amazon fulfillment center, where items of different sizes have to be shipped, received, moved around, and lifted around the clock.
In the future, more advanced models may help firefighters, wildlife rangers, or even rescue personnel save lives.
In general, the suit will also help companies with several challenges, like:
Right now, Sarcos is entirely focused on bringing the Guardian XO successfully to market.
The Guardian XO has fantastic potential to drastically reduce the risk of injury or long-term strain on employees working in dangerous or physically challenging conditions. It's also a great example of how humans and technologies can synergize our strengths to do amazing things.
Considering how advanced this piece of equipment already is, who knows what will be possible in the future.
Maybe we'll be striding around in mech suits, firing Gatling guns at predatory aliens. Or, take all the groceries out of the car in one shot.
We do not own the rights to any images or videos used in this article.
]]>Remember the Rocketeers from Command & Conquer?
Have you ever thought about strapping on a jetpack? It's not just Tony Stark who gets to rocket to the skies in his own iron suit. Flying around with your own jet-propelled backpacks and wings to boot can seem like a lot of fun. The good news is, it's 100% as exhilarating as it looks!
Vincent Reffet was one of the world's foremost jetmen. As part of Jetman Dubai, the stuntman was responsible for some of the most astounding aerial feats and footage you'll see online.
However, being a jetman takes a lot of training. Not only that, but you really do also need a head for heights and altitude!
If you've seen any of the Iron Man and/or Avengers movies, then you might already know what to expect. Based in Dubai, Reffet was a member of an expert team of jetsuit enthusiasts.
One of Reffet's biggest achievements came from a standing start. Using his pioneering jetsuit, complete with wings and built-in propulsion, he managed to leap almost six thousand feet into flight. That's from a single jump!
Reffet's jetsuit was capable of speeds up to 150 miles per hour on average. However, the design is likely capable of a lot more. For anyone worrying about safe landings, these suits and packs have parachutes built-in.
Reffet and his team hit tech news a few years ago thanks to a documentary about their exploits. Loft: The Jetman Story really does show you what this technology is capable of. The Jetman team can launch from standing starts and even fly in formation.
That's a lot of technology on their backs, too. Each suit arrives with a wing of carbon-Kevlar construction, with four engines built-in. Users can reach more than 6,000 meters, or 20,000 feet, with a single suit!
The technology used in jetsuits is still undergoing a lot of testing and scrutiny. Understandably so, given the altitude and speed, these trained professionals fly at!
However, the potential for jetman flying is enormous. Pilots could use jetsuits to explore the world around them. It could create all kinds of exciting possibilities for photography, land planning, and more. Even more exciting is the potential for travel!
Can you imagine being able to cross from one city to another by merely slipping on a jetsuit? For now, however, the idea of jetsuiting is likely reserved for the thrill-seekers only. There's a lot to take in and an incredible amount of fitness and altitude training involved but we believe this will be available to the public in the coming years.
Jetman Dubai is only one name working hard to perfect human flight. Right now, jetsuit exploits mainly take place in the world of extreme sport. However, with years of testing and training to come, there's nothing to say, this tech won't become more commonplace.
Fancy strapping on your own Iron Man suit? You might have some time to wait – but the sky is the limit.
On a side note but something similar...a real life Rocketeer!
Also see the Royal Navy Jetman training using Gravity Industries (Flight Club) Jetsuit. Founder Richard Browning also gives an inspiring Ted Talk that proves the importance of not giving up and keep trying over and over and over again until you reach your goal. Just make sure you are tweaking your approaches instead of trying the same approach and hoping for different results.
Hope you are inspired!
We do not own the rights to any images or videos used in this article.
]]>We have been busy finding ourselves and treating our customers well.
So let’s start with this.
These are real reviews. We are not perfect and we made mistakes like missing items in a kit. But hey, it’s ok, the point is we have great customers that reach out to give us a chance to fix the issue.
And we are grateful and appreciate the opportunity and fix the issue for them without hesitation. A few dollars will go a long long way when it comes to making the customer happy.
