Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Google Sky Map boldly explores open source galaxy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/google-sky-map-donated-to-open-source-community/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/google-sky-map-donated-to-open-source-community/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/21/google-sky-map-donated-to-open-source-community/#comments Via its Research Blog, Google has announced the donation of the Sky Map project to the open source community. Originally developed by Googlers during their "20% time," the stellar application was launched in 2009 to showcase the sensors in first generation Android handsets. Four years and over 20 million downloads later, Sky Map's code will be donated to the people -- with Carnegie Mellon University taking the reins on further development through "a series of student projects." Hit the source link for the official announcement and a bit of nostalgia from Google.

Google Sky Map boldly explores open source galaxy originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidastronomyCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonUniversitycmugoogleGoogle Sky MapGoogleSkyMapmobilepostcrossopen sourceOpenSourcesky mapSkyMapUrban Sky PartyUrbanSkyPartySat, 21 Jan 2012 20:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH, Kinect crowd squarely targeted]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/researchers-demo-3d-face-scanning-breakthroughs-at-siggraph-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/researchers-demo-3d-face-scanning-breakthroughs-at-siggraph-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/10/researchers-demo-3d-face-scanning-breakthroughs-at-siggraph-kin/#comments Lookin' to get your Grown Nerd on? Look no further. We just sat through 1.5 hours of high-brow technobabble here at SIGGRAPH 2011, where a gaggle of gurus with IQs far, far higher than ours explained in detail what the future of 3D face scanning would hold. Scientists from ETH Zürich, Texas A&M, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University as well as a variety of folks from Microsoft Research and Disney Research labs were on hand, with each subset revealing a slightly different technique to solving an all-too-similar problem: painfully accurate 3D face tracking. Haoda Huang et al. revealed a highly technical new method that involved the combination of marker-based motion capture with 3D scanning in an effort to overcome drift, while Thabo Beeler et al. took a drastically different approach.

Those folks relied on a markerless system that used a well-lit, multi-camera system to overcome occlusion, with anchor frames acting as staples in the success of its capture abilities. J. Rafael Tena et al. developed "a method that not only translates the motions of actors into a three-dimensional face model, but also subdivides it into facial regions that enable animators to intuitively create the poses they need." Naturally, this one's most useful for animators and designers, but the first system detailed is obviously gunning to work on lower-cost devices -- Microsoft's Kinect was specifically mentioned, and it doesn't take a seasoned imagination to see how in-home facial scanning could lead to far more interactive games and augmented reality sessions. The full shebang can be grokked by diving into the links below, but we'd advise you to set aside a few hours (and rest up beforehand).

Gallery: Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH 2011

Continue reading Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH, Kinect crowd squarely targeted

Researchers demo 3D face scanning breakthroughs at SIGGRAPH, Kinect crowd squarely targeted originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d scanning3dScanninganimationARaugmented realityAugmentedRealitycmudisneydisney researchDisneyResearchfacial scanningFacialScanningkinectmarkermicrosoftMicrosoft ResearchMicrosoftResearchmo capmo-capMoCapmotion captureMotionCaptureresearchscanscanningsiggraphsiggraph 2011Siggraph2011universityvideoWed, 10 Aug 2011 21:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Carnegie Mellon researchers develop world's smallest biological fuel cell]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/carnegie-mellon-researchers-develop-worlds-smallest-biological/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/carnegie-mellon-researchers-develop-worlds-smallest-biological/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/carnegie-mellon-researchers-develop-worlds-smallest-biological/#commentsCars and other vehicles may be the first thing that springs to mind at the mention of fuel cells, but the technology can of course also be used for plenty of other devices big and small, and a team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are now looking to take them to a few new places that haven't been possible so far. To that end, they've developed what they claim is the world's smallest biological fuel cell, which is the size of a single human hair and "generates energy from the metabolism of bacteria on thin gold plates in micro-manufactured channels." That, they say, could make it ideal for use in places like deep ocean environments where batteries are impractical -- or possibly in electronic devices with some further refinements, where they could potentially store more energy than traditional batteries in the same space. The university's full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Carnegie Mellon researchers develop world's smallest biological fuel cell

