For robot building enthusiasts, newcomers and grad students. This is one of a very few encyclopedic tell-all’s that every robot builder must have. MIT PhDs Jones and Flynn, who make their living designing and building commercially successful robots, have packed this book with tons of useful basics from wide-ranging topics. They’ve included useful resources to help you understand the design, construction and operation of the autonomous robots you’ll build with this book. Lots of tables, illustrations & color photos. Continue reading
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A robot that will watch our house MSecurit with motion sensors and thermal cameras
Soon we will have a robot guarding our house with all sorts of early warning and surveillance systems. MSecurit It is designed by the company MoviRobotics, a company located in Albacete in Science and Technology Park, University of Castilla la Mancha. MSecurit has motion sensors and thermal cameras. This is a half-clever and autonomous robot capable of human figures of different objects. The robot in question could go to an individual and to analyze their movements to assess whether it represents a danger or behaving in a suspicious manner and give alarms signals. You can also transmit the image of your surveillance camera can rotate 360 degrees and record and issue day and night. You can also send to the central image of the subject security and location coordinates detected.
This surveillance robot can also be diverted from the central security towards a specific objective to gather more data before acting.
The first prototype of this robot is designed for indoor places but its creators have already announced that in 2009 hope to construct another model adapted to open and measured outdoor spaces equipped with other devices such as gas detectors or chemicals. MSecurit weighs about 30 kilos and the company that created it: MoviRobotics expected to market soon with the goal of selling 100 units in the next two years.
HONDA, ATR and Shimazu, control the robot ASIMO WITH THOUGHT
The Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. (HRI-JP), a subsidiary of ![HONDA_ROBOT_1[1]](http://honda-p3.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/HONDA_ROBOT_11.jpg "HONDA_ROBOT_1[1]")
Honda R & D CO. LTD.., Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) and Shimadzu Corporation, have jointly developed the first world an interface to control the movements of a robot with the brain (Brain Machine Interface) technology that uses an electroencephalograph (EEG) and infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), along with the newly developed information retrieval technology that enables only control a robot with human thought. It requires no physical movement, such as pressing buttons. This technology will be further developed for many applications in the future, through integration with intelligent technologies and / or robotic technologies.
![HONDA_ROBOT_001[1]](http://honda-p3.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/HONDA_ROBOT_0011.jpg "HONDA_ROBOT_001[1]")
During the process of human thought, there is a slight electric current and the change of blood flow in the brain. The most important factor in the development of technology BMI (Brain Machine Interface) is the accuracy of the measurement and analysis of these changes. The new technology uses the BMI EEG, which measures changes in electrical potential of the scalp, and NIRS, which measures changes in cerebral blood flow, with a new development of information extraction technology that allows the statistical treatment of the complex information in these two types of sensors. As a result, it was possible to distinguish brain activity with high accuracy without any physical movement, when and only with human thought.
![HONDA_ROBOT_003[1]](http://honda-p3.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/HONDA_ROBOT_0031.jpg "HONDA_ROBOT_003[1]")
BMI technology announced by JP-HRI and ATR in 2006, used a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan brain activity. The breadth of powerful magnetic fields generated by the fMRI scanner limited locations and conditions under which could use. Because the new measurement device, everything has changed, and can be transported and used in numerous locations.
![HONDA_ROBOT_004[1]](http://honda-p3.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/HONDA_ROBOT_0041.jpg "HONDA_ROBOT_004[1]")
The android built by Honda shows in Barcelona their new skills.
It’s almost a little person. The robot Asimo, in which the automaker Honda wanted to show the world who could play “a complete and functional mobility,” showed yesterday for the first time in Europe that runs faster, speaking, serves coffee, is capable of shaking hands and that he can stop without therefore crash. More than many humans. However, one must be trained to talk with him say things very clear and let him know the intentions. And if not, let them ask the mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu, who yesterday stood with his hand in the air awaiting the response of the robot when he helped to inaugurate the second Conference on Robotics. And is that Asimo, despite its progress, has limitations for assessing a situation, but once entered can matter politely admonish the speaker if you think this time is exceeded hold your greeting.
Proof Tray
So the robot, even though it was time employee at the headquarters of Honda in Japan as a friendly and efficient receptionist, crude would still find a job in the world of humans, if only to serve those cafes that with such skill its creators have managed to bring in a tray, which transports and leaves a smooth table. A daily gesture of humans do not stop to think about their complexity: acknowledge the environment, and move around obstacles, assessing the strength to bear weight, perform vertical movements and find a place to deposit the load. All this is possible because the new Asimo has used his fingers and thumbs like humans, to grasp objects. And many new sensors.