You could say, what if the customer is lying? Well we say, so what! We give anyway. We trust our customers because they support us and it is not worth our time to think if the customer is lying.
You have a missing item? Sure, here is the replacement and more. You broke a part? Sure here is the replacement. Why bother dissecting and investigating the situation while questioning the customer.
This is our philosophy on how we treat our customers. Losing a few dollars to ship you the replacement item is not anywhere close than gaining the customers trust for their satisfaction and peace of mind. You cannot put a price on peace of mind.
I'm sure you have heard this phrase, it’s nothing personal, it’s just business. Maybe that's the problem. It is personal! We should care and find a win-win situation for each other.
That’s our first belief.
Our second belief - we believe in giving.
To date, we have given away one Monster Kit per week since January 2020 to families and schools that need help. That's 40+ kits. We are not selling anything as good as a Tesla so people should have a chance of trying out our products - especially people that might be struggling and we understand this since our price points might be a little high. Maybe they should give out Teslas for free every once in a while but that's just what we think.
We have also supported Hackathons and will be hosting an Arduino workshop at NextStep Hackathon from November 27th till November 30th..
So yeah, we have been busy.
We don't mean to toot our own horns too much but hey, we are building goodwill in this world and you should know about it.
Which brings us to our core mission of being the force of good against evil. People are basically good and want to do good so we have a lot of support here and that is a blessing.
Our first mission is of course advancing the development of robotics technology.
Where are we going?
Here.
From No Mans Sky.
And here.
From Mech Warrior 5.
Japan has also really been productive lately.
We are going to be using mechs for the space industrial revolution and for entertainment. Imagine mech warrior arena the size of a small city. 5v5 mechs teamplay. The pilots are of course wirelessly piloting the mechs to keep them safe.
Gaming superstars like these Counter Strike and Dota players are going to be the next “sports” legends by piloting and controlling warrior mechs in matchups in pre-set arenas. It’s going to be the most expensive sport in the world. This is also the future of wireless robotics.
We truly believe our customers are going to be the future engineers and builders of the GAR Mechs.
To support this claim, look at our biggest fan - Arduino Man. We did not ask him to make this video for us but nonetheless, he is giving a positive impact in this world.
No matter what you call it, Karma, The Source, Good Deeds, everything gets accounted for in the law of the universe and GAR wants to be a great contributing force of good in this universe.
Thank you to all our customers and supporters. We are always an email away so please reach out if you have questions about anything.
Bionics is more than just science fiction made real. There are millions of people out there who rely on robotics to lead an ordinary life. For example, those born without arms and/or legs now have access to some amazing technology.
Did you know, for example, that there are bionic arms that you can control with your mind? This innovative technology has been around for a while. However, as the years go by, it's increasingly likely that we will see mind-control bionics become readily available.
But how exactly does a mind-controlled arm actually work? Let's take a closer look.
Leading arm prosthetics can now allow users to control their joints, hands, and fingers with minimal effort. In fact, mind-control bionics do precisely what you expect them to – they act based on thought! Therefore, while the technology is still relatively new, you can expect a bionic arm to mimic real movement exceptionally closely.
But how does surgery actually work? Innovators can connect nerve endings to bionics through a procedure known as sensory re-innervation. This process will not only let users pick up and interact with objects but to touch and feel them, too.
This interactivity and pioneering surgery were brought forward by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. DARPA's work allows surgeons to map your nerves and networks to the technology used in prosthetics. It's fascinating!
The Applied Physics team at John Hopkins University designs and builds modular prosthetic limbs. MPLs work with your nerves and brain signals to interpret what you'd like your arm, hand, and fingers to do.
Pioneers working on MPLs can create a sense of touch through bionic hands, thanks to a vast map of sensors. These cleverly work to communicate with the nerves that drive these feelings. MPLs are becoming very popular with prosthetic wearers, though they may remain expensive until they are more available in the mainstream.