Carnegie Mellon researchers develop world's smallest biological fuel cell originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biologicalbiological fuel cellBiologicalFuelCellbiologyCarnegie MellonCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonCarnegieMellonUniversitycmufuel cellfuel cellsFuelCellFuelCellsTue, 21 Jun 2011 15:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Vibratron plays impossible music with ball bearings, is your new master (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/vibratron-plays-impossible-music-with-ball-bearings-is-your-new/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/vibratron-plays-impossible-music-with-ball-bearings-is-your-new/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/vibratron-plays-impossible-music-with-ball-bearings-is-your-new/#comments

First they came for Jeopardy!, then they came for our vibraphones. We still own baseball, but the "humans only" list has grown one shorter now that the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Club has birthed Vibratron, a robotic vibraphone. Vibratron's Arduino Mega controls 30 solenoid gates that drop steel balls onto the vibration keys, producing a note; an Archimedes screw recycles the bearings, turning them once more into sweet, sweet music. We should also note that Vibratron doesn't put decent, salt-of-the-earth vibraphonists out of work. That cacophony in the video is "Circus Galop," written for two player pianos and impossible for humans to perform -- and still pretty hard for humans to listen to. See, Vibratron is here to help you, fellow humans. At least for now. Click the video above to get acquainted.

Vibratron plays impossible music with ball bearings, is your new master (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 01:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arduinoarduino megaArduinoMegacacophonyCarnegie Mellon Robotics Clubcarnegie mellon universityCarnegieMellonRoboticsClubCarnegieMellonUniversitycmumusicpittsburghRoborchestrarobotvibraphoneVibratronvideoTue, 26 Apr 2011 01:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Carnegie Mellon's GigaPan Time Machine brings time-lapse to panoramas]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/22/carnegie-mellons-gigapan-time-machine-brings-time-lapse-to-panora/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/22/carnegie-mellons-gigapan-time-machine-brings-time-lapse-to-panora/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/22/carnegie-mellons-gigapan-time-machine-brings-time-lapse-to-panora/#comments We've already seen GigaPan technology used for plenty of impressive panoramas, but some researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have now gone one step further with their so-called "GigaPan Time Machine" project. Thanks to the magic of HTML5 and some time-consuming (but automated) photography, you can now "simultaneously explore space and time" right in your web browser -- that is, zoom in and around a large-format panorama that also happens to be a time-lapse video. If you don't feel like exploring yourself, you can also jump straight to some highlights -- like the like the construction of the Hulk statue at the CMU Carnival pictured above. Ht up the source link below to try it out -- just make sure you're in either Chrome and Safari, as they're the only compatible browsers at this time.

Continue reading Carnegie Mellon's GigaPan Time Machine brings time-lapse to panoramas

Carnegie Mellon's GigaPan Time Machine brings time-lapse to panoramas originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carnegie mellonCarnegieMelloncmugigapangigapan time machineGigapanTimeMachinehtml5panoramatime lapsetime-lapseTimeLapseFri, 22 Apr 2011 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[NC State and CMU develop velocity-sensing shoe radar, aim to improve indoor GPS routing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/nc-state-and-cmu-develop-velocity-sensing-shoe-radar-aim-to-imp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/nc-state-and-cmu-develop-velocity-sensing-shoe-radar-aim-to-imp/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/nc-state-and-cmu-develop-velocity-sensing-shoe-radar-aim-to-imp/#commentsThe world at large owes a good bit to Maxwell Smart, you know. Granted, it's hard to directly link the faux shoe phone to the GPS-equipped kicks that are around today, but the lineage is certainly apparent. The only issue with GPS in your feet is how they react when you waltz indoors, which is to say, not at all. In the past, most routing apparatuses have used inertial measurement units (IMUs) to track motion, movement and distance once GPS reception is lost indoors, but those have proven poor at spotting the difference between a slow gait and an outright halt. Enter NC State and Carnegie Mellon University, who have worked in tandem in order to develop a prototype shoe radar that's specifically designed to sense velocity. Within the shoe, a radar is attached to a diminutive navigational computer that "tracks the distance between your heel and the ground; if that distance doesn't change within a given period of time, the navigation computer knows that your foot is stationary." Hard to say when Nike will start testing these out in the cleats worn by football players, but after last week's abomination of a spot (and subsequent botching of a review by one Ron Cherry) during the NC State - Maryland matchup, we're hoping it's sooner rather than later.

