tactile Simultaneous Localization and Mapping using Whiskers

There are few ways of learning. Based upon the methods the learners are classified as:

• visual learners;
• auditory learners;
• kinesthetic learners or tactile learners

In robotics, we have seen examples of using audio and visual sensors to learn the surroundings. I came across this tactile learners called Shrewbots (Or may I call them the whisker-bots). Shrewbots use the technique called tSLAM (tactile Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) to sense its environments by using few actuated whiskers. See the video:


Below you can see the tSLAM at work!

Read more:
“Simultaneous Localization and Mapping on a Multi-Degree of Freedom Biomimetic Whiskered Robot,” by Martin J. Pearson, Charles Fox, J. Charles Sullivan, Tony J. Prescott, Tony Pipe, and Ben Mitchinson from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and Sheffield University's Adaptive Behaviour Research Group, was presented this week at ICRA 2013 in Germany. via ieeeSpectrum
http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-hardware/shrewbot-whiskered-robot-tslam

Plus, you should follow BotJunkie to see some weird and interesting stuffs:
http://www.youtube.com/user/GerbilGod7?feature=watch

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#NASA's @AstroRobonaut Challenge

Here is the challenge:
Improve the vision algorithms of  @AstroRobonaut, and win some money. http://t.co/ccwbDOTUNi

A Robonaut is a dexterous humanoid robot built and designed at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. You can join him on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NASArobonaut
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We Are the Explorers! #NASA

So, after a successful public funding effort (link), we will get to see a 30 sec version of this inspiring NASA video before the movie Star Trek: Into Darkness is run on the screen!
Current funding will allow it to be featured only on major cities, so the organizers have updated their goal... to expand the reach from 59 movie theater screens to 750 screens!
Here is the link to read more about the fund raising details:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/we-are-the-explorers-a-movie-trailer-for-our-space-program
  
We need to inspire future generation!
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Li-ion battery issue of Boeing's Dreamliner 787

Santosh KC writes about a recent incident involving Li-ion battery in the Boeing's 787 Dreamliner ...

Boeing 787 Dreamliner is supposed to be one of the best planes in terms of its design, fuel efficiency and advancement of the technology. Everyone understands that every plane requires battery for backups or some electrical applications. However, the Dreamliner uses the Li-ion battery based on Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) extensively. It is because it is designed in such a way to use electrical signals for control system unlike the earlier planes with hydraulic control system.  All 787s have two Li-ion batteries weighting around 63 pounds, compared with 106 pounds for nickel-cadmium battery in 777s, and holds electric charge of 65 ampere-hours, compared with 47 ampere-hours for 777 battery and measures 8.6 inches tall by 11 inches wide in dimensions... Overheating and catching fire by Li-ion battery in laptop, smartphones and electric vehicles has already been reported in many instances. However, such issues were not reported in aircraft because the Li-ion battery was not used for the electrical system in the planes to the extent as in Dreamliner.  

Read more here...

Li-ion battery issue in Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner

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Linked profile, 200 millions and top 5% views

Recently I received a Linkedin message, stating that my profile was among one of the top 5% being viewed in the network. With about 1 profile view per day, on the average, I am guessing that you may also have received one... or will be getting one.
Here are my stats:

The stat went nicely upwards after this paper was online:
"Estimation and Bias Correction of Aerosol Abundance using Data-driven Machine Learning and Remote Sensing"
(This was presented in CIDU 2012, in Colorado;  available here at ieee site:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=06382197

Anyways here are two links that you will get if you get the email about 5%:
http://www.linkedin.com/200million/

http://blog.linkedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/200M_Milestone_Final.jpg

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