Claytronics, if smart robots are in O(scary), then this is in Omega(scary^{scary})

Picture this:
- Imagine a day when you can make your cell phone smaller to fit more comfortably in your pocket, then make it larger so you can text more easily.
- Imagine that you could make your cell phone take the shape of a headset when you want to talk on it or re-shape it like a bracelet so you can wear it while jogging
- Now imagine a robot that could take different shapes depending on a certain line in its code.
Well, imagining time is over because Intel and CMU are now working to create programmable matter. This is how it works, take millions of millimeter-sized robots and enable them, through software and electromagnetic forces, to take on various shapes and sizes. The programmable matter is called claytronics and the tiny robots are called catoms. Each catom will have its own processor. Think of each catom as a tiny robot or computer that has computational power, memory and the ability to store and share power. Then program millions of catoms to work together, much like a swarm of bees or a flock of birds (and this is not ant-colony algorithm btw). Developers are focused on creating software that will focus on a pattern or overall movement of the system of tiny robots. Then each robot will be smart enough to detect its own place in the pattern and respond accordingly. If, for instance, a catom, or robot, detects that it has only one other catom beside it, it will know that it's on an end and can act according to what the end piece should be doing.

And it gets even better, it also could mean that instead of looking at images on a screen, gamers could have animated figures running around their houses(right on the face of project Natal). And instead of calling your co-worker to discuss something, a 3D facsimile of him or her could sit in your office and discuss a new project or the next year's budget.

The challenges involved include creating new programming languages, algorithms and debugging tools to get these massive systems to work together any a host of other things. But this on one dimension of robotics bound to revolutionize life as we know it.



credits: computerworld and acm

Tired or 'Humankind' Olympix? How about 'Robotkind' Olympix?

Sounds like science fiction? Not really. China has announced plans to hold a robot Olympics in 2010, in which humanoid robots will compete in 16 different events ranging from athletics to machine-related tasks such as cleaning. The organizers expect more than 100 universities from around the world to participate in the competition, which they believe will drive innovation and lead to the development of robots that are more flexible and helpful. The event will take place at the Harbin Institute of Technology, home of a robot research group that has built a successful team of soccer-playing humanoids. However, a specific date for the robot Olympics has not been set, too bad (I want to book a ticket :P). China faces a crowded calendar for robot sports and other competitive events. The 2010 RoboGames are scheduled for April in California, and there is an annual competition for robots that can mix cocktails, light cigarettes, and chat with bar patrons called Roboexotica. The world cup for robots, which drew entries from 400 teams in 35 nations last year, will take place June 2010 in Singapore, and the Federation of International Robot-Soccer Associations runs a similar event.

PS: The games will be open to only Humanoid robots

What will "A Midsummer Night's Dream" be when done by Robotkind?

A production of William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Texas A&M University will feature both human and robotic performers. An AirRobot helicopter and six toy radio helicopters will serve as the production's fairies. The robotic performances are being used by the Texas A&M's Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to learn more about how people react to the flying devices. "It's now possible for these unmanned aerial vehicles to be used for evacuation or for crowd control," says Texas A&M professor Robin Murphy. "But what's missing is understanding what makes a person trust or fear the robot." Over the course of the production's rehearsals and first performances, the researchers have documented several surprises, including that people thought the robots were smarter and tougher than they really are. Initially, people would handle the robots rather roughly, and launch them from different positions, resulting in damage. The actors also showed little fear of the robots, which Murphy says could cause people to become complacent and possible ignore a robot's instruction or walk into the rotor blades and be hurt. "The robots by themselves apparently aren't scary, so we need additional research to make them move like friendly hummingbirds or angry bees to get the desired effect," she says.

read more here

credits: acm