NC State and CMU develop velocity-sensing shoe radar, aim to improve indoor GPS routing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Carnegie MellonCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonCarnegieMellonUniversityCMUIMUinertial measurement unitsInertialMeasurementUnitsinventionncnc stateNcStateNCSUnorth carolinaNorthCarolinaprototyperadarresearchsensorsensorsshoeshoe radarShoeRadaruniversityWed, 01 Dec 2010 17:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Google and TU Braunschweig independently develop self-driving cars (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/09/google-and-tu-braunschweig-independently-develop-self-driving-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/09/google-and-tu-braunschweig-independently-develop-self-driving-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/09/google-and-tu-braunschweig-independently-develop-self-driving-ca/#comments There's a Toyota Prius in California, and a VW Passat halfway around the globe -- each equipped with bucket-shaped contraptions that let the cars drive themselves. Following their research on autonomous autos in the DARPA Urban Challenge, a team at Germany's TU Braunschweig let the above GPS, laser and sensor-guided Volkswagen wander down the streets of Brunswick unassisted late last week, and today Google revealed that it's secretly tested seven similar vehicles by the folks who won that same competition. CMU and Stanford engineers have designed a programmable package that can drive at the speed limit on regular streets and merge into highway traffic, stop at red lights and stop signs and automatically react to hazards -- much like the German vehicle -- except Google says its seven autos have already gone 1,000 unassisted miles. That's still a drop in the bucket, of course, compared to the efforts it will take to bring the technology home -- Google estimates self-driving vehicles are at least eight years down the road. Watch the TU Braunschweig vehicle in action after the break.

Update: Though Google's cars have driven 1,000 miles fully autonomously, that's a small fraction of the time they've spent steering for themselves. We've learned the vehicles have gone 140,000 miles with occasional human interventions, which were often a matter of procedure rather than a compelling need for their human drivers to take control.

[Thanks, el3ktro]

Continue reading Google and TU Braunschweig independently develop self-driving cars (video)

Google and TU Braunschweig independently develop self-driving cars (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Oct 2010 19:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIartificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligenceautonomousautonomous vehiclesAutonomousVehiclesCMUGoogleLeonieSebastian ThrunSebastianThrunself-drivingself-driving carSelf-drivingCarStanfordToyota PriusToyotaPriusTU BraunschweigTuBraunschweigvideoVW passatVwPassatSat, 09 Oct 2010 19:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Carnegie Mellon's robotic snake stars in a glamour video]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/12/carnegie-mellons-robotic-snake-stars-in-a-glamour-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/12/carnegie-mellons-robotic-snake-stars-in-a-glamour-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/12/carnegie-mellons-robotic-snake-stars-in-a-glamour-video/#comments
We've been pretty into Carnegie Mellon's modular snake robots for a while now, and seeing as it's a relatively sleepy Sunday we thought we'd share this latest video of snakebots just basically crawling all over the place and getting crazy. Bots like these have been getting some serious military attention lately, so watching these guys wriggle into any damn spot they please is at once awesome and terrifying. Or maybe it's just the music. Video after the break.

