Boston Dynamics: Dedicated to the Science and Art of How Things Move.

Fabrication » ARCH 598 Summer 2011 information >> n-formations FABRICS // LATTICES // FIELDS This course is designed to introduce and explore computational design, algorithmic thinking, and digital manufacturing–both: the larger ramifications that emerging digital technologies and ideas are having architectural theory via readings, discussions, presentations; and the practical application of these ideas and tools through a series of hands-on, iterative modeling and fabrication assignments. Syllabus [PDF] 16 May // Monday Review of syllabus, course website + expectations. Arrange teams for reading presentations and aggregate system presentations. 18 May // Wednesday Grasshopper for Rhino Workshop (part one). 20 May // Friday Team-based presentations on the readings and selected aggregation systems.

Augmented reality robot brings us one step closer to 'Avatar' technology In the movie "Avatar," humans have developed technology that allows them to remotely control a genetically engineered alien body. Now new developments in augmented reality are bringing us eerily close to realizing that technology in the real world. Japanese researchers with Different Dimension Inc., a start-up company working on augmented reality, have invented a robot that can take on the appearance of any virtual or real character, which can potentially be controlled and animated remotely, reports Gizmag. Technically these developments go beyond augmented reality — which is the projection of virtual information onto the real world — and ventures into a new realm called "mixed reality," which gives virtual objects a physical reality. The robot avatar, or "virtual humanoid," is covered in a green-screen material which projects a computer-generated image to anyone wearing the proper head-mounted display. You can see the technology in action in the following video:

MegaBots Inc - YouTube MegaBots Season 1 Trailer 295,532 views 1 month ago Team USA is BACK and it's getting ready to take on Team Japan in the world's first Giant Robot Duel! Stay tuned for our first episode, which drops September 28th! Meet DARPA’s real-world Terminator, Atlas DARPA and Boston Dynamics, of BigDog, Petman, and Cheetah fame, have unveiled their most advanced humanoid robot yet: Atlas. At 6’2″ (188cm) and 330lbs (150kg), Atlas is incredibly imposing; with 28 hydraulically actuated joints, LIDAR and stereo vision, a beefy on-board computer, and some of the most advanced robotic limbs ever conceived, Atlas is remarkably human-like in its behavior. While Atlas is initially conceived as a disaster response robot, such as cleaning up and looking for survivors after a Fukushima-like disaster, it’s easy to imagine Atlas being the basis of a robotic army, supported by BigDog mules. As you can see in the photo above and the video below, Atlas is incredibly technologically advanced. Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot. Atlas has an on-board, real-time computer — but it hasn’t yet been loaded up with its software brain. The ostensible purpose of Atlas is disaster response. It is hard to ignore the fact that Atlas looks like a Terminator, though.

KUKA Roboter No, Really, How Do We Keep Robots From Destroying Humans? In the demilitarized zone dividing North and South Korea, SGR-1 robots are on patrol, equipped with cameras and radar to detect intruders as well as speakers to warn them off. If that fails, they also carry machine guns and grenade launchers. In the U.S., the Home Exploring Robotic Butler can retrieve a book from a shelf, a meal from a microwave or a drink from the kitchen. It can even separate an Oreo cookie. In Japan, a seal-like robot called Paro provides companionship for seniors -- and seems to ease the effects of dementia. Over the next few decades, robots will become part of everyday life. Three challenges in particular need to be explored. Robot Warriors The first and most immediate is in warfare. At the same time, fully autonomous weapons -- those that are capable of making their own decisions about whether to attack or kill, without a human “in the loop” -- make us deeply uneasy. Outside of warfare, robots will confront situations with no obvious moral resolution. Hybrid Liability

Robotics - Lockheed Martin In the field of robotics, opportunity is endless and discovery is ongoing. Our robotic innovations could represent the answer to any number of challenges – from disaster response to deep space exploration. Whether it’s traversing inhospitable environments or avoiding man-made threats, the robotic advances we’re pioneering have the potential to keep soldiers and citizens connected in the safest way possible – with real-time data, information and imagery. Our goal is to keep soldiers and citizens safe. As a first-responder, the Atlas robot could work tirelessly to provide vital support in the aftermath of disaster as well as collect and provide real-time data for emergency crews. Our K-Max unmanned helicopter replaces vulnerable convoys by delivering supplies to troops deployed on the front lines of combat. Our robotic solutions don’t necessarily replace humans; instead, they are working to achieve collaboration between a robot and its human operators.

The First Talking Robot Travels to Space The world's smallest astronaut is heading into deep orbit. At barely a foot tall and lighter than a pair of moon boots, Kirobo is a talking Japanese robot that will be the newest guest at the International Space Station. The robot, which is equipped with voice recognition programming, will record and relay communications to Mirata, a twin machine back on Earth. He will also record conversations with Kochi Wakata, the incoming ISS commander assuming leadership in November. The origin of the term "Kirobo" is a mix of the Japanese words for "hope" and "robot." He is able to perceive human faces and experience empathy and compassion, making it far more intelligent than existing question-and-answer devices like ones that offer physical therapy and assist with walking. "We are trying to help create a society where humans and robots coexist," said Fuminori Kataoka, the project's general manager, in a recent video. "It was designed so that the person feels the robot being sympathetic or kind."

Bristol Robotics Laboratory DARPA Is Developing an Intelligent Machine That Can Think on Its Feet Image via Wikimedia Commons Will a computer ever really mimic the human brain? Recently, we learned it takes 82,000 super-powerful processors to simulate just one percent of the brain for a single second—the brain is so large and complex, simulating the whole shebang is near impossible. The futurists over at DARPA, who have long been chasing artificial intelligence, are after something slightly different. The research agency's new program to this effect will focus on mimicking the cerebral neocortex—the part of the brain that's crucial for things like memory, perception, awareness, and attention. To achieve that level of insight and reason, DARPA's looking to big data—and the Defense Department has plenty of it. The concept is based on the Hierarchical Temporal Memory method of machine learning, which is based on the memory-prediction theory, which more or less theorizes that cognitive function can be distilled down to a basic algorithm. H/T Network World

National Robotics Week 2016 Will Robots Replace Rent-a-Cops? Image via Flickr Has a fear of robotics ever kept anyone from robbing banks? I'm not talking about the surveillance systems, laser-armed tripwires, noisy alarms, or automated locks on the doors. I'm talking about actual robots—an evolution of the ROOMBA Vacuum cleaner, but with legs, not cute, and definitely not something you want to rob. Now, an EU-funded, £7.2 million ($11 million USD) collaborative project, called Strands, is underway in England to develop 4D, artificial intelligence for security and care applications. It aims to produce intelligent robo-sentinels that can patrol areas, and learn to detect abnormalities in human behavior. Strands, as Nick Hawes of the University of Birmingham said, will "develop novel approaches to extract spatio-temporal structure from sensor data gathered during months of autonomous operation," to develop intelligence that can then "exploit [those] structures to yield adaptive behavior in highly demanding, real-world security and care scenarios."