Guessing robots predict their environments, navigate better (they broke the link so I removed it. what phb removes news release web pages. They really need to find some students that actually know what the internet is and replace whoever they have running their site now.)
Engineers at Purdue University are developing robots able to make “educated guesses” about what lies ahead as they traverse unfamiliar surroundings, reducing the amount of time it takes to successfully navigate those environments. The method works by using a new software algorithm that enables a robot to create partial maps as it travels through an environment for the first time. The robot refers to this partial map to predict what lies ahead.
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Future research will extend the concept to four robots working as a team, operating with ant-like efficiency to explore an unknown environment by sharing the mapped information through a wireless network. The researchers also will work toward creating an “object-based prediction” that recognizes elements such as doors and chairs, as well as increasing the robots’ energy efficiency.
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June 20th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I’ve always enjoyed reading about robots. If I could get one to handle all of my housework, I would be forever grateful. Just kidding. I do like to see the advances that are made using technology like this though.
Thanks for your article.
Julie
June 27th, 2007 at 4:47 am
I would be forever grateful. Just kidding. I do like to see the advances that are made using technology like this though.
Thanks for your article.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
“In two years, a robot nurse could be trolling hospital hallways, handing out pills or visiting quarantined patients…”