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Perceiving Robotic Industrial Arm Inches Toward Autonomy
kkleiner writes "Willow Garage spinoff IPI has developed a visual system for its line of robotic arms that enable the machines to perceive a specific object in the midst of random ones. On-site videos show the 'sensing' robots analyzing stacks of random boxes, selecting certain ones, and tossing them to a human handler. The software is also used in an automated box unloader that requires no human supervision."
That second video is just great. The robot really looks like it's an animal trying to figure out how to get at the box.
It makes me wonder if we can get some Pixar animators to work on these robots when it comes to human interaction. I'd love to see a robot arm look all dejected when it can't figure out the problem, and then sheepishly ask its meatbag handler for help.
3D Printing Tips and Tricks at Zheng3.com
For those interested, I recommend Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots, by Ronald Arkin.
I would prefer something more useful
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Integrating what is perceived is the HARD PROBLEM.
Sorry -- presently watching, in order, the MIT150 'Brains,
Minds and Intelligence' video-series.
(I can really recommend the series -- at least it taught
me how still, a.d. 2013, much of AI is still a lot of PR).
Enjoy!
And based on the second video, they will treat the packages with the same gentle, loving care provided by human UPS workers. You can feel safe in the hands of the robot.
"First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
I think you mean 'robot flings kitten'.
Zen Robotics is doing this now with C&D (Construction and Demolition) Debris. http://www.zenrobotics.com/ , http://singularityhub.com/2011/05/16/robots-take-over-recycling-video/
There is work being done by a bunch of people in the EU, mainly due to the great legislation regarding waste reduction. There's a great little book I picked up a bit ago outlining some of the processes in automated waste recovery (Comprehensive Information Chain for Automated Disassembly of Obsolete Technical Appliances ) . I had gone into grad school to work on this area, and it turns out it's been going on for the past 30 years or more.
The biggest issue is cost, where it's still cheaper for manual labor than to automate the system. If you're interested in some papers I have a whole boatload regarding automation in electronic waste.