[Thanks, Curtis]

Continue reading Carnegie Mellon's robotic snake stars in a glamour video

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Carnegie Mellon's robotic snake stars in a glamour video originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forget those "sporting" Halls of Fame -- the real HOF is right here. Since 2003, the Robot Hall of Fame has been honoring robots and creators at an exhibit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now we're seeing the latest handful of noteworthy creatures take their rightful place in history. For those unaware, the Robot HOF is maintained by Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Science Center, and an international jury of researchers, writers, and designers has just selected five new bots to join the cast: Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, the T-800 Terminator (yes, that Terminator), the Da Vinci surgical system, iRobot's Roomba and 'Huey, Dewey, and Louie' from the 1972 sci-fi flick Silent Running. Could you have imagined a more fitting five? If so, sound off below!

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Robot Hall of Fame expands to include Da Vinci, Terminator, Roomba originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 May 2009 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonUniversityCMUDa VinciDaVincihall of fameHallOfFameIrobotmarsmars roverMarsRovermedicalOpportunityrobotRobot Hall of FameRobotHallOfFamerobotsroombaSpiritsurgerysurgicalsurgical robotSurgicalRobotT-800T-800 TerminatorT-800TerminatorTerminatorMon, 11 May 2009 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[CMU researchers control microbots with mini magnets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/cmu-researchers-control-microbots-with-mini-magnets/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/cmu-researchers-control-microbots-with-mini-magnets/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/07/cmu-researchers-control-microbots-with-mini-magnets/#comments
Pardon the alliteration, but we're excited about the proposition here. For years -- millenniums, even -- scientists have been trying to figure out how to manipulate minuscule devices with magnets, and at long last, we've got a breakthrough in the field. Metin Sitti, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, is credited with creating a new control technique that could allow microscopic machines to "one day deliver drugs directly to a sickly cell or a tumor." Essentially, the diminutive bots glide across a glass surface covered with a grid of metal electrodes, and you're just a click away (it's the Read link, just so you know) from seeing a live demonstration on how they can be used to "anchor one or more microbots while allowing others to continue to move freely around the surface." Good times.

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CMU researchers control microbots with mini magnets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 May 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If Hans Moravec of the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University is right, we only have a good twenty to thirty years left before robots evolve into a new type of artificial species. As we wait for the inevitable robot apocalypse, we've already begun to see lots of little robotic guys pop into our lives, whether they're sweeping the floor, giving us something to hug, or bringing us a cup of tea. In addition to its miniature waitstaff ability, Pyuuun, Robo-Engine's "LifeLog Robot," is equipped with eight sensors (including brightness, movement, collision, sound, distance, temperature, slope and infrared) and can be programmed to monitor an area, collecting various data (such as keeping an eye on a temperature-sensitive workspace) and reporting back to you (or your robot overlords) via WiFi. With a 12-volt battery that promises six hours of use on a single charge, the utility of this bad boy is only limited by your imagination -- and its ?300,000 (about $3,090) price tag. Video after the break.

Continue reading Pyuuun palm-sized robot keeps tabs on you, delivers beverages

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Pyuuun palm-sized robot keeps tabs on you, delivers beverages originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carnegie mellon universityCarnegieMellonUniversityCMUHans MoravecHansMoravecPyuuunRobo-Enginerobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseRobotics InstituteRoboticsInstituteMon, 02 Mar 2009 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Sensor-laden footballs / gloves could run referees right out of work]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/19/sensor-laden-footballs-gloves-could-run-referees-right-out-of/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/19/sensor-laden-footballs-gloves-could-run-referees-right-out-of/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/19/sensor-laden-footballs-gloves-could-run-referees-right-out-of/#comments
Dr. Priya Narasimhan, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, doesn't intend to put a single NFL referee out of work, but there's no doubt that the technology she's tinkering with could indeed have that effect. The prof and her students are developing sensor-laden footballs and gloves, both of which could eventually tell in real-time whether a ball bounced off the ground before being caught or whether a player actually had possession of a ball whilst being piled upon after a fumble. Currently, she's had zero luck persuading a college or professional team to help her experiment further, and we can sort of see why. We mean, it's nice to get every call right in theory, but what fun would sport be without the all-important "Ref, you suck!" chant?

