Exhibit Descriptions
Robots: An Exhibition of U.S. Automatons from the Leading Edge of Research
Highlighting the WTEC International Study of Robotics
TABLE 1
The USC humanoid robot head shares some functions with human heads. The robot can learn from a human teacher to perform various motor behaviors and can use visual attention mechanisms to focus on interesting objects in the environment. The demonstrated behaviors reflect interdisciplinary research in neuroscience, robotics and computer vision, and serve as building blocks for creating autonomous, full-body humanoid robots.
Return to Robots webcast page.
TABLE 2
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Learning to Walk in 20 Minutes
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Russ Tedrake
(e-mail: russt@mit.edu; phone: (617) 253-1778;
Web site: http://people.csail.mit.edu/russt/index.html)
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Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (417 KB)
View a clip of the MIT's Bipedal Walking Robot. |
MIT's small, bipedal walking robot learns to walk in 20 minutes by taking advantage of walking dynamics. The robot learns with every step it takes, continually adapting to terrain. That learning technology will enable robots to walk more quickly, more efficiently and over more terrain, potentially making robots practical for applications from prosthetics to robotic exploration.
Return to Robots webcast page.
TABLE 3
The molecule robot demonstrates how a robot composed of many simple modules can use the property of module relocation to change shape. Module relocation allows the robot to adapt to different tasks and build arbitrary, 3-dimensional structures.
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The exhibit demonstrates approximately 10 self-assembling robots that attach to each other to form larger structures. Attendees will be able to handle the robots--4 inches (10 centimeters) wide, less than a quarter pound (100 grams) in weight--and discover the assembly rules encoded on them. The exhibit will include videos of the robots assembling into structures.
Return to Robots webcast page.
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This is a demonstration of "steady hand" robotic guidance. Researchers will showcase virtual fixtures for neurosurgical applications such as aneurysm clipping and skull base drilling. Attendees will be invited to have a "hands on" experience with the robot. The exhibit will also show two compact, image-guided robot systems developed for prostate biopsy and brachytherapy applications. Video will show other related activities from the NSF Engineering Research Center for Computer-Integrated Surgical Systems and Technology (CISST).
Return to Robots webcast page.
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Spanning 8 feet in length and weighing roughly 370 pounds, the SAUV is a long-endurance underwater robot that can endure multi-day missions supporting sensory mapping, security and environmental monitoring applications. The robot will be on display along with video showing the vehicle in action.
Return to Robots webcast page.
TABLE 7
This joint demonstration by researchers from Carnegie Mellon, the University
of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Berkeley, focuses on novel
forms of legged locomotion. The collaboration brings together seven research
and development groups, including biologists, robotics researchers and industrial
robotics developers. The resulting systems exhibit mobility, speed and efficiency
not previously seen in the robotics field.
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TABLE 8
One of the most important quality-of-life factors for older adults is their ability to independently move from place to place. The Co-operative Locomotion Aide (COOL Aide) is a passive, shared control, robotic walking aide that seeks to determine a user's intent and assist the user with movement. This exhibit will show how COOL Aide determines a user's intent from low-level input and how the control system operates without destabilizing its user.
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TABLE 9
The exhibit revolves around a miniature robot--smaller than a soda can--called the COTS-M Scout. Equipped with multiple sensors, including a camera, researchers will throw the robot and then ask it to drive to a particular location and transmit video to a handheld unit. Visitors will be able to drive the robot or monitor an object of interest.
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TABLE 10
The Drexel Autonomous Systems Lab (DASL) researches and develops both manned and unmanned aerial and terrestrial vehicles. DASL's current focus is on sensor suites to fly autonomously in near-Earth environments like forests, buildings, caves and tunnels. The exhibit showcases several flying test beds and DASL's recent work using air and ground robots to identify and extract casualties from disaster areas and battlefields.
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TABLE 11
NASA's twin robot geologists, the Mars Exploration Rovers, launched towards Mars on June 17, 2003, in search of answers about the history of water on Mars. They landed on Mars January 24 PST (January 4 and 25 UTC). The Mars Exploration Rover mission is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. The full-scale Rover replica from NASA Headquarters will be on display.
Return to Robots webcast page.
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