In the first stage of the DARPA Robotics Challenge, which we reported on here, contestants were asked to demonstrate that they could navigate a virtual robot through a variety of simulated challenges. The winners received the honor of moving to the next round with a real robot provided by DARPA to compete for a spot
One of the many advantages of robots is that they can go places humans physically cannot. We often think of that in terms of search-and-rescue situations or hazardous locales like nuclear power plants (where snake-like robots have shown potential), but it has less serious applications as well — like getting the perfect view of an
As debate about the proper role of humans in the cockpit swirls in the wake of Saturday’s Asiana Airlines plane crash, the Navy achieved an important milestone by completing its first-ever carrier-based arrested landing. The feat was accomplished on board the USS George H.W. Bush off the coast of Virginia earlier today. According to the
When Congress passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, it set the clock ticking toward the day when unmanned aircraft systems must be integrated into the national airspace. The target is Sept. 30, 2015, now just a little more than two years away. That fast-approaching deadline has created a new intensity in discussions
The U.S. military has increasingly turned to unmanned systems in recent years, which is naturally reflected by a larger and larger portion of total military spending going toward acquiring the systems. However, following the U.S. fiscal crisis, the Department of Defense has made it a priority to rein in these costs where it can. One
Groups that closely monitor the evolution of unmanned aircraft systems, including the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, have spotted some language in a bill making its way through Congress that would add another obstacle to the integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace. Last week, the Senate Committee on Appropriations added language to
The International Federation of Robotics reported today that 159,000 industrial robots were sold in 2012 — the second highest total in history, but down slightly from 166,028 units in 2011. The decrease was mainly due to fewer sales in the electronics industry. In contrast, sales to the automotive industry rose 6 percent worldwide. Other industries
Recently, researchers at Sweden’s Örebro University released a video showcasing GiraffPlus, a “smart home” system designed to allow the elderly to live independently longer. The system consists of a network of home sensors that monitor residents’ health paired with a mobile telepresence robot, called Giraff, that allows caregivers to check in. The system has been
If robotics has anything close to a Super Bowl, it’s probably the DARPA Robotics Challenge, which launched last year and will conclude in December 2014 with teams competing for a $2 million prize. The goal of the competition is to develop a robot that can provide meaningful assistance in disaster relief efforts. Sticking with the
It will be years before driverless cars are available to the public thanks to technological and regulatory hurdles, but a new survey suggests that a delay is required for another reason as well: to get people comfortable with the idea of handing the wheel over to a computer. TE Connectivity Ltd. today shared the results
