September 24th Archive of Elements of Robotics

This chat was from the students who are registered for credit and are getting credit for the course

- It has been edited and some answers to some questions about the class have been inserted -

[14:34:32] AlexanderReben: are many NASA robots designed by universitys such as cmu?

[14:37:15] AlexanderReben: how many of your guys in F.I.R.S.T?

[14:37:43] Grant: I am

[14:37:46] AlexanderReben: *you

[14:43:12] NASAModerator: We need your questions now

[14:43:49] AlexanderReben: do many universities such as cmu help build nasa robots, if so which ones?

[14:45:32] DanielPoynter: Are there templates(sort of templates) of an under water robot like TROV, since most of what it needs to do is the same thing, where the individual groups/companies can change little things?

[14:45:33] AlexanderReben: who works primarily on the robots? computer scientists or computer engineers?

[14:46:20] BradGates: What programming language is generally used to program robots?

[14:46:30] AlexanderReben: what types of control systems/ languages are used

[14:46:41] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Question: How far along are we with Artificial Intellegence?

[14:46:45] DanielPoynter: What do you think of research after 4-6-8 years of college? Are there many jobs one could find that allow fun (research and development) in robotics?

[14:46:51] MatthewJohnston: how many years will it take to have robots help blind people woud you estimate?

[14:47:31] AlexanderReben: does nasa run any summer programs to work and learn with robotics?

[14:47:31] Ross_Bowman: my pc kicked me offline during the talk, what is going on right now, what did I miss?

[14:47:36] Grant: there already electronic eyes for the blind

[14:48:15] BrianWoodworth: Has anyone successfully simulated human motion in a robot?

[14:48:36] DanielPoynter: MatthewJohnston: I reccomend going to Wired.com and search for their information on computer aided sight for the blind, no need for robots

[14:48:57] AlexanderReben: how do the sensors on the controler read motion?

[14:49:13] Grant: what about bipedal robots

[14:49:20] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Question: If robots are used in hospitals and such, how?

[14:49:20] DanielPoynter: Brian: Asimo, honda, its the best

[14:49:23] RBall: Does NASA do any work on D&D in nanotech?

[14:49:28] Grant: no problem

[14:49:35] RBall: *R&D

[14:49:56] JacquelineMehlberg: Do what extent does NASA consider its unmanned spacecraft robots?

[14:50:07] JennyGimian: Are robots currently used within the human body?

[14:50:10] JacquelineMehlberg: *To what extent

[14:51:01] AlexanderReben: what sort of feedback to robots return to the user?

[14:51:05] MatthewJohnston: can robots be used in combat?

[14:51:36] RBall: robots cant hurt humans

[14:51:38] JacquelineMehlberg: What are some examples of A.I being used by NASA, and where is the most development in A.I. being done right now?

[14:51:39] BradGates: What kind of processing power does the typical robot have?

[14:52:40] johnputrino: what universities would be a good idea to look in to if i wanted to study in the field of robotics?

[14:53:06] RBall: What measures are being taken in programming Robots to keep all of the units in the same system?

[14:54:00] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Can robots be used to help people without larynx

[14:54:16] RBall: too risky!

[14:54:41] DanielPoynter: ***Questions*** What are your views on your role in promoting robotic technologyes, relating to the theoretical 'Singularity' where the human race will either be wiped out entierly, or we will be elevated to a new level?

[14:55:59] johnputrino: what universities would be a good idea to look in to if i wanted to study in the field of robotics?

[14:56:12] Ross_Bowman: Is the Militry working on a robot that will totally replace all human active in war? So, that humans don't even have to lift a finger.

[14:56:41] Brian: Has anyone mastered the art of human motion through the use of a robot?

[14:57:09] AlexanderReben: anyone in F.I.R.S.T. robotics drop me some mail at with your screen name or icq# for some chat

[14:58:13] JacquelineMehlberg: Could robots be used to battle cancer?

[14:58:22] Brian: How intelligent do you beleive that artifitial intelligence can be?

[14:59:18] johnputrino: what universities would be a good idea to look in to if i wanted to study in the field of robotics?

[14:59:45] AlexanderReben: cmu

[14:59:53] AlexanderReben: va tech

[15:00:25] Grant: do you think that it will be possible to give robots reason or the ability to attach moral value to actions?

[15:00:42] Brian: I am beginning to seriously check out several universities, in your opinion which would be the best if I wish to pursue a career in robotics?

[15:01:11] Grant: Benedictine High school's first team

[15:01:23] DanielPoynter: In one of the latest Wired magazines, they talked about a man that went to brazil to get a million dollar implant directly into his head for vision...they do tests on him so that pixels come up in front of him, he was blind, now he can see little fiigures : )

[15:02:16] DanielPoynter: Relating to the university questions, do you find much difference between Rose Hulman and Purdue besides cost? I am looking ro go for robotics

[15:05:18] Grant: congratulations

[15:05:33] Ross_Bowman: What is F.I.R.S.T.?

[15:05:55] AlexanderReben: what is your view on analog robotica without digital systems?

[15:06:10] AlexanderReben: its a robotics compition for students

[15:06:18] Grant: a robotics competition

[15:06:20] AlexanderReben: *robotics

[15:06:44] Grant: high school students

[15:07:01] PernosDetunaCTJIII: ::Grins happily at the fact that his name was pronounced correctly::

[15:07:01] MatthewJohnston: :~/

[15:07:50] Ross_Bowman: thanks Alex and Grant.

