robots in disguise!

These days, technology plays a huge role in making life a lot easier. However, in some instances, especially in  the workplace, workers someitmes tend to consider it as a threat to job security. Fears have been mounting among them as most companies consider reducing manpower in exchange for the robotics gadgets they could have, which offer faster and safer work service. Those kinds of technology include the autonomous vehicles, which of course, will not be like typical cars equipped with Mercury catalytic converter.

Currently there are several major corporations in the world that are already testing autonomous vehicles. Some companies are already set to get them for production and have them in use.

Dr. Sarath Kodagoda of University of Technology Sydney, who worked on robotic systems for industrial and road vehicles, said that the progress to date means that the autonomous vehicles will be in regular use in industrial settings. And, that is even before the self-driving cars hit the nation’s freeways and suburban roads. He said, “Autonomous vehicles will be common in industry by the time the first cars with autopilot are on the road. The autopilot control in urban settings is more challenging than in industry.” He pointed out that a good example of how the technology can transform business is the Patrick’s Fisherman Islands container terminal. In 2004, the said company rolled out more than 20 65-ton-weighted autonomous straddle carriers, which were used in moving massive cargo containers around their facility, controlled by terminal management system.

Kodagoda enthused that the structured environment provided by the facility implies that implementing autonomous vehicles is relatively simple than putting robot cars on suburban roads. He is even part of a team developing autonomous cars that could possibly be driven on city streets. He said, “It all depends on the complexity of the environment or the simplification that you can do.”

“For example, the Brisbane straddle carrier robots are working in a semi-structured environment, so it is a bit easier to plan. But, if the vehicle has to be sent through traffic without any human intervention, that is a difficult scenario because unexpected things can happen,” he explained. If undesirable things happen, most probably the use of such autonomous vehicles will simply be stopped. A lot of affecting factors are subjected for tests to create a single complex maneuver.

However, it wouldn’t be impossible that many years from now, the creation of robots will be perfected. People will be credited and will experience the convenience in life, but some would also suffer the consequence. Kodagoda said, “If you want to automate a container yard there are human factors involved. People are losing jobs, so it might not be a very co-operative environment at the beginning when something like this is introduced,” as he pertains to the autonomous vehicles. “There can be some non-technical aspects that need to be resolved,” he added.

So, what do you say? Would you want to have such technology in use?

Who is Little Ben? No, he’s not your typical kid from the neighborhood. Little Ben is in fact, a silver-gray Toyota Prius that can drive itself home. The latest innovation in military technology, Little Ben is currently undergoing sophisticated tests at Lehigh University and is being perfected in preparation for its great race at DARPA’s Urban Challenge.

The U.S. military is in great hope that Little Ben will be contributing to the reduction of the number of lives lost in supply mission in war zones.

Lehigh University, specifically a parking lot near the Rauch, Fieldhouse, has been the testing grounds for Little Ben, for the past couple of months. Little Ben is continuously being developed by defense contractor Lockheed Martin together with the engineers from Lehigh, the University of Pennsylvania.

Last month, Little Ben went practicing three-point turns and stopping at several checkpoints as its programmers requested. The tests are currently being held at the Lehigh University’s Goodman campus, according to mcall.com. And although somebody has been set to sit at the wheel, unlike your typical car with its Saab clutch nobody is manually operating the car.

Little Ben is programmed to see in three dimensions and pick out other vehicles, curbs and obstacles with the help of the collaboration of computer program, lasers and global positioning system.

Dan Lee, a Lehigh assistant professor of computer science and engineering with a doctorate from Penn and a Penn professor who leads the Ben Franklin racing team with John Spletzer of Lehigh (phew… such a long title he’s holding), said, “We didn’t optimize the car for comfort.” He has brought the two universities together for a distinct international competition (DARPA’s Urban Challenge), where they would be able to bring home as much as $2 million from the US government.

“In 2001, Congress mandated replacing one-third of the military’s ground combat fleet with driverless vehicles by 2015. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA – whose grants have led to such technologies as the Internet and stealth aircraft – sponsored the first two robot races in 2004 and 2005, breaking new ground for driverless vehicles,” said in the source.