[Thanks, Freddy]

Sensor-laden footballs / gloves could run referees right out of work originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteryCarnegie MellonCarnegieMellonCMUdesignfootballsensorsensorssportsuniversityFri, 19 Dec 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Caterpillar and CMU team up to create world's largest robotic monster truck]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/darpa-and-cmu-team-up-to-create-worlds-largest-robotic-monster/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/darpa-and-cmu-team-up-to-create-worlds-largest-robotic-monster/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/07/darpa-and-cmu-team-up-to-create-worlds-largest-robotic-monster/#comments
We're always hearing about some fantastical, nigh-mythical creation that Carnegie Mellon University is in the midst of cobbling together from spare parts, crazy ideas, and pure, simple genius, so maybe we shouldn't be frothing over the new robotic truck they've partnered up with Caterpillar to create, but this one promises to be the "world's largest." Adapting software CMU used in the DARPA Urban Challenge, the team hopes to end up with fully automated, 700-ton trucks capable of moving up to 42 miles per hour which will be used for mining. The trucks would theoretically reduce costs, increase productivity, and save lives. The Frankenstein-ed vehicles will boast GPS, laser range finders to identify large obstacles, video equipment, and a "robotic driver." The scientists somewhat predictably foresee some (as of now) rather far-fetched consumer applications in cars and trucks over the "next five to ten years," but we're taking that with a few salt grains for now. The trucks aren't ready quite yet but we hear their arrival is imminent, and and we can only imagine that somewhere in the world, Grave Digger is crying to himself.

Update: We've changed the title to reflect the accurate arrangement, which is a teaming up of CMU and Caterpillar, not DARPA. Thanks to the commenter who pointed that out.

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Caterpillar and CMU team up to create world's largest robotic monster truck originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apparently the Biorobotics Lab at Carnegie Mellon University has been quite busy as of late... building an army of robotic snakes. Though we've seen droid snakes before, bot-makers at the school have been investigating the myriad possibilities of single-task snakes, coming up with configurations for swimming, crawling, and climbing, amongst others. The program is concerned with enabling the bots to take on a diverse variety of terrain and tasks, made easier by the fact that the little guys aren't limited to wheel-based movement. To really get an idea of the possibilities (and extreme creepiness), check the video after the break. We just hope you enjoy the techno version of Crazy Train as much as we do.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Continue reading Snakebots traverse terrain, plan silent, midnight attack

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Snakebots traverse terrain, plan silent, midnight attack originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carnegie Mellon's so-called "Crusher" unmanned military vehicle already had quite a bit going for it in its previous incarnation, but it now looks to set to expand its robotized arsenal even further, courtesy of a $14.4 million grant from the Army. According to the university's National Robotics Engineering Center, the updated bot will make use of the "latest suspension, vehicle frame, and hybrid-electric drive technologies to improve upon its predecessor's performance" while also promising to, somewhat ominously, "push the envelope for autonomous and semi-autonomous operation." That the NREC says, should allow the bot to begin working alongside troops in five or ten years, with it initially confined to convoy roles before it puts its autonomous skills to use in "tactical" missions.

