Qualcomm to Build Neuro-Inspired Chips

World’s largest smartphone chipmaker offers to custom-build very efficient neuro-inspired chips for phones, robots, and vision systems.

Qualcomm CTO Matt Grob said that by next year his company would take on partners to design and manufacture such chips for applications ranging from artificial vision sensors to robot controllers and even brain implants. The technology might also lead to smartphones that can sense and process information far more efficiently.

Qualcomm has already developed new software tools that simulate activity in the brain. These networks, which model the way individual neurons convey information through precisely timed spikes, allow developers to write and compile biologically inspired programs. Qualcomm is using this approach to build a class of processors called neural processing units (NPUs). It envisions NPUs that are massively parallel, reprogrammable, and capable of cognitive tasks like classification and prediction. “What we’re talking about is scale, making it into a platform,” said Grob during his talk. “We want to make it easier for researchers to make a part of the brain.”

For several years Qualcomm and Brain Corp, a separate company it has invested in, have been working on hardware and algorithms that attempt to mimic the processes of the human brain. The company calls the overall program Zeroth, borrowing from the science fiction author Isaac Asimov’s “Zeroth Law of Robotics” (which specifies that robots must not harm humanity).

“This ‘neuromorphic’ hardware is biologically inspired—a completely different architecture—and can solve a very different class of problems that conventional architecture is not good at,” Grob said in an interview after his talk. “It really uses physical structures derived from real neurons—parallel and distributed.”

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/520211/qualcomm-to-build-neuro-inspired-chips/

Miniature 'human brain' grown in lab

Miniature "human brains" have been grown in a lab in a feat scientists hope will transform the understanding of neurological disorders.

The pea-sized structures reached the same level of development as in a nine-week-old foetus, but are incapable of thought.

The study, published in the journal Nature, has already been used to gain insight into rare diseases.

Scientists at Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have now reproduced some of the earliest stages of the organ's development in the laboratory.

One of the researchers, Dr Juergen Knoblich, said: "What our organoids are good for is to model development of the brain and to study anything that causes a defect in development.

"Ultimately we would like to move towards more common disorders like schizophrenia or autism. They typically manifest themselves only in adults, but it has been shown that the underlying defects occur during the development of the brain."

Prof Paul Matthews, from Imperial College London, told the BBC: "I think it's just mindboggling. The idea that we can take a cell from a skin and turn it into, even though it's only the size of a pea, is starting to look like a brain and starting to show some of the behaviours of a tiny brain, I think is just extraordinary.

"It's a long way from conscience or awareness or responding to the outside world. There's always the spectre of what the future might hold, but this is primitive territory” according to Dr Zameel Cader.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23863544

Mercedes engineers expect autonomous cars by 2020

German ingenieurs from Mercedes expect that by 2020 series models can at least partially drive themselves.

Source: http://www.zeit.de/auto/2013-01/auto-autonom

Unmanned aircraft project leads push to civilian drones

UK-led, £62m Astraea project - which has participation of the UK Civil Aviation Authority - is attempting to tackle all facets of Unmanned aircraft systems (UAs).

The aim of the ASTRAEA programme is to enable the routine use of UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in all classes of airspace without the need for restrictive or specialised conditions of operation.

A recent report by the UK's Aerospace, Aviation and Defence Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) found that applications for unmanned aircraft are said to be worth some £260bn - replacing costly or dangerous work done by manned planes, or opening up new applications that are currently out of reach.

Crop or wildlife stock monitoring, search and rescue, and check-ups on railway lines are some of the envisioned uses of UAs.

Plans for UAs envision that a pilot will always be on the ground controlling them, but they must have on-board technology that can perform in an emergency - in the eyes of aviation law - as well as a pilot.

"These things are going to have a level of self-determinism, particularly if you ever lose the communication link with the ground control," said Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal, Astraea project director. "They've got to be able to operate fully safely and take the right decisions.

Gary Clayton, head of research and technology for EADS Cassidian, another project partner, said the CAA's publication CAP722 is being held up internationally as a template for aviation legislation around UAs.

But Mr Dopping-Hepenstal said the project is aiming much further than the technology and safety legislation.

"What this programme is trying to do is look at this holistically," he said. "It's not just the technology, we're trying to think about the social impact of this and the ethical and legal things associated with it. You've got to solve all this lot if you're going to make it happen, enable it to happen affordably."

Chris Elliot, an aerospace engineer and barrister, is acting as consultant to the project. He told reporters that the licensing and privacy questions were points "to debate, not to pontificate".

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20327991
http://www.astraea.aero/

Bee brains help to make robots smarter

Honey bee brains could soon be helping robots act more independently.