Aware and concerned about this, Spletzer said, “We have these soldiers in places like Iraq who are being maimed and killed… We could replace some of these drivers with driverless vehicles to move supplies, so that fewer soldiers are at risk of being killed by a roadside bomb.”

They believe that the Urban Challenge would be a great entry to start moving towards their vision. With all efforts given, Little Ben is hoped to make it qualify to the semifinals.

Lee said, “In the future you’ll see much more automation in cars to help drivers, especially people who are disabled… Maybe your car will drive you home after you’ve had too much to drink”

At DARPA, a lot of tough competitors will be gathering. Various unique vehicles will be representing each team.

For Lehigh, the Toyota Prius was the best choice, since it has a large battery pack that could run numerous electronic devices. And, since it is a hybrid, efficiency is a great point.

Well, I would personally be waiting for the moment of truth and hope that Little Ben would make it on top of the Big Race.

The DARPA Urban Challenge is about to happen on October 26 through November 3 this year. It is the third major robot-car competition mounted by the U.S. Defense Advance Research Projects Agency and will be held at the urban military training facility at the former George Air Force Base in Victorville, CA. What's the prize? a whopping $2 million for the big winner.

Last August 9, the MIT has been announced as one of the 36 semi-finalists for the big competition. It will be the only representative from New England.

According to astronautics professor Jonathan How, one of four principal investigators (PIs) leading the school’s effort, said, “The MIT name is on the side of the car.” “Is it possible to add more pressure? I don’t know,” he continued.

How MIT will think its way out of dilemmas that may stymie other vehicles navigating the DARPA course is something robotics fans and enthusiasts can look forward to. In xconomy.com How was quoted as saying, “We have algorithms in place that are using 15 to 18 of our cores… If you didn’t have 40 computers you couldn’t do it that way — so we have a design freedom that others may not have.”

There will be no typical Volvo antenna mast in the MIT’s machine. All there is are electric servo-motors attached up to the gas pedal, brakes, and steering column. It also has few dozen off-the-shelf automobile radars, laser range finders and video cameras.

How said, “Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s going to drive so well in an urban setting.” This is for knowing that the real challenge in the DARPA competition mainly aims to build software that will give a vehicle “the ability to picture its surroundings and respond to encroaching hazards, all the while moving toward the finish line.”

Seth Teller, a professor in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS), explained, “There are at least three levels of planning happening in the car… There is the long-range planning of ‘What intersections do I visit?’ Then there’s ‘What is the next few hundred meters of trajectory? What road segment should I choose to advance the mission?’ And then there’s, ‘What’s coming up in the next five or 10 meters, or the next few hundred milliseconds?’ [And] how should the gas and steering and brakes be moved so that the car meets the higher-level trajectory goals.” To sum it up, How said, “It’s a lot more dynamic than previous challenges.”

Moreover, Teller said, “If you could have safe autonomous cars, you might be able to avoid many of the 40,000 highway deaths we have every year in the United States. You could probably save a lot of fuel by having cars drive in a more smoothly coordinated fashion. And you could improve productivity by letting people read or work in the back seat while their cars drive.”

“We have had a very motivated group of graduate students who very early, in June 2006, basically banged on the table and said, ‘We really want to do this,’… We were game to do it, but to have them come and basically insist that we do it pushed us over the edge,” Teller continued.

More about this matter has been discussed in the site I have mentioned earlier. Upon reading, my interest to watch over MIT team’s performance in the competition was boosted, knowing that they have extreme dedicated to win the race.

Last night, I watched a DVD of the movie “Transformers” once again. And in an instant, I suddenly thought of how my BMW 735 parts will be transforming into a robot figure. On the second thought, well it wouldn’t be nice watching over a war of robots in the city. It just seems to be too dangerous living in a world were robots think on their own. That is for knowing that they might also have greedy interests on others, just like normal people have. The only difference is that they are much powerful than humans, that they could do things faster, even the undesirable ones.

At present, there are robots created that don't actually possess individual perception and own thought yet. These robots are mostly run by programs for specific purpose, which mostly is to bring forth speed and ease in doing things.

Just this morning, I gained the interest to know what is up in line with robotics. From technewsworld.com, I have learned that the Pentagon’s research selected three thirty-six semifinalist that will compete for limited spots in a robot challenge. That test was in goal to know how well autonomous vehicles can navigate city streets without human help.

