FORT BENNING, Ga. - War would be a lot safer, the Army says, if only more of it were fought by robots.
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A New Generation of Robotic Weapons
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David Walter Banks for The New York Times
REMOTELY CONTROLLED Some armed robots are operated with video-game-style consoles, helping to keep humans away from danger.
And while smart machines are already very much a part of modern warfare, the Army and its contractors are eager to add more. New robots - none of them particularly human-looking - are being designed to handle a broader range of tasks, from picking off snipers to serving as indefatigable night sentries.
"In surveys between Japan and the US, it seems that the Japanese really want robots that are indistinguishable from humans, while in the US and the West in general, people would rather know it's a robot that they are dealing with"
"In surveys between Japan and the US, it seems that the Japanese really want robots that are indistinguishable from humans, while in the US and the West in general, people would rather know it's a robot that they are dealing with"
David Hanson's robot faces look and act like yours: They recognize and respond to emotion, and make expressions of their own. Here, an "emotional" live demo of the Einstein robot offers a peek at a future where robots truly mimic humans.
"A competition to develop next-generation robots capable of saving lives in disaster zones has been unveiled by the Pentagon's advanced research laboratory.
Darpa says it wants "adaptable robots with the ability to use human tools - from hand tools to vehicles".
It plans to hold a series of emergency response physical challenges."
"Printed-on-demand robots might be a reality before the end of the decade if a US-based project achieves its goals.
Researchers aim to build a desktop technology that would allow an average person to design and print a machine within 24 hours.
The team says that making it easier to create specialised robots could have a "profound impact on society"."
Robots for stroke therapy are also being tested in the UK
Intensive therapy using a robot has helped patients improve arm movement years after having a stroke, according to a US study.
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Researchers enable a robot to fold towels
More than just a household convenience, the project is a step forward in the robotic manipulation of non-rigid objects"
Learn how to program all the major systems of a robotic car from the leader of Google and Stanford's autonomous driving teams.Udacity was founded by three roboticists who believed much of the educational value of their university classes could be offered online. A few weeks later, over 160,000 students in more than 190 countries enrolled in our first class, "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence."
Four robots have set out on an epic 33,000 nautical mile (66,000km) journey across the Pacific Ocean.
Created by US firm Liquid Robotics, the four are aiming to set the record for the longest distance at sea travelled by an unmanned craft.
Throughout their journey the robots will gather lots of data about the composition and quality of sea water.
Although this is an Op-Ed piece, I thought it worth our attention. I could serve as a stepping off place for a unit on AI and Robotics, or stimulate a myriad of debates at the end of such a unit. I have enjoyed my summer reading of Lanier's book You Are Not Your Gadget_ and share this piece with you.
CyberKnife, a non-invasive procedure that uses a robot and targeted radiation to eliminate cancerous tumors. SmartPlanet looks at the new technology and how it's working on cancer patients like Stuetzle.
"# 9/11 was the first time robots were deployed for disaster response
# They've been used in most disasters since, including Katrina and Fukushima
# Two PackBots sifted through rubble and checked for structural integrity after 9/11"