Friday, February 11, 2011

All The Digital Data In The World Is Equivalent To One Human Brain

Supercomputer An IBM Blue Gene/P supercomputer rack. Wikimedia Commons

From Popular Science:

If you could put all the data in the world onto CDs and stack them up, the pile would stretch from the Earth to beyond the moon, according to a new study. The world’s technological infrastructure has a staggering capacity to store and process information, reaching 295 exabytes in 2007, a reflection of the world’s almost complete transition into the digital realm. That's a number with 20 zeroes behind it, in case you're wondering.

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Roaches Inspire Robotics

Locusts like these in Eilat, Israel, are inspiring future robotic advances.
(Credit: Photo by Prof. Amir Ayali)


Roaches Inspire Robotics: Researchers Use Common Cockroach To Fine-Tune Robots Of The Future -- Science Daily

ScienceDaily (Feb. 7, 2011) — Ask anyone who has ever tried to squash a skittering cockroach -- they're masters of quick and precise movement. Now Tel Aviv University is using their maddening locomotive skills to improve robotic technology too.

Prof. Amir Ayali of Tel Aviv University's Department of Zoology says the study of cockroaches has already inspired advanced robotics. Robots have long been based on these six-legged houseguests, whose nervous system is relatively straightforward and easy to study.

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My Comment: Cockroaches?

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Making ‘Smart’ Robots For Reconnaissance

A Marine operates the then-new Dragon Runner robot in 2004 at Combat Outpost Ramadi, Iraq, in July 2004. DARPA is developing an intelligent, autonomous robot that could take recon troops out of danger. Staff file photo

DARPA Making ‘Smart’ Robot For Reconnaissance -- Marine Times

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is developing an intelligent, autonomous robot that could take reconnaissance troops out of danger.

Reconnaissance missions are among the most dangerous in the military, often requiring small, vulnerable teams to go behind enemy lines.

“They typically occupy the position in teams of four, for durations well over 24 hours,” DARPA reports. “While in position, they are exposed and difficult to support.”

Military leaders have expressed a desire for an unmanned system that would remove these troops from harm’s way, according to DARPA.

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My Comment: I can see the day when US soldiers will use both ground and air reconnaissance robots to assess the threat level in a particular region. Such reconnaissance robots will also be used to monitor activity outside of FOBs and larger bases. If the enemy is mobilizing for an attack .... you will have a head's up in being aware of what you are about to confront.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Internet For Robots Lets Bots Share Instructions And Learn From One Another

Robot to RoboEarth to Robot RoboEarth

From Popular Science:

Well, we’ve seen this movie before (literally speaking). A group of robotics engineers at the University of Technology in Eindhoven are developing an Internet for robots; a kind of online database from which robots can download instructions and to which they can upload “experience.” According to its creators, their RoboEarth system will allow robots to share information and learn from each other, allowing the benefits of machine cognition and learning to proliferate through a network of bots. Cue the SkyNet comparisons.

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My Comment: Yup .... cue the Skynet comparisons.