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GUIs for Robots

Posted by michael on from the click-drag-boom dept.

kabir writes "OpenGL.org has a link to a fun article over at the Stanford Aerospace Robotics Laboratory. It seems an OpenGL-based GUI has been developed to enable the operation of multiple complex field robots by a single operator. The interaction mechanism was inspired by interface techniques refined in the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre of video games. Fifty years from now I expect all wars to be fought by giant robots controlled by teenagers."

3 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Games by GigsVT · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The interaction mechanism was inspired by interface techniques refined in the Real-Time Strategy (RTS) genre of video games.

    This is interesting. Often it seems the games are ahead of the "serious apps".

    One of my friends in high school put together a level in Duke Nukem 3D that was based on our high school. It was pretty accurate. This was pre-columbine, so nobody was thrown in jail for it.

    If these game companies just put a little extra effort into retrofitting their game engines for serious purposes, they might sell the same thing for hundreds of dollars a copy. Imagine something like a first person shooter combined with The Sims. You could design your whole house, to scale, and then walk through it.

    Click a menu option and output a postscript file to send to the structural engineer and architect for tweaks and approval.

    Whoever does this will probably make lots of money.

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  2. wars fifty years from now by danox · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Fifty years from now I expect all wars to be fought by giant robots controlled by teenagers

    What I think is more likely is that fifty years from now we will see the US decimate more 3rd world countries using robots controlled by teenager, who only think they are playing a game and thus will never reveal what they have done to the media, and in fact no one will ever find out since the press were never informed, and those who try to find out will be detained indefintately without trial for allegedly breaking the latest anti-terrorist laws which prohibit attempting to criticise national defence actions in any circumstances.

    Well come to the wonderful future Mr. Bush is building for the world.

    --
    "Me and my girl named bimbo . . . limbo . . . spam" - Captain Beefheart.
  3. A total reversal by MarkusQ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Fifty years from now I expect all wars to be fought by giant robots controlled by teenagers

    In stark contrast to the situation today, where wars are fought by teenagers controlled by giant robots.

    -- MarkusQ