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Friday, June 19, 2009
The Future of Combat.
How the next generation war is going to be? Not sure, see following video.
Intelligent machines deployed on battlefields around the world - from mobile grenade launchers to rocket-firing drones - can already identify and lock onto targets without human help.
There are more than 4,000 U.S. military robots on the ground in Iraq, as well as unmanned aircraft that have clocked hundreds of thousands of flight hours.
The first three armed combat robots fitted with large-caliber machine guns deployed to Iraq last summer, manufactured by U.S. arms maker Foster-Miller, proved so successful that 80 more are on order, Sharkey said.
But up to now, a human hand has always been required to push the button or pull the trigger.
If we are not careful, he said, that could change.
Military leaders "are quite clear that they want autonomous robots as soon as possible, because they are more cost-effective and give a risk-free war," he said.
Several countries, led by the U.S., have already invested heavily in robot warriors developed for use on the battlefield.
South Korea and Israel both deploy armed robot border guards, while China, India, Russia and Britain have all increased the use of military robots.
Washington plans to spend $4 billion by 2010 on unmanned technology systems, with total spending expected rise to $24 billion, according to the Pentagon's Unmanned Systems Roadmap 2007-2032, released in December.
James Canton, an expert on technology innovation and CEO of the Institute for Global Futures, predicts that deployment within a decade of detachments that will include 150 soldiers and 2,000 robots.
The use of such devices by terrorists should be a serious concern, Sharkey said.
Captured robots would not be difficult to reverse-engineer, and could easily replace suicide bombers as the weapon of choice.
"I don't know why that has not happened already," he said.
But even more worrisome, he said, is the subtle progression from the semiautonomous military robots deployed today to fully independent killing machines.
"I have worked in artificial intelligence for decades, and the idea of a robot making decisions about human termination terrifies me," Sharkey said.
Ronald Arkin of Georgia Institute of Technology, who has worked closely with the U.S. military on robotics, agrees that the shift toward autonomy will be gradual.
But he is not convinced that robots don't have a place on the front line.
"Robotics systems may have the potential to outperform humans from a perspective of the laws of war and the rules of engagement," he told a conference on technology in warfare at Stanford University last month.
The sensors of intelligent machines, he argued, may ultimately be better equipped to understand an environment and to process information.
"And there are no emotions that can cloud judgment, such as anger," he added.
Nor is there any inherent right to self-defense.
For now, however, there remain several barriers to the creation and deployment of Terminator-like killing machines.
Some are technical. Teaching a computer-driven machine - even an intelligent one - how to distinguish between civilians and combatants, or how to gauge a proportional response as mandated by the Geneva Conventions, is simply beyond the reach of artificial intelligence today.
But even if technical barriers are overcome, the prospect of armies increasingly dependent on remote-controlled or autonomous robots raises a host of ethical issues that have barely been addressed.
Arkin points out that the U.S. Defense Department's $230 billion Future Combat Systems program - the largest military contract in U.S. history - provides for three classes of aerial and three land-based robotics systems.
"But nowhere is there any consideration of the ethical implications of the weaponization of these systems," he said.
For Sharkey, the best solution may be an outright ban on autonomous weapons systems.
"We have to say where we want to draw the line and what we want to do - and then get an international agreement," he said.
Article from http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3393730
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Draganflyer X6
The Draganflyer X6 is a remotely operated, unmanned, miniature helicopter designed to carry wireless video cameras and still cameras. Operate the Draganflyer X6 helicopter with the easy to use handheld controller while viewing what the helicopter sees through video glasses. The Draganflyer X6 helicopter uses a unique 6-rotor design refined from an original concept that has been under development since early 2006. Draganflyer X6 Tech Specs
Expandable
The Draganflyer X6 helicopter accepts multiple interchangeable video camera and still camera modules.Choose the camera that is best for you:
- 10.1 MP digital still camera with 720p video recording,
- 1080p HD video camera,
- Low light video camera,
- Thermal imaging video camera,
- Micro color video camera.
What can it do for you?
