LEGO Robots Help Create Artificial Bones

Cambridge University researchers are using LEGO robots to help create artificial bones for medical and construction uses. To create the bone-like substance, the researchers must dip a sample into a beeker containing calcium and protein, rinse with water and then dip it into another beeker with phosphate and protein. The process is repeated many times. To automate the processes, instead of buying very expensive automation kits, the researchers assembled LEGO pieces and programmed them to precisely follow the regimine. Thanks to the dutiful robots, a fully made sample can be accomplished in one day. 

Facial Recognition Could Catch Criminal Avatars

As anyone who has used the interwebs knows, one of the appeals of the Internet is anonymity. But one researcher is trying to ruin it for everyone (well, maybe just criminals) by actually fusing a person’s real biometrics with his or her 3D avatar.

Sound far-fetched? Well, it kinda is. But it’s a project that came about because of a rise in virtual crime—and an increased likelihood that it will be investigated. In fact, Japanese police have arrested virtual muggers, and the FBI has investigated Second Life casinos’ dealings.

Computer scientist Roman Yampolskiy is leading the charge against virtual crimes. Already, multinational defense firm Raytheon has a patent pending on fusing a person's real biometrics with their 3D avatar. That would let you know for sure who you are speaking to online.

Yampolskiy and co. at the Cyber-Security Lab at the University of Louisville are taking the idea even further: They’re developing the field of artificial biometrics, known as "artimetrics." Much like human biometrics, artimetrics could be referenced to “authenticate and identify non-biological agents such as avatars, physical robots or even chatbots.”

When virtual worlds run on peer-to-peer networks, Yampolskiy explains, there’s no central authority to enable police to investigate virtual crime. That’s where artimetrics come in, New Scientist explains:

Yampolskiy and colleagues have developed facial recognition techniques specifically tailored to avatars, since current algorithms only work on humans. "Not all avatars are human looking, and even with those that are humanoid there is a huge diversity of colour," Yampolskiy says, so his software uses those colors to improve avatar recognition.

The team also investigated matching a human face to an avatar generated from that face; previous studies show that avatars often resemble their owners. Combining their color-based technique with existing facial recognition software produced the best results, suggesting it might be possible to track someone between the physical and virtual worlds.

Next up, Yampolskiy wants to create recognition algorithms for robots as well. Since autonomous robots might one day become ubiquitous, he says, they’ll eventually require identification of their own, distinct from humans.

Robots For All

 

Imagine building your own personal Rosie in 24 hours. That's what MIT researchers are setting out to accomplish.

MIT received a $10 million grant from the National Science Foundation to re-invent how robots are designed and produced. The goal is to make desktop technology for the average person to be able to design, customize and print a specialized robot in a matter of hours.

Currently, it takes years to produce a robot, but this five-year project called "An Expedition in Computing for Compiling Printable Programmable Machines," wants everyday people, who need help with household tasks, to head to their local printing store to select a blueprint from a library of robotic designs and customize an easy-to-use robotic device that could solve the problem. Within 24 hours, the robot would be printed, assembled, fully programmed and operational. 

Japan Plans Futuristic, Robotic Farm on Tsunami Site

According to the Nikkei business daily, Japan is planning a futuristic farm on the lands that were devastated by the tsunami. Robots, such as unmanned tractors, will work in the fields and the carbon dioxide the robots generate will be captured and pumped back to the crops to enhance their growth.

The estimated $52 million experimental project covering 24,000 hectares will begin on-site research later this year.

Industry leaders, such as Fujitsu, Hitachi, Sharp and NEC , are expected to partner in the project.

Robotic Prison Wardens Coming to South Korea's Prisons

At 5 feet tall, equipped with intelligent cameras and object-recognition capabilities, this robo-warden is looking to clean up South Korea's prisons.

The robot, which is still in the prototype phase, will begin a month-long trial next year at one prison. Afterward, officials at the Asian Forum for Corrections hope the bot will be used throughout the country to help squash violent behavior and minimize prisoner suicide attempts.

How? The bot will roll around on four wheels, using its cameras, sensors and object-recognition software to detect voilent outbursts, fights and even suicidal behavior. When the bot finds something amiss, it will notify human guards so they can take it from there.

This is an interesting way for South Korea, which is known for its robotic innovation, to cut down on the number of guards needed and, hopefully, the amount of violence they encounter. But in all honesty, I'm dying to find out how long it takes for prisoners to smash their robo-warden to bits.