[Via CNET Military Tech]

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Carnegie Mellon's "Crusher" military bot getting $14 million upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While you may not think a 4+ minute clip involving a monotone narrator, flashes of light and lots of sensors could hold your attention (okay, so maybe that came off a bit more riveting than we'd hoped), we'd bet the one posted after the jump could. The video demonstrates a fairly svelte automatic projector calibration system, which relies on very little hardware (and time) to work its magic. Essentially, the low-cost method utilizes rear-mounted optical fibers wired into light sensors, which can channel gray-coded binary patterns through a USB connection. From there, a PC determines precisely how the projection should be outputted for the target surface to be completely filled with an undistorted image. We know, it's tough to wrap your head around, but all the enlightenment you could ever want (on this subject, anyway) is just a mouse click away. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via HackADay]

Continue reading DIY'er gets busy with automatic projector calibration

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DIY'er gets busy with automatic projector calibration originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>calibrationcarnegie mellonCarnegieMelloncmudiyhacklight sensorsLightSensorsprojectionprojector calibrationProjectorCalibrationsensorsensorsuniversityFri, 16 Nov 2007 07:09:00 EST<![CDATA[DIY'er gets busy with automatic projector calibration]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/16/diyer-gets-busy-with-automatic-projector-calibration/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/16/diyer-gets-busy-with-automatic-projector-calibration/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/16/diyer-gets-busy-with-automatic-projector-calibration/#comments
While you may not think a 4+ minute clip involving a monotone narrator, flashes of light and lots of sensors could hold your attention (okay, so maybe that came off a bit more riveting than we'd hoped), we'd bet the one posted after the jump could. The video demonstrates a fairly svelte automatic projector calibration system, which relies on very little hardware (and time) to work its magic. Essentially, the low-cost method utilizes rear-mounted optical fibers wired into light sensors, which can channel gray-coded binary patterns through a USB connection. From there, a PC determines precisely how the projection should be outputted for the target surface to be completely filled with an undistorted image. We know, it's tough to wrap your head around, but all the enlightenment you could ever want (on this subject, anyway) is just a mouse click away. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via HackADay]

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DIY'er gets busy with automatic projector calibration originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that GigaPan camera system from earlier this year? The one that made taking ridiculously large panoramic shots -- like the one of Dublin Castle above -- a lesson in simplicity? Yeah, well that very system is now being used to add detailed, wide-angle images to Google Earth thanks to collaboration between the search giant and Carnegie Mellon University. Additionally, we've now learned that Charmed Labs in Austin, TX will be manufacturing the mechanical devices and selling them for $300 apiece. But before the public gets their hands on 'em, the firm is producing 300 systems "for people who will provide them with feedback." Ah, the perfect excuse for a new widescreen monitor, no?

[Thanks, David]

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Panoramic GigaPan images to hit Google Earth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonUniversityCharmed LabsCharmedLabscmuGigaPansgoogleGoogle EarthGoogleEarthNASArobotic cameraRoboticCameraFri, 28 Sep 2007 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Robotic cucumber hand freaks out party goers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/robotic-cucumber-hand-freaks-out-party-goers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/robotic-cucumber-hand-freaks-out-party-goers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/robotic-cucumber-hand-freaks-out-party-goers/#commentsWe've got all ideas that whipping up an edible Wii (and a few controllers while you're at it) would make for a fantastic (albeit overtly geeky) shindig, but there's just something satisfying about a robotic cucumber hand that freaks out attendees that visit the snack table a tad too frequently. The creature, which was reportedly, um, prepared for an event hosted by a CMU computer scientist, primarily consisted of a number of edible parts, a servo, control arm, and a CMU Canary sensing / control platform. Truth be told, however, pictures can only explain so much, so feel free to click on through for a glimpse at this thing in action (and the entire recipe, too).

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Robotic cucumber hand freaks out party goers

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Robotic cucumber hand freaks out party goers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Throwing its fins into the proverbial pool with various water-bourne robots such as the Strider, the CMU Water Runner, and whatever this creep is called, is the new STRIDE -- soon to be the aforementioned Strider's enemy number one. The name stands for Surface Tension Robotic Insect Dynamic Explorer, and the minuscule bot works by mimicking the strider insect and skirting along the surface of the water using hydrophobic wire legs coated in Teflon. Researchers discovered that the 1-gram bot could carry a 9.3-gram payload without breaking the surface by utilizing a sculling motion for movement. The robot is 10-15 times slower than the actual insect and 10 times larger, but the engineers hope to lower the bot's size and increase its speed by downsizing its build, along with expanding its capabilities by harnessing technologies such as sensors, wireless communication, and autonomous control.