Use the high definition motion video provided by the Draganflyer X6 helicopter for security, reconnaissance, inspection, damage assessment, research, real estate promotion, or advertising. It can be used forEasy to Fly
The Draganflyer X6 helicopter uses 11 sensors and thousands of lines of code to self-stabilize during flight. This means the Draganflyer X6 is easier to fly than any other helicopter in its class. The Draganflyer X6 on-board software is the result of extensive testing and development since early 2006. Draganflyer X6 Flight Stability
Affordable
The Draganflyer X
6 provides many of the same benefits of larger surveillance aircraft at a fraction of the cost. Obtain aerial photography without the cost of having to rent a plane each time! Request a Quote
UAV Tactical Use
The Draganflyer X6 helicopter is a revolutionary reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV); it can be transported in a 5.5" diameter tube slung over the users back while always being ready to launch immediately. Fly it over hills to get a safe view of what is on the other side. Draganflyer X6 Military Applications
See more details at ... http://www.draganfly.com/uav-helicopter/draganflyer-x6Tuesday, June 16, 2009
www.bing.com top features!
Microsoft has just launched new search engine www.bing.com .
It has become very popular due to many reasons and given Google a hardtime to rethink. Following are few top features.
It has become very popular due to many reasons and given Google a hardtime to rethink. Following are few top features.
- Searchers can choose the best scope for their search query
- Bing can provide best match and useful links and information
- Quick Preview of the any website
- Bing can provide Instant Answers
- Bing will Auto-Suggest the search queries
- Bing contains Explore Pane which includes a table of contents of the various Web Groups generated by your search query.
- Viewing Images and Video in Bing is so easy without pagination
- Images can be filtered by size, aspect ratio, color, style and face etc
- Video can be filtered by duration, aspect ratio, resolution or source etc
- We can search over 16 million videos across the popular video website like MSN, AOL, MTV, ESPN, YouTube, MySpace, Daily Motion, Metacafe and Hulu etc.
- Bing provides access to your Session History in the Explorer Pane within a single browser session for up to 48 hours
- We can compare the rankings of favorite celebrity is hot or not using xRank feature
- Bing Shopping is currently lists products for more than 540 online retailers like Lenovo, HP Home & Home Office Store, Buy.com, Zappos.com Inc etc
- User-friendly Quick Tabs search results with one click
- Bing can provide related searches including videos in the search results page.
- Related Searches are displayed in the left-hand navigation
- Rich Listing Results which display favorite restaurant location, phone number, one-click directions and menu.
- Sentiment Extraction feature will summarizes user and expert reviews around the web.
- Travel information is at your fingertips Ex. Hotel Accommodations, Flight timings etc
- Bing will provide Instant Answers
- User can refine the search using Search Refinement functionality
- Hotel Rate Key feature for color-coded rating system
- Bing easily provides information about medical, symptoms, diagnosis and medical procedures from nine trusted medical resources like Mayo Clinic, the American Cancer Society and MedlinePlus
- Bing simplifies tasks and provides great insight
- So finally main focus of the bing is Health, Local , Shopping , Travel
- Bing can be accessed through Mobile at http://m.bing.com/
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Mubi's Rover With Live Video Streaming...
A Rover project with Live streaming from on board camera and controlled from Tahoe-II board. Commands can be sent from Tahoe-II board (hosting a .net application) to I-BOX Microcontroller using XBEE and same medium is used for I-BOX to stream video from onboard camera to Tahoe-II built-in LCD module.
Rover will be equiped with onboard...
1. Infrared distnace sensor
2. Two surfacce color detector
3. Touch sensor
4. VGA Camera
5. X-BEE Module
6. Light detector
Host applicaiton to control and monitor the mission is developed using...
1. VS.Net 2008
2. .Net Microframework 3.0
Tahoe-II is connected via USB to deploy application on to the board. Board has touch screen which make application very intteractive. Latter it can communicate wirlessly with controlle using X-Bee.
I hope this technology will be mature enough in next couple of years. Then we will be able to take part in Google's Lunar Lander Challenge :).
AD-150 high-speed VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle
The AD-150 is a high-speed VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle that is being developed by American Dynamics Flight Systems as a future competitor for the United States Marine Corps' Tier III VUAS program as well as other current and future United States VTOL UAV programs.
The AD-150 program began in response to continued interest in maritime capable VTOL UAVs by the United States Department of Defense.