This is a massive breakthrough. Previously, prosthetics wearers could regain some use of their arms and legs; however, touch was always out of the question. Through sensory surgery and advanced robotics, it's entirely possible to regain these feelings!
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Category: Disaster Response - Tracked Robot
Builder: Shark Robotics
Colossus is a versatile remote-controlled robot designed to support firefighters and first-responders on dangerous missions. With a high-pressure water cannon and powerful all-terrain treads, it can help extinguish fires, clear away debris, and evacuate victims. The Colossus robot is actually deployed with the Paris Fire fighter Brigade (BSPP) & with many other French or foreign Regional Services of Fires & Rescues. It is engaged each month in real operations to keep man safe & insures a real technical support.
Some features of Colossus include,
-Payload capacity of up to 550 kg
Traction capacity of 2 metric tons
Easy to pilot with three remote control options available: handheld controller, vehicle-mounted control station, and smartphone/tablet app
Modular design and integration with different types of water cannon (POK, AWG, TFT)
Optional modules: Smoke extraction fan, manipulation arm, stretcher, motorized bull-bar, basket to transport equipment
Waterproof IP code IP67 - can be dropped into a body of water up to one meter for an hour while functioning
Category: Disaster Response - Wheeled
Builder: TMSUK Co. Ltd.
Enryu T-53 is a rescue robot developed by TMSUK Co. Ltd. in 2007. Enryu T-53 is designed to handle dangerous, rescue missions. TMSUK’s heavy-duty robot is equipped with a strong pair of arms, which are capable of lifting objects weighing up to 1000 kilograms. Enryu T-53 is specially built for extreme environments like the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station in Japan. The robot can either be controlled remotely through the use of a state-of-the-art remote control system, or it can be controlled from a cockpit inside the robot. Enryu T-53 is capable of sending real-time images captured from its high-resolution CCD cameras to the remote controller. Additionally, the robot is geared with important tools commonly used in rescue missions for faster and convenient operation.
Some features of Enryu T-53 include,
Category: Disaster Response - Tracked Robot
Builder: Endeavor Robotics
The 510 PackBot is a multi-mission tactical mobile robot developed and manufactured by iRobot (now Endeavor Robotics). It is designed for use by war-fighters and first responders to carry out dangerous missions in high-threat battlefield scenarios. The 510 PackBot can perform surveillance and reconnaissance, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) detection, building and route clearance, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), HazMat handling, improvised explosives device (IED) detection, checkpoint, and vehicle and personnel inspections. It also can be easily configured based on the operators’ mission needs using different attachments and sensors.
You can find more robots in our 1000 Robots in Industry e-book.
We do not own the rights to any images or videos used in this article.
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A few years ago, it was common that you'd see robots which vacuumed and cleaned your carpets. The 'Roomba' is likely to be one of the best examples! However, since that time, robotics innovation has moved on more than a little. There are some truly weird and wonderful advancements in cleaning tech out there.
Don't be so ready to cast the Roomba aside just yet – home cleaning innovations are just as popular now as they ever were! However, here are three spectacular floor-cleaning robots already helping to keep commercial spaces sparkling.
Avidbots' ground-breaking AI, Neo, is thought to be a bit of a trail-blazer. According to the innovators, Neo is the first robot of its kind. Not on the grounds that it can clean floors, of course, but in that it does so without any kind of human interaction.
That is, of course, going to be the goal of this range of robotics. Eventually, innovators want robots to be able to clean floors and spaces without any kind of helping hand. Neo works by scrubbing and cleaning floors based on your own unique schedules. You can program it from a central app based on a web browser.
What's more, Neo is always improving itself. It learns from tweaks to its schedules and reports data and activity back to you through the cloud.
Brain Corp, meanwhile, aims to go one better. Their cleaning machines, powered through their unique autonomous navigation platform BrainOS and can also work alongside staff. Their systems can be ridden, too, which means if you need to monitor a robot's cleaning schedule, you can.
