 |
|
 |
COTS Scout: Team Building Robot
The COTS Scout (Commodity-Off-The-Shelf) robot is learning to play well with others - and to work as part of a search and rescue team.

(From Univ. of Minn. Center for Distributed Robotics)
Small remotely controlled robots can be very useful for investigating territory where humans cannot go, or in groups, they can look over more territory than just one person. The COTS Scout robot has these specs:
- Length: 135 mm
- Diameter: 45 mm (main body)
- Weight: 190 g
- Top Speed: 57 mm wheel 0.39 m/s, 64 mm wheel 0.42 m/s, 76 mm wheel 0.50 m/s
- Sensors: Camera (B/W), three infrared range finders, two light sensors and a pyroelectric sensor (for sensing body heat
- Control: two-way remote-control system that supports frequency hopping and signal encryption
Researchers from the University of Minnesota, the University of Pennsylvania and Caltech are devising software that will allow small robots to coordinate their actions and carry out complex commands from a human operator. The advantage is that one person could control a large group of robots by directing and giving tasks to a team leader robot, which would direct the others.
Software developed by the team would provide for collaborative sensing, distributed exploration and mapping, and independent coordination amongst each other without human intervention.
SF fans may recall that this problem is explored in Neal Stephenson's 1995 novel The Diamond Age. Swarms of tiny robots form a dog pod grid, to defend suburban enclaves from attacks by other tiny robots.
From Turning Robots into a Well-Oiled Machine via
Eurekalert.org.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 4/12/2004)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.
| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Index
of related articles:
What is encryption?
DES - The Data Encryption Standard
AES - The Advanced Encryption Standard
Related News Stories -
("
Robotics
")
AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
No mere rude mechanicals, AirRobots played airy fairies in this performance of 'A Midsummer's Night Dream'.
Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
This program really makes controlling robots a breeze. Just let your fingers make your robot do the walking.
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Take a look at these four robots performing a variety of martial arts moves.
Lev, Theremin-Playing Robot
Pretty cool DIY robotic device reprises a classic song from the 1950's, the same ere during which the theremin dominated sf movie soundtracks.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
|
 |
Current News
AirRobot Micro-UAV 'Fairies' In Shakespeare Play
At least they were not the 'rude mechanicals'.
Paralysis Ray Uses Photocontrolled Molecular Switch
Gerry was dubious. She had seen abortive attempts at paralysis rays before.
Brine Wells May Swallow Towns
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of the Quadraturin essence in 1 cup of water.
Will In-Vitro Meat Change Our Lives?
ChickieNobs, anyone?
Walky iPhone Finger Gesture Robot Controller
Let your fingers - uh - your robot do the walking. And hopping.
OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Foils Carjacker
Better than a car chase.
Robot Martial Arts Videos
Robo-Shiko!
Interactive TV Patent From Sony
Can you dance faster than the White Clown?
Smart Contact Lens With Power Harvesting Circuits
Smart contacts with VR connections.
'Significant Amount' Of Lunar Water Found
Droogs! There's water ice on the moon!
FOXP2 Tweak Yields Planet Of The Apes?
Get your filthy words off me, you damn dirty ape!
Lev, Theremin-Playing Robot
Patsy Cline classic played by robot.
XT-1 Micro Mouse With Blazing Speed
These are fully autonomouse robots.
Escape Pods, Refuge Of ISS Astronauts From Space Junk
Who first thought about escape pods?
Steerable Bowling Ball Is A Cheesy Spherical Robot
Once the province of geeks, now in bowling alleys.
Bio-Mechanics And Micro-Robotic Flight
Micro air vehicles and insect flight.
More SF in the News Stories
More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories
|
 |