Some robot images and videos

11/1/11 here is something for the Spring: http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2011/10/28/robot_videos_show_automatons_riding_bikes_pouring_beer_drawing_a.html

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(Version of 11/3/2010)

1. Robot gardening,
an artist's conception...

Art by Christine Marie Larsen, http://www.christinelarsen.com/, from her "Robot of the Month Club."

and in reality...

http://people.csail.mit.edu/nikolaus/drg/images/stories/Distributed_Robotics_Garden_060.jpg

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=2183

Recognize anything about the robots?

Discussion - what do you think??

2. Robot gardening: 
an existential perspective


Centralized infrastructure is risky


Example 1: power
    A 2-hour blackout is fun
    A 2-day blackout is no fun
    A 2-week blackout is traumatic
    A 2-month blackout - what are the consequences?
    A 2-year blackout - consequences?


Problem: electricity is highly centralized
    If fuel not delivered, no power
    If generating plant destroyed, no power
    If distribution lines stop working, no power
    No electricity, no communications
       No internet, TV, telephone...
       No communications...rumor takes up the slack
           (As it Earth 2100)
    Hard to store food or even cook without electricity


Solution: decentralize electricity generation
    How?




























Solar panels on houses would keep each house going
   Highly decentralized!
   System is robust and can't break down catastrophically
   Solar panels are decreasing in price
   Spray-on solar "paint" may happen

In my opinion, this is a lucky trend 
   Because it is so important



3. Example 2: Food distribution by truck

Problem:
    What if the trucks stop rolling?
       Drivers can't be paid
       Drivers are afraid of disease
       Country runs out of gas (& diesel)
       Rogue militias or bandits
    Things could get bad fast 
       
Solution:
     Every home is its own farm
     Save money on groceries, too!
     But who has the time?
          ...and who has the expertise...
          (I can barely grow an unhealthy corn plant)

So how is that a solution?!
The real solution:
   Robotic gardening
   Instead of a roomba, a yardba
       (Let's call it a "farmerbot")

   It tends plants
   It weeds (surely possible even now)
   It senses needs of plants
       Soil too dry
       Bugs
       Etc. (it has a camera and such)
   It has lots and lots of time to fix problems
       Carry water,
       pick off bugs,
       apply chemicals leaf by leaf
       what else?

   Idea:
       Come home from work
       Small robots bring raw food to your door
       You might still have to cook it
             No biggie - your solar panels power the stove

   My opinion:
       This is important for the safety of civilization
       (In addition to saving money)

4. What other necessities of
    life and civilization
    are over-centralized?

    ...and can they be decentralized?


5. These robots won't feed you 
but they are cool in otherways!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u23Hqq8QbeE&feature=player_embedded (World's first controllable MAV monocopter, Robotic Samara (maple seed));

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/24303/?a=f (TR article with embedded video of how it was developed/works (copy at
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid263777539?bctid=46375788001




Flying insectbot? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDR-yC3wK0
That but with other robot video links at: http://actualites.epfl.ch/presseinfo-com?id=936

UMD press release(http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=2000) embedded gee-whiz video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u23Hqq8QbeE&feature=player_embedded.

Leg lab: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/editors/24313/?a=f with embedded video;
direct from youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5iEke6UlE&feature=player_embedded#

Petman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67CUudkjEG4&feature=player_embedded;
with music track http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkztd8s5Kys&NR=1. Which is better?

Robot cars: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/without-driver-or-map-vans-go-from-italy-to-china-20101029-176ja.html

Big Dog: stable in snow, rocks, clear ice...even when viciously kicked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJJQ0zNNOM

Minibots in swarms: http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/artificial-intelligence/kilobots-are-cheap-enough-to-swarm-in-the-thousands