“We must improve decision making, the autonomy of behavior and how it works together,” said Edgar Korner, president of Honda Research Institute Europe. That is, make it more efficient. For scientists, he said, have been able to reproduce human mobility, with actions such as climbing stairs, or spinning while running without stop, but have not yet managed to convey the resolution and emotions. “Intelligence-type has a brain, but we to understand how the brain works to reproduce the architecture of control, “says Korner.
Footballer
So far, this android backpack that measures 1.30 meters and weighs 54 kilos, makes his first steps as a player, with a perfect style. For those who want to check today, and free sessions are open to the public, but to see it is to travel to the Biomedical Research Park of Barcelona.
The robot can read the minds of human beings
If you’ve seen the movie then I’ll understand this mechanism, a mechanism that face the thought of humans boob need no brain implant. This news makes us think that jailbird fiction are becoming reality more closely. Japanese firms Honda and Shimadzu: The Brain-Machine Interface (Brain-Machine Interface or BMI), have created a mechanism jailbird for the first time the user can give orders to a mechanism thought only jailbird
Asimo, the humanoid mechanism is capable of scorn until four orders issued by the human mind, involving four different movements: mastermind the left, right, both feet or mouth. But developers hope can be expanded in future applications. The engineers responsible for this breakthrough technology that brain patterns were performed in 90.6%
It is the first time it reaches a high success rate discolour, according to engineers from the Japanese manufacturer who recalled that until now the most that epoch there had been a 66% accuracy. Science takes decades after the dream of connecting the human brain to machines, mainly maternity patients relieve paralysis jailbird.
But unlike other medical technologies, jailbird that device is not necessary to set any device on the head of the person who gives the orders, they said.
“This could revolutionize the world of neuroscience”, issued Yasuhisa Arai, administrator for research and development (R & D) Honda and BMI responsible for developing the technology by the manufacturer Shimadzu. The technology has two key points: a device for extracting information from the brain and, according to engineers is the hardest part, the identification of different brain patterns and maternity Honda this step first used a combination of technology of EEG (electroencephalogram), which measures changes in electrical impulses from the brain, and NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy), which calibrates jailbird changes in blood flow.
That is no longer necessary for the subject to move or receive special training. The device is also portable and jailbird mechanism which is experiencing.
Asimo, Honda’s robot humanoid Brain
There are different kinds of robots, including humanoids which are for instance those who left us watching the movie “Robocop” or to deliver a more everyday example, the robot Asimo from Honda. As can be seen in the first graph of this article, the Asimo was changing as the technology of artificial intelligence was giving way to the opportunity to improve the conditions under which these machines could perform both basic functions like walking, lifting hands, moving his head, etc., up to complete much more complex operations such as jumping, walking, and say a few words.
The robot Asimo from Honda, which stands for A dvanced S tep in I nnovate Mo bility, has among its main features being built entirely in a way that can bend and do all the typical movements of human beings, through their embedding within overall system of a computer-brain which is controlled by remote control. This device also controls the charging party robot, so you can have more time for action without a massive waste of energy used for mobilization of the humanoid, thereby allowing an action which is much more controlled.
Asimo from Honda can walk at a speed of 3 km / h run twice, almost imitating the movements of a child who is just starting to take its first steps. The integrated system coordination Asimo similarly lets do simple tasks with their mechanical arms such as carrying trays to use small items like keys and even bend some things to organize them. To make a little reference to mobility, Asimo is also able to rotate, completing laps around its axis which is located in the ring.
A battery pack is charged to provide fuel for this likeable character, he’s an increasing feeling that occurs in public. The advantages that can provide the robot Asimo in the future are quite striking, for example, widespread service customer service in all types of organizations as being observed, the possibility of being used in rescue maneuvers, no doubt a valuable toy teaching in many kindergartens, as “virtual teacher” for new models of education and why not, the study of motion in bodies.
ASIMO Birthday Party 2nd November 2009
Honda engineering team started to research and development of the biped humanoid robot, representing a unique approach to the Challenge of Mobility, as follow-up to the existing technologies such as the development of two and four wheeled vehicles and product application of general purpose as power products.
The basic concept the Honda engineering team tried to build was the robot should be like in human society and began on the new technology for the home usage. “As a result of continuous research, the design team concluded that the robot had to be capable of performing functions such as moving through furnished rooms and going up and down stairs, and focus on the “biped mobile function” that correspond to the basics of human mobility.
The design team decided that the robot should employ biped mobility technology to make it compatible with most type of terrain including very rough surfaces, setting their sigh high, Honda engineers, thus accumulated innovative technologies for an “autonomous biped robot” which was considered far from realistic that time.
