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Robots Learn To Follow

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the no-sinking-ships-available dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "Three years after the development of robots that act like rats, UC Davis engineers have designed a control system for robots allowing them to pick up on cues that the leader is about to turn, predict where it is going and follow it. This system mimics the human ability to capture signals — consciously or not — from drivers on the road or people walking in the streets to predict what they're about to do. As the team leader said, 'Robots that are better at following could be easier for people to work with.' With this system, a hospital robot could follow doctors during their rounds."

8 of 61 comments (clear)

  1. Sign me up! by stormguard2099 · · Score: 4, Funny

    i wanna be the first kid on the block with Stalkerbot 5000!

    --
    http://greenobyl.com/ please.... think of the children!!
  2. H.E.L.P.eR. by fyoder · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As said the team leader, 'robots that are better at following could be easier for people to work with.' With this system, an hospital robot could follow doctors during their rounds."

    Cool. Sounds like we're not far from the development of a real life H.E.L.P.eR.

    H.E.L.P.eR. has a wide range of devices in him and knowledge. He can perform surgery (as he once did to retrieve a kidney each from the boys), can fly the X-1, and holds a number of various gadgets in his body -- enough that Dr. Venture could even use him as a makeshift kidney dialysis machine.

    --
    Loose lips lose spit.
  3. Overlords by hack++slash · · Score: 5, Funny

    I for one welcome ou....hey stop following me!

    --
    To do something right, you often have to roll up your sleeves and get busy.
    1. Re:Overlords by Plutonite · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Read up on the DARPA Urban challenge winners, especially the stanford and carnegie-mellon vehicles. Not only could they adjust themselves according to other vehicle behavior (i.e following the directions and speed of multiple objects on the road) they even learned to negotiate intersections. They sure as hell could follow you around ;)

  4. I, for one... by Lt.Hawkins · · Score: 4, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new robot followers...

    --
    -- My Sig is a P228.
  5. Oh no! by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Funny

    With this system, an hospital robot could follow doctors during their rounds.

          As if the hordes of medical students weren't enough! Now robots are going to get in the way too?

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    1. Re:Oh no! by Sylver+Dragon · · Score: 4, Funny

      At least the robots will be useful.

      --
      Necessity is the mother of invention.
      Laziness is the father.
  6. Next Month by Rie+Beam · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Robots Master the Conga Line"