Robotic Wii

Game consoles popularity rose back in the 1980s when Nintendo introduce their game console system. I can still remember the day when I got mine. I was but a child then, but the joy and endless hour of pleasure are still with me today.

I evolved quickly as new game systems came out, all the way until Sony PS1, that's where I lost all my gaming abilities, the graphics were complex and required too many maneuvering. It wasn't until last year where I rekindled my passion with the gaming system, this time back in love with Nintendo and its Wii game console system.

The popular game console has taken the nation by storm and have brought interactivity with robotics to a whole new level. So much so, that the military is now incorporating the Wiimote into their tactics as a way to controlled the warfare robots.

David Bruemmer and Douglas Few, from the US Department of Energy centre in Idaho, have adopted a mine-clearing robot to be directed by the Wii controller. The scientists found traditional controllers took up too much of the operator's attention, while the Wii controllers' movement simulate three dimensions and natural human movement using wireless technology.

DARPA: Results Are In

The grand challenges is now over and the DARPA Urban Challenge winners have been announced! The results rolled in on November 4, 2007 as DARPA director Tony Tether revealed the names of the winning teams of his agency's robot car race, the Urban Challenge.

First Place goes to the Tartan Racing team of Pittsburgh, PA. Second Place goes to Stanford Racing Team of Stanford, CA. Rounding out the 3rd Place was the Victor Tango team from Blacksburg, VA.




As Tether announced the third and then second place, he finished off by telling the audience and candidates an anecdote about his college and graduate school days at Stanford University. This done to delay the announcement of the first place winner, but there was only one obvious team left; Carnegie Mellon was the only other team among the finalist who where in the top three finishers that hadn't been announced.

Tether couldn't have been more pleased with the race, calling it a "fantastic accomplishment," and saying that the technology for robotic vehicles was now just about ready for other companies and organizations to pick up the work in honing it further. "DARPA is an interesting organization," he said. "We really never finish anything. All we really do is show that it can be done.

I believe that we have come a long way in the last two decades in the technology front and DARPA has put up these challenges to show that not only it can be done, but that it will get done.

Lightweight UAV Plane on Hydrogen

It seems that everyday I hear "we've gone green" over here and the "we are greener" over there. I just haven't gotten the full concept of going green. Maybe is because I know that recycling paper causes more damage than normal paper due to the chemicals involved, or maybe I'm just not that caring when it comes to the environment unless there is added value for me.

.This is the prime example of a story I read today, where the benefits is the green factor, not necessarily what the product was intended for. Here is the excerpt:

"Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have just developed a small unmanned plane that uses 500 grams of liquefied hydrogen to power whopping 10-hour flights."

The bottom line here is that these researchers are looking for ways to increase flight time through other fuel sources. The "green benefit" is less carbon dioxide, but they don't lead off with all the green marketing hype. Yes, we should care about our planet and consume less resources, however, less not forget the prime directive. Create unmanned aerial vehicles which can save lives, aid is in the fight against terrorism, and place our troops out of harms way

Next Goal: Unmanned Vehicles

With the Iraqi War costing in the upwards of $134.5B and increases at a rate of $177M per day, $7.4M per hour and $122,820 per minute, it is no wonder that Congress has set out a new challenge for the creation of self-driving vehicles.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, known as DARPA, whose scientists are credited with the creation of the Internet, is organizing its third Urban Challenge, designed to encourage the best minds in the world to meet Congress' requirement that one-third of all military vehicles be unmanned by 2015.

This program has been on its way for a while now, but as of 2004 not one robot has finished the race. That is all about to change in 2007 as this year’s challenge has raised the requirements. Instead of simply being able to navigate a curvy desert road, the robot cars must be able to drive in traffic.

Dr. Tony Tether, Director, DARPA, states "Vehicles competing in the Urban Challenge will be judged not just based on how fast they navigate the course, but also on how well they perform. The complexity of the Urban Challenge places a premium on vehicle performance, and our judging criteria will reflect this. It may turn out that vehicles complete the 60-mile course in less than the required 6 hours, but no one wins the prize."

To draw upon the national scientific and consumer community the third Urban Challenge has recruited ADAM SAVAGE and JAMIE HYNEMAN, hosts of Discovery Channel's Mythbusters, to host the event.

DARPA has already selected thirty-five teams as Urban Challenge semifinalists to participate in the National Qualification Event. The webcast of the announcement may be viewed here.

All DARPA Urban Challenge events are open to the public and free of charge. Spectator information including a schedule of events can be found here.

Robotic Spiderman

Researchers from the University of Canterbury had created a wall climbing robot. The research team, lead by Associate Professor XiaoQi Chen in the University’s Mechanical Engineering department, announced the breakthrough in mobile robotic technology.

Professor Chen said other wall-climbing robots being developed used either suction techniques, electromagnetic principles or nano-fibre based dry adhesion, however theirs uses unmatched technology. However, he could not discuss further the mechanics of the robot because the team is investigating patents for the new technology.

The team has other mobile units in mind, you can read more on this at Science Alert.

Army to Use Armed Robots in Iraq

The US Army recently introduce the use of armed unmanned ground system (UGS) in Iraq, marking this as a new milestone for unmanned systems and US Troops.

The Special Weapons Observation Remote reconnaissance Direct action System (SWORDS) is a version of the Foster Miller 3B robot that is outfitted with the Telepresent Rapid Aiming Platform (TRAP) remotely operated weapon station made by Precision Remotes. SWORDS can carry a 5.56 mm M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, a 7.62 mm M240
machine gun or an M109 Barrett .50-calibre sniper rifle.

The SWORDS marks the first deployment by a military unit of a safety-certified armed ground robot. This is a huge deal because troops can now be out of harms way while still in combat. The past couple of years have place a high demand on UGS and UGV (unmanned ground vehicles), however, SWORDS marks the first time robots have potential to be use as to take the infantry role.