A number of technical challenges have been aimed at one goal, to make a new type of robot that would be used in daily life.Honda will continue to take on the challenge also into the future, to offer a new dimension in mobility by creating a robot that can coexist and cooperate with humans and ultimately benefit society.”
ASIMO is the humanoid robot which is created by Honda Motor at Honda’s Research & Development Wako Fundamental Technical Research Center in Japan. His name in full is “Advanced Step in Innovative MObility”
ASIMO Apearance:
– Height = 130cm
– Weight = 54kg
– Width= 45 cm
– Depth= 37 cm
– Battery= Lithium Ion 51.8 V/ 6 kg 3 hours to fully charge. It located as ASIMO’s backpack
–
His Ability:
– Walking speed= 2.7km/hr
– Walking speed while carry thing weight 1kg= 1.6km/hr
– Running speed= 6km/hr
– Cycle Running speed= 5km/hr
– Grasp objects
– Degrees of freedom= 34 (three in the head, seven in each arm, two in each hand, one in the torso, six in each leg)
Technology for his Recognition:
– Moved objects Recognition: ASIMO can detect the moved objects by using the camera in his head. With this ability he can follow a person, or greet a person when they approach.- Postures and gestures Recognition: ASIMO can react to and be directed by the natural movements of human beings. This enables him to react what people is making a gesture infront of him. For example, he can recognize when somebody raise hand to shake hand with him or when somebody waves and he will respond by waving to them accordingly.
– Recognition of Environment: ASIMO can recognize the objects and terrain of his environment for his safety and the human nearby him. Such as, recognizing stairs. And stop walking and then start by avoid hitting humans or other moving objects.
Sounds Distinguishition: ASIMO can identify the source of sounds, and he can distinguish between voices and other sounds. When soneone calls his name, he can respond to, and he also can face to people when being spoken to, Moreover, he can also respond to questions, by nodding his head, a shake of the head.
– Face Recognition: ASIMO can recognize faces. He can recognize individually around 10 different faces. Once they are registered he can address them by name.
A new European project promotes the development of service robots
The EU has financed $ 2.16 million project called Phriends ( “Physical Human-Robot Interaction: Dependability and Safety”). The technology developed in this project will use both the development of industrial robots to help people (physical rehabilitation, sports, health …). The aim of Phriends is to create a new generation of robots that are safe and versatile for interacting with humans.
The project coordinator Antonio Bicchi said “we are still far from what we see in science fiction films, most current robots can only operate safely in different environments than humans. […] The classical approach robotics is to design and build robots with a specific task in mind. Phriends robots will be developed by insurance, since security is guaranteed by its own physical structure and not by external sensors or algorithms that can fail. “
Robot evaluates tissue layers with nanometer precision
The robot is capable of displaying NanoZoomer with an extremely high resolution tissue samples at various levels in order to help the understanding of cancer. This allows detailed assessment of the effect produced by cancer treatments on cells and tissues. This development is the result of cooperation of the institute of pathology and medical and biometric information from the University of Heidelberg and the Japanese company Hamamatsu Photonics.
Dr. Niels Grabe of the Institute of Biometry and Medical Informatics and research director of TIGA notes that in the future robots will be able to determine in a fully automatic changes in cells and tissues.
NASA space shuttle launch today Endeavor to send “robot alien” space
The space shuttle Endeavor in the U.S. NASA will be released on 11 Eastern time U.S., as scheduled. 7 astronauts and concentrated on October 9th at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This space trip Endeavor send the “robot alien” developed by Canada and the experimental module “La Esperanza” developed by Japan to the International Space Station.
It is an arduous task that flight of Endeavor, which set a new record in the duration and the number of spacewalks by astronauts on flight tasks NASA to establish the International Space Station. This space trip will last 16 days as scheduled. Its main task is sent to the International Space Station two-armed robot named Dextre and the experimental module “La Esperanza”, developed by Canada and Japan, respectively.
To install the robot and the experimental module on the International Space Station, astronauts intend to make 5 spacewalks. The total operation time will be approximately 30 hours. The astronauts jokingly call the Dextre two-armed robot developed by Canada Frankenstein, “Strange Science” described by the English writer Mary Shelley. Dextre, with arms of approximately 3.4 meters long each and about shoulder width 2.4 meters, is about 3.7 meters high, weighing 1550 kilos and has no legs or face.
Dextre, the robot’s name comes from the English word “Dexterous. Like its name, the robot can rotate freely on their waist and each of its two arms has 7 joints. In his hands, rather tongs, handles are installed, cameras and lights. However, Dextre can work with only one arm each time to avoid imbalance or shock in his hands. The initial purpose of developing Dextre is to help astronauts maintain the space telescope “Hubble” and the astronauts of the ISS to accomplish tasks and meet certain hazardous tasks outside the module in place of astronauts.