[15:08:00] DanielPoynter: ***Question*** What are your views on your role in promoting robotic technologies, relating to the theoretical 'Singularity' where the human race will either be wiped out entierly, or we will be elevated to a new level? The guy that started Sun Microsystems (Bill something I think..) made an entire commentary in wired magazine recently if your itnerested in the singularity

[15:08:58] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Question: Could young children be "tagged" so that if they're kidnapped they can be found by robots?

[15:09:20] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Repeat of Matthew's question: How are robots used in the militairy?

[15:10:01] AlexanderReben: 25 watts at what voltage????

[15:11:10] johnputrino: How much power do our new surveillance robots for the military use?

[15:11:40] johnputrino: And can we drop... things... with them?

[15:11:40] AlexanderReben: im in that actually???

[15:11:45] Grant: usfirst.org

[15:12:44] Grant: 5000 entry fee for the regional competition

[15:12:52] Grant: $

[15:14:34] DanielPoynter: What are your personal thoughts on the theoretical singularity, relating to robotics, also what do you think is the future of suplimenting humans with robotics, elevating a human to a super-human level?

[15:15:29] DanielPoynter: the singularity is a time in the next 50-100 years when the number of imporvements in tehnology gets faster and faster and approaches a singulairy, at which point we cant see past it, and our predictions past the singularity are worthless

[15:16:00] AlexanderReben: please thank Daryl for his time for me!!! nice job!!!

[15:16:37] AlexThompson: What are some of the problems we have with getting robots to walk upright... it seems like it could be accomplised with a few Gyroscopes and maybe a tail for balance

[15:17:31] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Thanks Daryl ^.^

[15:17:48] DanielPoynter: Thank you for speaking and answering some questions : ) thank you!

[15:17:58] MatthewJohnston: Thank you daryl

[15:17:59] PernosDetunaCTJIII: Thanks Dr. Meri

[15:18:09] JennyGimian: Thank You

[15:18:16] MatthewJohnston: thank you Dr. meri

[15:18:20] DanielPoynter: man.... : \ none of my questions were picked to answer....

[15:18:42] Brian: Thank You

[15:18:42] AlexThompson: Thanks Daryl...

[15:18:51] AlexThompson: Did he leave an email address or anything

[15:18:53] RBall: that was fun :)

[15:19:10] JacquelineMehlberg: Thank you Daryl, Dr. Meri.

[15:19:13] BradGates: Thank You

[15:20:10] AlexThompson: To disconnects later that chat is over

[15:20:14] DanielPoynter: Anyone that would like to talk about robotics, society, politics, existence, reality, etc, you can IM me with AOL instant messenger or go to my website and contact me, DansMind.com

[15:20:20] JacquelineMehlberg: Would any of my classmates like to discuss this course with me over aim/msn/icq etc?

[15:20:43] AlexThompson: Does anyone know when the quizes are due... and when the transcript will be available

The quizes are due within 24hrs

[15:20:50] DanielPoynter: Will Dr. Meri be mad if our quesions weren't answered?

No she will not be mad

[15:22:46] DanielPoynter: ok, thank you Dr. C : )

[15:23:17] DrC: SeeYouThursday!

[15:24:38] AlexThompson: Yeah, when is the quiz due

[15:25:02] AlexThompson: DrC when will the transcript be available

The transcript should be available 24 hrs after the event

[15:26:20] VitorVianna: i think i missed the class today this is my first time logging on what do I have to do now that I missed the first class.

[15:28:48] VitorVianna: Ok thanks, but I heard something about a quiz where do I get the questions.

Quiz is available here

[15:31:30] DrC: Watch The Webcast Tomorrow (YouDon'tHaveToGet100s) To Answer Quiz Questions.

[15:32:53] AlexThompson: There's only like 5 questions... not much room for error

[15:33:25] VitorVianna: Thanks alot, but one more question when is the quiz due.

Within 24hrs

[15:34:50] Gabi: Who Do we email our answers to

Email them to the course professor

[15:36:03] Gabi: Where do we send it

[15:36:07] AlexThompson: I believe you send them to Meri... thats what the email I got said

[15:36:40] AlexanderReben: Course Professor is at meri@cet.edu

[15:36:53] AlexThompson: Hey... what time are they reshowing the webcast tommorrow

It will be available on the 25th here as an archive

[15:42:47] Gabi: Are robots ever going to be able to make decisions that are diffacult for humans to make

[15:44:36] Gabi: What are the most moderen soace robots powered by?

[15:44:49] Gabi: SPACE*

[15:45:00] AlexThompson: probably batters and solar cells

[15:45:14] Gabi: ASide from soalr power

[15:45:25] AlexanderReben: lithium ion last i heard

[15:45:32] AlexThompson: they are trying to use hydrogen but they cant find a fast reliable way of getting a large supply

[15:45:50] AlexThompson: and gaoline of course is out of the question

[15:45:52] AlexanderReben: or straight from the power derived form splitting water to o2 and h

[15:46:21] Gabi: Hydrogen used in a fuel cell sort of way

[15:46:27] Gabi: ?

[15:47:21] AlexThompson: You never heard of hydrogen powered cars?

[15:48:22] AlexThompson: Anyway, I had a question about walking robots... why cant we do it yet

[15:49:01] AlexThompson: LIke I said it seems like a few gyrascopes and maybe a tail for balance and we would be done

[15:49:43] Gabi: Yes the use fuel cells to power them They take hydrogen and Oxygen and allow it to combine through a membrane that uses the power gained from the hydrogen moving across it to produce electricity

[15:51:03] AlexThompson: Oh, sounds like I misunderstood the process. but is it as efficient as gas combustion

[15:52:44] Gabi: Still not a perfected technology but the only bi product is H2O