The AD-150 utilizes two wing-tip mounted High Torque Aerial Lift (HTAL) lift and propulsion systems to provide the thrust needed to sustain and transition between hover and forward flight. The two HTAL systems are driven by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PW200 Turboshaft engine.
The vehicle's propulsion configuration is similar to the Doak VZ-4 in that the 2 propulsion systems are able to tilt from vertical to horizontal mode in order to achieve high-speed forward flight. Unlike the Doak VZ-4, however, the propulsion systems in the AD-150 are also able to pivot longitudinally.
A full-scale model of the AD-150 was displayed for the first time at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's (AUVSI) Unmanned Systems North America exhibition in Washington D.C. on August 7, 2007.
General characteristics
Crew: None
Length: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Wingspan: 17 ft 6 in (5.34 m)
Height: 4 ft 9 in (1.49 m)
Gross weight: 2,250 lb (1,020 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW200, 750 hp (560 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 345 mph (556 km/h)
Endurance: 4 hours
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
For more details see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dynamics_AD-150
Thursday, June 4, 2009
BuckyBalls Magnetic Building Spheres
BuckyBalls Magnetic Building Spheres are really that cool. You can build basic shapes, complex sculptures, magnetic jewelry, or even outfit your refrigerator in bold and unique ways. Just look at all the shapes and forms you can make with these bad boys - it's amazing! BuckyBalls Magnetic Building Spheres are just what you need to help you brave the boredom of the office. And really, when else will you get to play with your BuckyBalls at work and not get in trouble?
BuckyBalls In Action
BuckyBalls Magnetic Building Spheres
Super powerful, rare earth, magnetic balls - for you to play with.
Make sculptures, puzzles, patterns, shapes, jewelry . . . the joy is endless.
Each set contains 216 BuckyBalls.
Ages: Not for kids or adults under 12 years of age.
Dimensions: each Buckyball is approx. 0.125" in diameter.
You can buy this from http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/dads/bbe8/
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Full Body Motion Control for the Xbox
At the E3 Expo, Microsoft unveiled something called “Project Natal” which is a whole new way to interact with your Xbox 360. Like Nintendo’s Wii, Natal lets you control a game using motion, but unlike the Wii – very unlike it, in fact – you don’t hold any sort of controllers or sensors in order to do so.
Instead, the bar that sits above or below your TV has a camera, sensors, and a microphone within its casing. In other words, it can see you and your movements. It even does facial and voice recognition and lets you swipe through screens by moving your hands (how “Minority Report” is that!)
Although Project Natal has no official name, pricing, or release date yet, development kits are being sent out to partners now.
See full artical at ... http://on10.net/blogs/sarahintampa/Project-Natal-Revealed-Full-Body-Motion-Control-for-the-Xbox/
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Shadow Robotic Hand
No, the Shadow Robot Hand is not a futuristic martial arts stance, but is an actual robot hand that boasts a pretty dextrous disposition, enabling it to perform previously unimaginable feats (for a robot at least) such as picking up small coins from the floor and holding a tomato gently. This high level of dexterity is achieved by using compressed air in 36 of its 'muscles'. These air reservoirs are refilled by a foot pump. Currently, the Shadow Robot Hand's limitation depends on the creativity of the programmer who codes under GPL. No idea on how much it costs, but you can be sure it ain't gonna be cheap.
See more details at http://www.shadowrobot.com
Monday, May 25, 2009
SRV-1 Blackfin Mobile Surveillance Robot
Explore the dangerous terrain of your home or office with the SRV-1 Mobile Robot. This palm sized bot packs tank-like treads a 1000MIPS 500MHz Blackfin BF537 processor and a mini video camera. Using 802.11b/g wi-fi the SRV-1 interfaces wirelessly with a remote PC. The Java-based console software includes a built-in web server to monitor and control the SRV-1 via a web browser from anywhere in the world, as well as archive video feeds on demand or on a scheduled basis. Get programming with fully open-source software for robot and host computer.
Important Note
The SRV-1 Mobile Robot comes fully assembled and ready to use, but requires some technical knowledge of Java, networking and the command line to set-up the software. If you feel comfortable tinkering and have had experience configuring a basic web server you should be in fine shape. Read the SRV-1 Set-Up Instructions and you'll have a good idea if you've got what it takes.
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