Much like Neo, Brain Corp's systems are always learning. They'll report data back to you, too, so you can see how well they're doing. Need to change their paths or sensitivity? It shouldn't ever be too difficult.
The Brain Corp systems seem to work autonomously, too, which means Neo might have some stiff competition!
Lionsbot's range of cleaning robots goes a step further when it comes to visual appeal. Their robots have cute 'faces' and displays, and you can even name them from your app. Speaking of apps – it's here where you'll be able to monitor and control your robots.
Much like the other models listed above, Lionsbot systems have flexible cleaning functions. They run via the cloud, and you'll be able to manage and monitor battery life, active status, and more besides. They are built more for active cleaning assistance, however, meaning that some physical work may still be necessary!
It's great to see that there is still so much innovation in cleaning technology! It is a surprisingly popular and engaging market. Therefore, don't be too surprised if you see smart and smarter cleaning bots emerge in the years to come.
Roombas may have helped to start the boom – however, the unique creations listed here are just the beginning of something bigger, bolder, and more efficient.
With that said, wash your hands and stay safe.
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A brief message from our sponsor, the Monster Kit ..
The people in the robotics and automation industry are doing a tremendous job by educating and researching new ways to improve the lives of others. We must give recognition to their hard work and dedication while supporting the great mission of making the world a better place. We have to come together and help each other to solve the challenges that come with the new industrial age. Service to others must be the priority in our endeavors and this will bring much good feelings and happiness to our souls - not to mention the good profit that comes along by providing useful service to others which can be used to expand and increase the scope of the service provided. Thank you for all the support!
Now back to Cornell robotics!
In just a few short years, Cornell University has emerged as a leader in robotics engineering. Their leading research department, Robotics at Cornell, focuses on the way that humans interact with robots. Their fantastic array of research projects already cover self-driving cars, robotic assistants, and even humanoids. Cornell is regarded as one of the top 10 robotics colleges in the US, and for good reason.
But what are some of their leading projects? Why might the team here be leading the way as far as the robotic revolution is concerned? Here is a brief look at some of the labs operating on campus right now.
The autonomous system's lab is where researchers look at how we can help build systems to work on our behalf. How long will it be before we depend on robotics for all our daily needs? The ASL develops and tests self-driving cars, which are already taking to the roads.
You can also take a look at their brilliant ASL segways, too. These robotic vehicles are self-thinking and could see application in a variety of different industries and specialisms.
The BLL team focuses on movement. Specifically, they work to design robots that can move with minimal energy. They want to create robots that can walk on their own two – or even four – feet!
The lab is also home to both the autonomous bicycle team and CUSail. These departments develop automated boats and bicycles. It's all about moving forward!
Introducing Ranger..
Organic Robotics is very exciting! The ORL focuses on 'soft robotics.' That means that the team works to develop tools and robots which could be used to support human patients in need of specific care.
For example, the ORL is working hard at creating working 'soft' hands. This project, called ADEPT, demonstrates how robotic hand replacements could work in the future. These systems are visually pleasing and may help to 'humanize' the ways robotic enhancements look and perform!
We depend more and more on artificial intelligence in our everyday lives. Do you already use Siri or Alexa? The PARL takes things one step further.
This lab focuses on helping to bridge the gap between humans and robots. The team here works hard to develop automated assembly robots and looks closely at ways in which robots could be used to enhance physical processes.
One of their most exciting projects is the KUKA youBot, which can be seen actively helping in the lab!
The Robot Learning Lab is where bots are trained to think and work for themselves! This lab works to develop robots that can directly interact with humans. Some of the most advanced robots at Cornell reside here, including the popular RoboBarista, which can actually serve lattes and mochas to visitors on request!
Cornell is accepting admissions for undergraduates and postgraduates. Want to get into the world of robotics research? Head on over to their full online portfolio now.
Now for a side note....
Highlights from Hannover Messe 2013..
We do not own the rights to images or videos used in this article.
