SmartViewer: Efficient Supervision of Multi-robot Task Coordination [Colloquia Summary]

Vincent Cross is a Computer Science PhD candidate at Auburn University. He is currently conducting research in Human Robot Interaction (HRI). HRI is a multidisciplinary area of research that explores how we can improve the way robots meet our needs. Specifically, Cross’ research focused on how a single operator can control a team of robots and how they can do it efficiently without being overloaded with information, making the task more difficult.

Cross speaks on various robot interfaces, comparing multiple interfaces with a single combined interface. He mentions a couple of problems associated with multiple interfaces. One problem is situational awareness, this is the operator’s awareness of the current situation that is being focused on. With multiple interfaces, there are greater chances that the operator may become confused. Another issue is that multiple interfaces puts the operator in a reactive state vs a proactive state, meaning, the operator would be reacting to whatever is seen, instead of planning the next move.

Cross is researching a few issues regarding these interfaces. Interface design, if the design of the interface is poor, the operator will have trouble completing the task at hand. He is also researching the lack of situational awareness associated with various interfaces and, the operator interaction with robots will take part in his research, as well. Cross took elements from various sources, some including a job he had working security for Best Buy with their video cameras, also, from split-screen gaming.

While doing his research, Cross designed three interfaces. They differed in the actual layout of the interface, as well as, speech recognition, varying video feeds, and controls.

To better his research, he designed an experiment. This experiment compared a “focus” view, a “monitor” view, and a “single” view interface. Within these views, he compared the time taken to complete the task, the task completion rate, and the work load. The task of the experiment consisted of a user using one of the interfaces with four, five, then six robots. They had to find three bombs, and they had to diffuse all three bombs. His independent variables were the interface and the number of robots. The dependent variables were the increments in response time and task completion rate.

The results of his experiment showed that users that used the monitor view interface completed the task the most, with the focus and single view interfaces following respectively. Users that used the monitor view interface performed the best, with very small differences in time, varying between the number of robots involved.

In future experiments, Cross would like to create more complex environments for the robots to explore. He would also like to include a virtual bread crumb trail system, where the robot knows where it has been so it does not re-explore an area. Also, Cross explained that he would like to involve heterogeneous robot teams instead of the robots being the same.

Link to presentation: SmartViewer: Efficient Supervision of Multi-robot Task Coordination

Virtual WiFi in Windows 7?

A little feature that goes by the name of Virtual WiFi, developed by Microsoft Research, would allow any Windows 7 machine to to act as an ad hoc WiFi hotspot, allowing you to share your internet connection to anyone in your vicinity.

However, this little feature, for some reason, never shipped with any version of Windows 7.

But apparently, some of the code for this feature was left behind, and aftermarket software developers like Nomadio took advantage of this. They created Connectify. It is free to download, and effectively turns any Windows 7 machine into a WiFi hotspot.

This works by using the wireless network card that is already installed on your machine and instead of just using it to obtain a network connection, it projects your connection so others can connect to your machine.

One benefit that is mentioned here is that if you have a 3G or ethernet connection, you can instantly share that connection with the devices of your friends or co-workers.

Bottom line? This little feature is a great idea. I can remember when I bought my first laptop, but I didn’t have a wireless router, yet. But I did have another laptop hooked up to an ethernet connection, and this feature would have worked great by turning my old laptop into a virtual WiFi connection.

Why does Microsoft leave out cool stuff?

Link to original article: geek.com

iPhone Robot Plays Rock Band

So, a guy named Joe Bowers has an iPhone. On this iPhone, he has installed the game Rock Band. He enjoys Rock Band and the iPhone, although, in a not so conventional way.

Yes, Mr. Bowers created a robot to play Rock Band. He started with ambient light sensors and an Arduino Mega (an electronic prototyping platform). The light sensors detect the light given off from the notes that pass down the screen and the Arduino decides if the light sensed was actually a note and presses a robotic “finger” onto the screen.

Now the problem of the iPhone’s capacitive touchscreen only responding to the touch of human flesh was cleverly solved with using conductive foam, copper wire, and an exacto knife handle. The copper wire is wrapped around the knife handle, then connected into the foam pads on the robot’s “fingers.” So, instead of touching the screen, all you have to do is touch the exacto knife handle and the rest is just science.

Although the robot is not 100% accurate, it still gets the job that it is given done. And I’m sure that after a little tweaking here and there, it will be on its way to 100%. Also, this robot is not the prettiest looking thing in the world.

Robot that plays ROCK BAND!

Bottom line? This just shows the countless possibilities that Robotics brings us. Something so simple as playing a music simulation game on an iPhone, to something so intricate as making precise incisions while performing surgery on a patient.

There’s a robot, iPhone, and Rock Band, what more could you ask for?

