FT.com / UK - No catch: robot fish to hunt pollution: "Something fishy is going on in northern Spain. The waters of the port of Gijon are shortly to be invaded - by robots.
Scientists are building a shoal of robot fish to be let loose in the port to check on the quality of the water. Modelled on carp and costing about £20,000 ($29,000) each to make, the fish are to be lifelike in appearance and swimming behaviour so they will not alarm their fellow marine inhabitants.
The robots, the first of their kind, are equipped with tiny chemical sensors capable of detecting pollutants in the water. These let the fish home in on the sources of hazardous pollutants, such as leaks from vessels or undersea pipelines."
Friday, March 20, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
CS Enrollment Comback
NYTimes.com Computer Science Programs Make a Comeback in Enrollment: "For the first time in six years, enrollment in computer science programs in the United States increased last year, according to an annual report that tracks trends in the academic discipline."
"The revival is significant, according to computer scientists and industry executives, who in the past have pointed to declining numbers of science and engineering students as a canary-in-a-coal-mine indicator warning about the nation’s weakening ability to compete in the global economy.
GR: Let's bring this trend to Messiah!
"The revival is significant, according to computer scientists and industry executives, who in the past have pointed to declining numbers of science and engineering students as a canary-in-a-coal-mine indicator warning about the nation’s weakening ability to compete in the global economy.
GR: Let's bring this trend to Messiah!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Carnegie Mellon's Manuela Veloso Wins Autonomous Agents Research Award
Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon's Manuela Veloso Wins Autonomous Agents Research Award: "Manuela M. Veloso, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University who studies how robots can learn, plan and work together to accomplish tasks, is the winner of the 2009 Autonomous Agents Research Award from the Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Artificial Intelligence (ACM/SIGART)."
"Professor Veloso's research is particularly noteworthy for its focus on the effective construction of teams of robot agents, where cognition, perception and action are seamlessly integrated to address planning, execution and learning tasks," according to the SIGART award citation. "Her impact and visibility have been consistently high over the past two decades for her technical contributions, for her impressive robot teams and for her leadership within the research community."
The robot wars have arrived
Planetary Gear - CNET News Q&A: The robot wars have arrived: "Just as the computer and ARPAnet evolved into the PC and Internet, robots are poised to integrate into everyday life in ways we can't even imagine, thanks in large part to research funded by the U.S. military.
"Many people are excited about the military's newfound interest and funding of robotics, but few are considering its ramifications on war in general."
"How will robot warfare change our international laws of war? If an autonomous robot mistakenly takes out 20 little girls playing soccer in the street and people are outraged, is the programmer going to get the blame? The manufacturer? The commander who sent in the robot fleet? "
"Many people are excited about the military's newfound interest and funding of robotics, but few are considering its ramifications on war in general."
"How will robot warfare change our international laws of war? If an autonomous robot mistakenly takes out 20 little girls playing soccer in the street and people are outraged, is the programmer going to get the blame? The manufacturer? The commander who sent in the robot fleet? "
Tech skills crucial to any career
Network World Tech skills crucial to any career: "College students pursuing myriad careers agree that high-tech skills will take them further, and a majority expect to encounter new technologies they will have to master in the workforce.
"Eighty percent of more than 1,600 college students polled anticipate running into new technology that they will have to adapt to and learn upon entering the workforce. More than 50% are seeking to improve their technology skills before they graduate, with technology being the top skill students want to enhance, followed by writing and marketing talents."
"Hanny explains many companies today want "T-shaped employees," meaning those with a broad knowledge base that can be applied across the business, but also a deep understanding of their specific field, such as engineering or nursing. Such demands in the workforce partly drive universities to offer interdisciplinary courses among engineering, computer science and business schools, for instance.
"Eighty percent of more than 1,600 college students polled anticipate running into new technology that they will have to adapt to and learn upon entering the workforce. More than 50% are seeking to improve their technology skills before they graduate, with technology being the top skill students want to enhance, followed by writing and marketing talents."
"Hanny explains many companies today want "T-shaped employees," meaning those with a broad knowledge base that can be applied across the business, but also a deep understanding of their specific field, such as engineering or nursing. Such demands in the workforce partly drive universities to offer interdisciplinary courses among engineering, computer science and business schools, for instance.
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