]]>The Ridge High School Computer Science Club will organize the 2nd annual Hackathon - Ridgehacks 2020 at the Ridge Performing Arts Center in New Jersey on the 4th of April this year. This event is friendly and favorable Hackathon dedicated to all students from middle-school through college.
What is a Hackathon? Here's a short video from
A Hackhaton is an event where computer programmers, engineers, designers and pretty much anyone who is interested gather to solve a problem and build a working software/hardware by the end of the event...all within a short amount of time.
It is interesting to see what ideas can be found and created when there is a time constraint - something magical about human nature when they put their minds to it.
Most schools, universities and even companies around the world host Hackathons as a way to quickly come up with valuable ideas and solutions to problems.
There are no costs (YES FREE) for this event and each participant will traditionally receive some swag as reminder of the interesting times spent sharing and developing ideas together. All students are welcomed to join this event, regardless of their past experience in computer science or programming - you can even just come and hang out. We believe everybody has something within them to contribute so even if you're not a programmer, there's always something you can bring to the table!
You can register for the Ridgehacks 2020 Hackathon on their website.
If you have experience and want to contribute, feel free to sign upn up to volunteer or be a mentor and share your skills!
https://michaelwu930261.typeform.com/to/ZquEGv
Although the participant travel expenses are not covered by Ridgehacks, you do have a chance winning the Execute Big's Travel Grant and attend the event while having your travel costs covered.
At Ridgehacks 2020, each team is composed of up to four members and you can also get support from the Ridgehacks organization during the team creation process. During competition, Ridgehacks 2020 has a tradition of helping opposing teams who are in need of fresh ideas or even stuck on solving a problem.
Teams and individuals share experiences and ideas with the other participants, learn from each other, thrive together and get awarded for their working results. The moderators and mentors who are involved also play a key role in spreading a creative and friendly atmosphere among attenders.
The Ridgehacks 2020 schedule is organized with convenient and all-inclusive content fully packed for a creative and inspiring day. It will be a very busy 14 hours filled with exciting activities bringing new creative ideas that will be implemented and shared with everyone attending the event - along with fun and games and as well as a GitHub workshop.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM |
Check In |
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM |
Opening Ceremony |
9:00 AM |
Hacking Starts |
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
Breakfast |
10:00 AM |
Smash Tournament Starts |
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
GitHub Workshop |
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM |
Lunch |
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
Cup Stacking |
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
MLH Localhost Website Design |
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM |
Dinner |
9:00 PM |
Hacking Ends |
9:15 PM - 9:45 PM |
Judging |
10:00 PM - 10:45 PM |
Demos & Closing Ceremony |
You never know what you can learn by hanging around other people who are passionate about hacking and building ideas. The worlds next big idea may be lurking somewhere in Ridgehacks 2020!
GAR is a proud sponsor of Ridgehacks 2020.
Contact the Ridgehacks 2020 team at team@ridgehacks.us to be a sponsor.
A game is a series of interesting choices - Sid Meier
We do not own the rights to images/videos used in this article.
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The founders of Microsoft, Paul Allen and Bill Gates have deep history with the University of Washington. They used to use the computer lab at the University of Washington to do research but one day got banned for abusing it. However, as we can see today, this marvelous institution and engineering school is now named after Paul Allen for his contributions to many fields including aerospace, real estate, sports and arts.
Paul Allen along with aerospace engineer Burt Rutan is behind the creation of Stratolaunch Systems which built the worlds largest twin-fuselage Stratolaunch Jet.
Paul Allen also owned the Seattle Seahawks which under him, went on to win the Superbowl XLVIII in 2014.
The Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington is one of the top-notch schools in the US producing important research and superstars in robotics.
Today we will talk about the few robotics & automation labs at this impressive institution and some of the work that have been produced there.
The Human-Centered Robotics lab activities are based on robotics development that would assist people in everyday tasks.
The laboratory applies human-centered approach for problems resolving, with an idea to bring users (with no technical knowledge) exceptional robotics functionality. Some notable representative lab accomplishments are: project EMAR - as an interdisciplinary effort that investigates effective measurement of adolescent stress levels by means of a social robot.