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Water-skimming robot will probably attack you originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2007 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cmustriderwater botwater walkingWaterBotWaterWalkingFri, 13 Jul 2007 09:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Gigapan robot snaps panoramic views, assembles results]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/04/gigapan-robot-snaps-panoramic-views-assembles-results/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/04/gigapan-robot-snaps-panoramic-views-assembles-results/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/04/gigapan-robot-snaps-panoramic-views-assembles-results/#commentsWe're absolutely certain there's a vast array of naturally gifted photographers out there that don't need a robot to do a man's job, but for those of us who can't hold our elbows perfectly still and snap a dozen or so photographs in a panoramic pattern without ruining the entire shot, Gigapan's got you covered. The robotic shooting platform was developed by Carnegie Mellon University and the NASA Ames Intelligent Robot Group, and can manhandle almost any digital camera in order to capture a wide-angle view of any particular scene without the breaks we humans often inject. The robot will click away depending on a timer and the number of snapshots that users program in, resulting in a very high resolution, widescreen image of a crime scene, vacation overlook, or your entire basement wall of Transformers posters. Moreover, the team has developed accompanying software to "piece together" the resulting images, leaving a nearly flawless reproduction of a panoramic view with an immensely increased level of detail. Expected to cost "around $200 or less," the Gigapan could be in civilian hands as early as next month, after which we'll have to start an entirely new photo contest devoted to cramming as many miles as possible into a single, uber-wide shot, but for now, be sure to click on through for a small taste of what this monkey can do.

[Via Primidi]

Continue reading Gigapan robot snaps panoramic views, assembles results

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Gigapan robot snaps panoramic views, assembles results originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amesCarnegie MellonCarnegieMelloncmudigicamgigapannasapanoramapanoramicphotophotographphotographysnapshotSun, 04 Feb 2007 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers unveil emotive, interactive robot: "Quasi"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/02/researchers-unveil-emotive-interactive-robot-quasi/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/02/researchers-unveil-emotive-interactive-robot-quasi/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/02/researchers-unveil-emotive-interactive-robot-quasi/#comments We've already got robotic eyedrops that can facilitate conversation and react accordingly to their surroundings, and there's even an R2-D2 clone to get your feet shuffling once you've recovered, but researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed an emotive robot, complete with his own interactive booth, that can express its feelings through body language. Quasi, a member of the Interbots Platform, resides in a booth full of gizmos that allow him to see, hear, and feel the outside world; sporting a touchscreen LCD, long-range IR sensors, motion detector, webcam, microphones, and even a candy dispenser, humans have a myriad of choices when it comes to breaking the ice with the "animatronic figure." To get his reactions in gear, 27 Hitec servo motors are used to control the motions of his eyelids and telescoping antenna, while a bevy of LED lighting fixtures illuminate to convey his swinging moods and personality without so much as a clang from his aluminum lips. The team is planning on adding speech capability and a more mechanical armature in the near future, after which he'll probably be the self-nominated leader of the soon-to-be-uncontrollable Swarmanoid clan.

[Via Slashdot]

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Researchers unveil emotive, interactive robot: "Quasi" originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Oct 2006 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It seems that Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Academy isn't the only organization working on multi-platform robotics software these days, as Microsoft has just revealed its own so-called Robotics Studio, which is intended to be a rich, scalable programming environment that can control anything from the simplest Lego Mindstorms creation to a highly-complex, car-assembling industrial bot. Unveiled at the RoboBusiness Conference and Exhibition in Pittsburgh, PA, the new software development kit will let users employ a visual programming tool for building command sets or debugging their applications, and also utilizes technology from PhysX manufacturer Aegia to enable realistic 3D simulations for determining how programs will execute in the real world. Not only does the platform support interaction with properly-formatted third-party languages, it will also allow outside developers to build their own commercial applications in the same way that software manufacturers create programs to run on Windows or Windows Mobile today. You can download a preview of the new toolkit-- which also enables web-based bot control -- by following the Read link, or if you just want to know a little more about its history and capabilities, Channel 9 has a great video featuring demos and interviews with the development team.

