586304
submission
trogador writes:
Researchers from Imperial College London are improving the Da Vinci surgical robot by installing an eye-tracker, which allows surgeons to control the robot's knife simply by looking at the patient's tissues on the screen. Tracking the eyes can generate a 3D map, which in turn can make moving organs — like a beating heart — appear to stand still for easier operation. Other features include "see-through" tissues on the surgeon's screen (so tumors can be seen underneath tissues) and "no-cut" zones, places where the robot doesn't allow the surgeon to cut by mistake. Says ICL Professor Guang Zhong Yang, "We want to empower the robot and make it more autonomous."
476444
submission
trogador writes:
In the latest feat of artificial intelligence (AI), researchers have taught AI agents to play Ms. Pac-Man — and sometimes do it better than humans. The study, performed by Istvan Szita and Andras Lorincz from the Department of Information Systems at Eotvos University in Hungary, showed that AI agents can successfully be taught how to strategize through reinforcement learning. The researchers hope that teaching Ms. Pac-Man will be an ideal means to explore what artificial intelligence is still missing.
425094
submission
trogador writes:
Researchers are trying to give avatars physical bodies, so that the virtual reality robots can control the actions and emotions of mobile robots. The unification of software and mobility like this results in the so-called "Ubibot" (ubiquitous robot), which the researchers predict is the future of interactive robotics. In the future, avatars on your pc/cell/pda screen may be able to bring you your tea, scratch your back, or do whatever robots of the future will do.
353111
submission
trogador writes:
Researchers are making another attempt at building a flying machine that uses the unique "cyclogyro" mechanism for generating a lifting force. So-called cyclogyro planes are supported in the air by power-driven rotors on wings that rotate about a horizontal axis, similar to the paddle wheels of a steamboat. Although cyclogyros were originally invented in the 1930s and a few companies have built different versions of the machine, there are no records of any successful flights.