Furthermore, professor Maya Cakmak and postdoctoral researcher Maru Cabrera attended robotics games and conference RoboCup 2019 and even won the first even Vising Fellows Award at that tournament.
In addition, this lab was responsible for some workshops organization such as “Designing a Social Robot for Mental Health Support”.
The Movement Control lab researches biological movements, their modeling and control. With support of MuJoCo physics engine as the key tool, the smart people in the lab focuses on effective methods development and their applicability to more complex problems.
Note: There is a very interesting video at the link above. The virtual objects in the video move when a virtual force is acted on them - a virtual engine powered by MujoCo.
Dr. Emo Todorov is currently developing this engine for Roboti LLC and MujoCo also used by a wide community of researchers and developers.
Some of the most important laboratory results are include modeling and simulation of multi-joint dynamics with contact – a project that combines
1. Recursive algorithms in generalized coordinates and velocity-stepping using contact impulse solvers.
2. Algorithms and software development for Model-predictive control with full dynamics in real time, contact-invariant optimization (CIO) as a new approach to optimal control
3. Simultaneous state estimation and system identification problems resolving - by jointly optimizing the movement trajectory and the model parameters.
The Movement Control lab has significant results in the design of robotic hands which have become faster and almost as compliant as human hands.
Also some notable promotions of the very impressive people that worked in the Movement Control Lab includes Vikash Kumar who now works at OpenAI and Yuval Tassa who is now a research scientist at DeepMind.
Speaking OpenAI, lets see a robot hand solve a Rubiks Cube.
The research at the Neural Systems Lab is concentrated on building intelligent robotic systems and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).
A BCI basically uses input from the brain to produce certain types of responses. Imagine being able to think your essay and letting the computer type the essay for you. Imagine using your brain to make movements in a video game or control a robot arm.
The Neural Systems lab’s projects and publications are focused on probabilistic information processing and building biologically-inspired robots that can learn through experience and imitation. We have no doubt that research from this lab will be used in crucial technology that will be coming in the near future.
Professor Siddhartha Srinivasa, who is Boeing endowned founded the Personal Robotics Lab in 2006.
The mission of the Personal Robotics Lab is to develop the fundamental building blocks of perception, manipulation, learning and human-robot interaction in order to provide capability for robots in performing complex physical manipulation tasks around people.
Some work from professor Srinivasa and the Personal Robotics Lab include..
MuSHR is a low-cost open-source platform to research AI and robotics on a mobile/racing car environment. This platform can becruical to prepare the next generation of engineers by combining a toy element in robotics learning and research.
Needs no introduction, this chimplike, morphing robot is also product of Professor Srinivasa and Carnegie Mellon University. CHIMP (Mobile Intelligent Robot) loves to rescue people and complete complicated tasks in degraded and dangerous environments.
The Robotics and State Estimation Lab was established in 2001. It is focused on problems in robotics with object recognition and tracking, human robot interaction and human activity recognition.
See video below of regression networks with visual tracking of random objects. This advanced system can track a number of random objects at the same time by having the network learn how an objects appearance might change.
Very interesting video and you can see how the researcher have fun while building sound technology that is on the leading edge of robotics and visual tracking.
There is no doubt that the Paul G Allen School or Computer Science and Engineering is a scientific and robotics powerhouse that will continue to produce important research and ideas in robotics.
We leave you with a quote from Paul Allen:
You look at the things you enjoy in your life, but much more important is what you can do to make the world a better place.
We do not own the rights to images or videos used in this article.
]]>If you have ever seen a Star Wars film or any other futuristic movie, it is very easy to notice one thing — robots are increasingly becoming a trend. We have been building and implementing them in our future for decades now, and while many of us never expected them to start appearing during our lifetime, it is actually happening right now.
Real-life robots do not look like the ones from movies and dont have the same purpose. These days, most robots that you might end up encountering are delivery bots created by brilliant researchers and developers throughout the world. The best example right now is FedEx's SameDay Bot.