There is also a video of this little robot in action, it’s linked to the original article below.

Link to original article: geek.com

Solar-charging backpacks

A company by the name of G24 Innovations that is based in the U.K. has shipped their first flexible solar panels.

The U.K. company’s dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are thin-film photovoltaics that can be manufactured in flexible rolls relatively cheaply.

Mascotte Industrial Associates, will be manufacturing backpacks, duffel bags, e-book covers, camera bags, and messenger bags with these solar panels on them.

G24′s DSSC cells are designed to generate electricity from sunlight as well as from indoor lighting. The energy generated from these cells can then be accessed by cellphones or cameras. Although there have been similar backpacks in the past, with the DSSC cells being cheaper to manufacture, these backpacks may be more affordable to the general public.

I wonder what the price will be and if the cells could generate enough energy to power laptops. Also, will there be some sort of battery to store the energy generated?

I can really see this kind of technology growing quickly because of the quickly falling manufacturing prices on solar panels, and the growing need for energy for our portable electronics of tomorrow.

Bottom line? I wouldn’t mind having something like this. Give it a couple of years and you will be seeing solar panels on backpacks all over the place.

Link to original article: cnet.com

Portable NES created inside a NES cartridge

Just like the title says, someone has made a PORTABLE NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) within a NES game cartridge! The guy’s name is Ariz and he took a NES cartridge, NES controller, and a noname “made in China” portable media player, and compiled a portable hand-held NES.

The media player acts as the screen and the storage medium for the NES ROMS, and the controller is the… controller. Both of these elements are encased in an old-school NES cartridge.

A list of features:

• 4GB built in flash memory
• SD card slot for memory expansion
• 2.8-inch color LCD screen
• TV Output
• Plays NES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color games
• MP3 and Video player, FM tuner, and built-in speaker
• Internal rechargeable battery

This little piece of home-made technology is great on many levels. First, you get to revisit your favorite childhood video games from the NES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color, without having to dig out your fossilized system . Second, its PORTABLE! Third, the games are virtually stored on the media player’s internal memory, meaning no more blowing into the bottom of the game cartridge and praying for the game to start-up. Lastly, it can play music and video, so it’s kind of like an old-school PSP.

However, there are some negative points here. There are pieces of technology that are already out there that have the ability to do exactly what this thing does. For example, the PSP (Playstation Portable) has the ability to play video and MP3, it’s portable, and you can run an emulator to revisit your classic NES and Game Boy games. Also, the new PSP Go that was just released has built in memory.

Bottom line? It would be great for someone who is a collector, but going through all that trouble to make something that is already available, not for me.

Link to original article: geek.com

PS3 Slim Portable!!!!

Another interesting article that I found is about a guy named, Ben Heck, and he modifies gaming hardware and turns it into something even greater than it already is. For example, he took a new PS3 Slim and modified it. He totally redesigned the case and incorporated an LCD screen. So, this thing has a folding screen and speakers built in, making this Playstation 3 into a “laptop.”

However, there are drawbacks. This thing is not light by any means, especially compared to a laptop. This is due to the fact that it is a fully functional PS3, plus speakers, and plus LCD computer monitor. This modified PS3 also has built in power supply, and cooling fans (more than the original) making this thing a portable High Definition gaming machine.

Bottom line? I do not care how much the thing weighs, I want one, NOW.

Link to the article: geek.com

Apple Tablet?

While browsing one of my technology websites from my technology links, I discovered an article about Apple and a RUMORED (not  yet confirmed) Tablet. This thing is supposed to be pretty much like an iPhone or an iPod Touch, but with a 10′ screen size. Prices are estimated at about $700-$900 for a

10-inch “portable” media player based on iPhone OS.

As of now, the functionality of running Mac apps is still unknown.

However, because this thing is running the iPhone OS, that means that it will be able to run most of the 85,000 apps already available for the iPhone and the Touch.

But what good is a 10-inch iPhone OS media player that will set you back a whopping $700-$900 (Apple Insider says $500-$700) if it can’t run Mac apps? Why buy a pricey oversized iPod touch when a $200 more buys you an entry-level 13-inch MacBook that runs Mac OS X and thousands of desktop Mac apps? Put simply, is showing off your media, reading magazines, playing games, and doing stuff online on an ultrathin 10-inch device with multitouch user interface really worth $900?

These are very good questions. I would also like to add to these questions. Will this support any kind of Office suite like Word or something similar? Will this actually be marketed as a computer or a media player?

I have been an Apple fan for quite some time now, however, I have yet been able to afford a Mac, but I do own an iPod Touch. I would like to see this thing become more like a tablet computer rather than a huge media player. Also, I have concerns about the 10′ screen, if it will be made from glass like the iPhone and Touch, then there will be loads of broken screens out there.

Here’s the link to the original article: geek.com