News PresentationNews Presentation

RoboticsRobotics

What is a Robot?What is a Robot?

A A RobotRobot is- is- a mechanical device a mechanical device sometimes resembles a humansometimes resembles a human performs complex human tasks on performs complex human tasks on

command or by being programmedcommand or by being programmed

HistoryHistory

1801- Joseph Jacquard invents textile 1801- Joseph Jacquard invents textile machinemachine

First reference to the word robotFirst reference to the word robot

History…History…

First programmable robot- Universal First programmable robot- Universal AutomationAutomation

1997- Pathfinder put on Mars by 1997- Pathfinder put on Mars by NasaNasa

PathfinderPathfinder

Automation vs. Remote ControlAutomation vs. Remote Control

Automation- operation using a stored Automation- operation using a stored program, without outside influenceprogram, without outside influence

Remote control- operation using Remote control- operation using outside influenceoutside influence

Scientists Tweak RobotsScientists Tweak Robots

University of MemphisUniversity of Memphis Robert Kozma, Director Robert Kozma, Director

Computational Neurodynamics LabComputational Neurodynamics Lab Stan Franklin, co-director, Institute Stan Franklin, co-director, Institute

for Intelligent Systemsfor Intelligent Systems

Salamander RobotSalamander Robot

salamandersalamander is an amphibian is an amphibian does not bump into things or fall offdoes not bump into things or fall off doesn't hurt itself as it moves around doesn't hurt itself as it moves around

the landscape the landscape recognizes prey, predators recognizes prey, predators takes advantage of opportunities takes advantage of opportunities

Robots with biological brainsRobots with biological brains

salamander robot, to begin withsalamander robot, to begin with

machines which think, learn and machines which think, learn and make decisions using brain waves make decisions using brain waves

NASA ConnectionNASA Connection

NASA and the National Science NASA and the National Science Foundation are funding this researchFoundation are funding this research

Mars is roughly 143 million miles Mars is roughly 143 million miles awayaway

Signals from Earth take 12 minutes Signals from Earth take 12 minutes

to reach thereto reach there

next generation of Rovers- more next generation of Rovers- more independent, thoughtful independent, thoughtful

biological brain like computer biological brain like computer software software

smart rovers – choose best scientific smart rovers – choose best scientific targets for study on Mars targets for study on Mars

Traditional vs Future S/WTraditional vs Future S/W

Traditional- based on strings of Traditional- based on strings of numbers and symbols numbers and symbols

Future- encodes information in the Future- encodes information in the form of very complex oscillations, in form of very complex oscillations, in the style of brains. the style of brains.

Root of WorkRoot of Work

Rabbits, not salamanderRabbits, not salamander University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley Prof. Walter J. Freeman worked on Prof. Walter J. Freeman worked on

rabbits rabbits Freeman is collaborating with Freeman is collaborating with

University of Memphis team University of Memphis team

The formulaThe formula

Brain Research + mathematical Brain Research + mathematical models + chaos theory + neural models + chaos theory + neural networks + other mind-bending networks + other mind-bending stuff => brain wave computer s/wstuff => brain wave computer s/w

Robot Dogs Robot Dogs

software being tested on Emma and software being tested on Emma and NemoNemo

they think and learn they think and learn

Other usesOther uses

new types of computersnew types of computers financial forecasting financial forecasting autonomous flying or floating vehicles autonomous flying or floating vehicles defense defense

Some thoughtsSome thoughts

Is it safe to give brain-like thinking Is it safe to give brain-like thinking power to machines?power to machines?

Is it possible for the events of the Is it possible for the events of the movie “Terminator” to be a reality?movie “Terminator” to be a reality?

What about an error in the code of a What about an error in the code of a robot performing a vital task?robot performing a vital task?

Valerie, the "Roboceptionist" Valerie, the "Roboceptionist"

Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University world's first world's first robot receptionist robot receptionist with a with a

personalitypersonality her face is displayed on a flat-screen her face is displayed on a flat-screen

monitor mounted atop an industrial monitor mounted atop an industrial robot robot

What can Valerie do?What can Valerie do?

gives directionsgives directions answers phoneanswers phone gossips about her life- her boss, her gossips about her life- her boss, her

psychiatrist and her dream of being a psychiatrist and her dream of being a lounge star !lounge star !

Socially skilled RobotSocially skilled Robot

Valerie is an attempt to create a Valerie is an attempt to create a socially skilled robotsocially skilled robot

Valerie’s behavior is an illusion that Valerie’s behavior is an illusion that she is more aware socially than she she is more aware socially than she really isreally is

Dispensing advice and aspirationsDispensing advice and aspirations

greets visitors as they approach greets visitors as they approach answers questions typed from answers questions typed from

keyboardkeyboard tells stories about her lifetells stories about her life talks on the phone with her talks on the phone with her

"motherboard" "motherboard"

Some thoughtsSome thoughts

Should social robots be made to look Should social robots be made to look like humans? like humans?

Could Robots like Valerie take away Could Robots like Valerie take away human livelihood?human livelihood?

Sensory PerceptionSensory Perception

VisionVision Range FindingRange Finding Tactile SensingTactile Sensing Voice CommunicationVoice Communication

VisionVision

camerascameras infraredinfrared heat signaturesheat signatures

Range findingRange finding

RadarRadar TriangulationTriangulation

Tactile SensingTactile Sensing

touch sensorstouch sensors slip sensorsslip sensors joint forcejoint force

Voice communicationVoice communication

Speech recognitionSpeech recognition Word templatesWord templates

SandstormSandstorm

a robot on wheelsa robot on wheels a self driving vehiclea self driving vehicle creation of Carnegie Mellon creation of Carnegie Mellon

University's University's Red TeamRed Team diesel-powered 998 HMMWVdiesel-powered 998 HMMWV

Darpa’s grand challengeDarpa’s grand challenge

was held on March 13, 2005was held on March 13, 2005 unmanned vehicles had to navigate unmanned vehicles had to navigate

over 200 miles of obstacle-strewn over 200 miles of obstacle-strewn desertdesert

How Sandstorm works?How Sandstorm works?

it scans its surroundingsit scans its surroundings data fed into Intel Itanium and Xeon data fed into Intel Itanium and Xeon

processorsprocessors chooses a coursechooses a course

A challengeA challenge

stabilizing the sensors so that they stabilizing the sensors so that they can gather reliable datacan gather reliable data

like a Cheetah like a Cheetah stabilizes its head stabilizes its head while in motion after its preywhile in motion after its prey

Some thoughtsSome thoughts

What do you think was the biggest What do you think was the biggest challenge to Sandstorm during the challenge to Sandstorm during the race?race?