But first, a message from our sponsor bots...
Micro Bot
Monster Bot
Colossus Bot
The SameDay Bot is a new type of a short-range delivery robot that FedEx announced back in February of 2019, and it started experimenting with it quite recently.
The Bot is basically a box on wheels, with a few screens that allow it to communicate with pedestrians and a number of sensors that allow it to move through crowded streets and determine its route. The robot is powered by a battery, and its top speed is at around 10 mph. Other than that, it is fully autonomous, and it can easily move around people and traffic on the street thanks to a combination of LIDAR sensors, similar to those in self-driving cars.
FedEx is also not the only company who is experimenting with robots. Amazon has been doing it for years, albeit in their own warehouses. There are also numerous startups that are focusing on robots, as well as some major firms that are developing them as a side activity.
No matter who is doing it, the point is that it took us only a few short years for robots to go from a futuristic science-fiction dream to one of the most crowded new fields in technology which is amazing to see in our lifetimes.
See Postmates delivery bot, Serve.
Now, while all of this does sound pretty cool, it is important to say that the road to the world where humans can coexist with robots is not easy. We can figure out how to make them and program them to do what we want them to do, that's not a problem.
The biggest issue right now is getting the government approval to have them out there on the streets. While there were no incidents caused by robots anywhere in the United States as of yet, the governments remain skeptical.
Earlier this year, robots emerged on the streets of San Francisco but were quickly pulled back because the legislators proclaimed them a nuisance and restricted their movements. The same happened only a month ago in New York City.
In the tweet below, there is a video in which you can see one of FedEx's NYC robots in action:
Now, you may think that this is a very cool thing to just bump into on the street, and in our opinion — you are perfectly correct. However, the authorities might not agree with that. The NYC Mayor, Bill de Blasio, had this to say:
First of all, @FedEx, never get a robot to do a New Yorker’s job. We have the finest workers in the world.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 23, 2019
Second of all, we didn’t grant permission for these to clog up our streets. If we see ANY of these bots we’ll send them packing. https://t.co/XxJIrIW9vr
Obviously, he is not thrilled to see robots on the streets of his city, and for a variety of reasons although we confident that he will come around! For now, delivery bots and drones are restricted to campuses and similar closed-off areas.
While that is fine for the first step, researchers and developers have been working long and hard to ensure that robots would not be a danger in the streets, while they could help reduce the pollution, reduce the number of vehicles that need to be out there, delivering things in the short-range, and more.
Our smart friends and researchers at MIT have also developed new technology called SLAM which enables robots to be able to get a sense of what things are.
See a company with a food delivery robot..
These are the years when our technological advancement can really take off. Visions of the future where humans can coexist, and even rely on robots to do some of the tasks are no longer figments of writers' imagination. These things are coming, and we should dedicate our efforts to learning about them and finding a way to live with them, instead of fearing progress.
Fortunately, not every state is as keen to shut down unmanned delivery bots. Virginia was the first to allow unmanned ground delivery robots to do their thing, and Idaho already became the second one. Furthermore, they did it back in early 2017, which is worthy of praise.
Wisconsin and Florida are also open to delivery robots. So are plenty of other companies, such as Lowes, Pizza Hut, Walmart, Target, AutoZone, and others, who are negotiating the terms of employing FedEx-like bots right now.
Pizza Hut aims to revolutionize how pizza is made and delivered - make the pizza while its being delivered for extra that fresh pizza!
Robots are coming. Their arrival will not happen overnight, it will happen eventually which is fine. In fact, every technological move we have made in the last 50 years helped improve lives and make the world a better place.
Modern technologies are not something that we should fear but encourage but at the same time, use for good and improvement of human lives. If you see a robot delivering packages and mail on the streets of your city or town, remember that you are witnessing history unfold before your very eyes, and know that the future is here- and also, please be friendly to them!
If everything is moving together, then success takes care of itself - Henry Ford
We do not own the rights to images and videos used in this article.
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