Earlier, twenty-four teams dueled in a similar contest sponsored by DARPA and Stanford University. Last year, Volkswagen achieved the title of the race in Mojave Desert.

The rest of the three dozens, specifically the 12, were first-time participants. They will be part in the semifinals on October at an urban military training facility at the former George Air Force Base, Victorville.

From thirty-six, they will break it down to 20 for the final race that will be held on November 3.

As stated, the competitors will follow California traffic law, wherein they will run in traffic, sharp turns and obstacles (utility poles, trees, parked cars). It will be done without the aid of human control.

It is not a cheap competition, since prizes is held as high as US $2 million, $1 million, and $500,000 for the top three placers. That is as they complete the obstacle course in six hours. Last 2004, there was no winner, since none of the competitors finished the desert course. Last year, five were able to cross. So, this year might be a bit more than that. I’m sure everyone will be preparing their best for this much awaited competition.

Finally, the moment we are all waiting for. Transformers: The Movie is finally available in DVD. You read that right guys, the movie about cars and robots is now available on DVD. The DVD is priced under $20 and goes on the market this coming October 16.

Three new DVD versions are available:

• Single-disc release
  
• A two-disc, extras-laden Special Edition
  
• Special 2-disc HD-DVD Special Edition

Just like Saab Ball Joints, all these will be available on your nearest record bar and department stores nationwide.

Aside from the gorgeous DVD, Michael Bay, the director of the box office chart busting Sci-fi movie, will also add his commentary on the second disc together with more features like:

• Behind-the-scenes stuff
  
• Casting backgrounder
  
• Document on how the Bay worked with Hasbro to
  
• Transform the toy line into a live-action feature film
  
• Piece on the military training the actors underwent to prepare for their roles
  
• And many more

This news was from Autoblog.com when I visited their site early this morning. Bay also included some of the information about Chevy and GM cars which they used in the movie. This collaboration is also a feature on some parts of the DVD.

You haven’t seen this Transformer member in the movie but I am introducing him to you. It’s kind of awkward that this autobot is the lamest member of the robots according to Autoblog, but anyway he looks strong and tough as well given that autobot pose. He may appear stronger ready to battle with the Deceptions but take a look at him. I don’t find him really interesting. No offense but I guess the maker should have added more masculine features on those arms and legs. Like BumbleBee and Optimus Prime who both are armored and ready to fight. And take note, Swerve transforms into an Aveo on his car mode. He should have scanned the nearesst Corvette for him to have a gorgeous look or a Volvo car wearing the powerful Volvo expansion tank to appear more masculine. But anyway, he is there and there is nothing we can do.

Autobot Swerve is a part of GM new promotion, says Seibertron.com, a Transformer’s fansite. Swerve is only limited to 2,000 pieces which comes for free when you buy the new Aveo. This is kind of expensive for a Transformer follower since it is not sold in the market. Unless a new Aveo buyer would sell it then they can get with without actually purchasing the car. 

Swerve is a limited edition toy which also has two modes: the car mode which is the Aveo and the Autobot mode. It is more interesting I guess if BumbleBee a Camaro car also offers the same. I will definitely line up for a Camaro toy, no doubt about that.

I know, you are all familiar with this person. We are all Transformers addicts here so I guess you know the relevance of this man to my site. Anyway, for those who do not know who Michael is, he is the director of the 2007 block buster box office movie hit, Transformers.

Michael Benjamin Bay is his real name. He was born in February 17, 1965. He is famous in the US film industry as a producer and a director. He was also featured as a director of these following films:

Bad Boys (1995)
The Rock (1996)
Armageddon (1998)
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Bad Boys II (2003)
The Island (2005)
Transformers (2007)
2012: The War for Souls (2010; in pre-production)
Bad Boys III (TBA)

"There You'll Be", Faith Hill (2001)
"Falling in Love (Is Hard on the Knees)", Aerosmith (1997)
"Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are", Meat Loaf (1994)
"Rock 'n' Roll Dreams Come True", Meat Loaf (1994)
"I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)", Meat Loaf (1993)
"You Won't See Me Cry", Wilson Phillips (1992)
"Do It to Me", Lionel Richie (1992)
"Love Thing", Tina Turner (1992)
"I Touch Myself", Divinyls (1991)

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