[Via Information Week]

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Microsoft reveals multi-platform Robotics Studio originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jun 2006 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aegiabotscmulegomicrosoftmicrosoft robotics studioMicrosoftRoboticsStudiomindstormsmulti-platform softwareMulti-platformSoftwarephysxprogramming toolsProgrammingToolsrobobusiness conference and exhibitionRobobusinessConferenceAndExhibitionrobotsweb-based controlWeb-basedControlwindowsWed, 21 Jun 2006 13:49:00 EST<![CDATA[CMU's Crusher military bot rumbles onto the scene]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/28/cmus-crusher-military-bot-rumbles-onto-the-scene/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/28/cmus-crusher-military-bot-rumbles-onto-the-scene/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/28/cmus-crusher-military-bot-rumbles-onto-the-scene/#comments Although not quite as stealthy as some of the other spybots that we've seen, the 6.5-ton Crusher UGCV (Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle), with its 8,000-pound payload and one-kilometer range, is certainly more versatile than your typical robosnake or Packbot. Unveiled today by the National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) at Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science's Robotics Institute, Crusher, like its predecessor Spinner, was commissioned by DARPA to provide combat troops with a durable cargo and surveillance option that can operate mostly autonomously even in rough terrain. Crusher is powered by a series of electric motors whose batteries are charged with a turbo diesel generator -- giving it a top speed of 26 miles-per-hour -- and manages to avoid obstacles using an array of cameras and ladar lidar. Although its first two years of service will be restricted to support role duties, Army and DARPA officials will use Crusher's performance during the probationary period to evaluate its potential use in combat as well. [Warning: PDF link]

CMU's Crusher military bot rumbles onto the scene originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousCarnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegieMellonUniversitycmucrusherdarpadefensehybrid engineHybridEngineladarNational Robotics Engineering CenterNationalRoboticsEngineeringCenterpackbotrobosnakeSchool of Computer Science's Robotics InstituteSchoolOfComputerScience'sRoboticsInstitutesnakebotspinnerturbo dieselTurboDieselugcvUnmanned Ground Combat VehicleUnmannedGroundCombatVehicleFri, 28 Apr 2006 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[The miraculous CMU Water Runner]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/07/the-miraculous-cmu-water-runner/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/07/the-miraculous-cmu-water-runner/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/07/the-miraculous-cmu-water-runner/#comments
Although it probably won't win a following of apostles for the feat, Carnegie Mellon University bot Water Runner's ability to, well, walk on water, is at least worthy of a small write-up in a gadget blog, we think. The lightweight plastic and carbon fiber robot, which is the newest member of a supposed zoo of animal-inspired devices from CMU's NanoRobotics Lab, owes its gravity-defying skills to research done by Harvard University biologists on the basilisk, or Jesus, lizard. Like its scaly counterpart, Water Runner uses a rapid slapping motion of the "feet"  that provides enough propulsion for the bot to avoid sinking or tipping over. Although it's currently just in the proof-of-concept, prototype stage (like, it still needs to be plugged into the wall, making it less than ideal for outdoor applications), future versions of the project will sport batteries (of course), sensors for monitoring water quality, cameras for peeping stuff, and even bacteria for breaking down pollutants (think: Exxon Valdez). These applications are all well and good, but as usual, all we really wanna know is: could it take down RoboSnake in a land-and-sea grudge match?

[Via Robot Gossip]

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The miraculous CMU Water Runner originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Apr 2006 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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