The way that bees smell and see is being studied in a £1m project to produce a simulation of the insect's sensory systems. The simulated bee brain will then be used by a flying robot to help it make decisions about how to navigate safely.

The researchers, which involves scientists from the Universities of Sheffield and Sussex, aims to create models of the neural systems in a bee's brain that helps it make sense of what it sees and smells. Dr James Marshall, a computer scientist at the University of Sheffield co-ordinating the project, said simulating a brain was one of the "major challenges" of artificial intelligence.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19799806

Self driving autonomous cars

Driverless cars at Griffith University

Dr Jun Jo from Griffith’s School of Information and Communication Technology, Professor Kiesu Kim from a Korean University and Helensvale State High school students are currently developing the first driverless cars in Australia.

"Our aim is to develop an eco-friendly car as well as a driverless intelligent car" Dr Jo said.
"It will be man controlled by early 2010 and driverless by 2012 which is not that far away".

The most significant obstacles facing these vehicles could be human rather than technical: government regulation, liability laws, privacy concerns and people's passion for cars and the control it gives them.

Source:
http://www.griffith.edu.au/create-whats-next/driverless-cars
http://www.griffith.edu.au/science-aviation/intelligent-control-systems-laboratory/research/research-topics/cooperative-driverless-vehicles
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/08/23/android_powered_autonomous_vehicle/

Date: 14-08-2012

Autonomous Flying cars: Grounded reality or ready for take off?

Ever increasing number of cars on the roads means that a vehicle that can soar into the skies remains an attractive option.  “We need to try to relive congestion on our road, and one potential solution is an aerial vehicle” says Dr Michael Jump, a lecturer in aerospace at Liverpool University in the UK.

The team intends to draw on drone technology to automate as much of the flying as possible. Current fly-by-wire technology, as well as some of the features being used in the development of autonomous or robotic vehicles could all help fleets of these vehicles fly along predefined highways – and crucially avoid each other.

But perhaps the biggest problem the team aim to tackle are the regulatory and safety issues, as well as those of public opinion.  “The technology is the easiest bit,” says Dr Jump.

When pressed about a likely launch date, the project scientists are reluctant to commit but have no doubts that it will come to pass. “We are trying to apply rational scientific engineering approach to this problem” says Dr Jump. “What sounds strange and wonderful today can very often become tomorrow’s reality.”

Date: 06-06-2012

Permission to test autonomous functions on Berlin roads
07.12.2011 AutoNOMOS Labs finally received an exceptional permission to test autonomous functions in real traffic situations. The matured safety concept which we developed with the support of TÜV NORD and our new sponsor HDI Gerling Industry Insurances includes a safety driver (acting as a “driving teacher”) and a copilot who both can take control of the car in situations which seem too risky for autonomous driving.

Facts:

• Exceptional permissions for the State of Berlin are examined and approved by the LABO (Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten) according to official StVO regulations.
• The name of our latest test-vehicle is “MadeInGermany” (MIG) our first car was named “Spirit of Berlin”.
• AutoNOMOS Labs is a project at the Freie Universität Berlin, Artificial Intelligence Group, financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in a market-oriented program called ForMaT.
• The car is equipped with several cameras, RADAR- and LIDAR-(Laser) sensors to “perceive” its surrounding and a high-precision GPS System. The Laser-Scanner on the roof detects obstacles around the car. It does not take pictures for google street view
• The vision of autonomous driving is shared with fellow robotic researchers around the world. Many of them – like ourselves – are former contestants of the DARPA Challenges.

Source: http://autonomos.inf.fu-berlin.de/news/permission-test-autonomous-functions-berlin-roads
Links:

• DARPA urban grand challenge autonomous cars 
• MIT DARPA Grand Challange
• Standford University DARPA Grand Challange
• Tartan racing 

Datum: 29-05-2011
Autonomous road train project SARTRE completes first public road test

SARTRE, also known as Safe Road Trains for the Environment, aims to develop strategies and technologies that will allow vehicles to operate on normal public highways with significant environmental, safety and comfort benefits. Basically, the idea was to have a lead driver tow a train of cars behind it. Tests have been going on at Volvo’s test track in Sweden last year.

“People think that autonomous driving is science fiction, but the fact is that the technology is already here,” says Linda Wahlström, project manager for the SARTRE project.

SARTRE is a joint venture between Ricardo UK Ltd, Idiada and Robotiker-Tecnalia of Spain, Institut for Kraftfahrwesen Aachen (IKA) of Germany, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Technology of Sweden.

Source: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/05/autonomous-road-train-project-sartre-completes-first-public-road-test/

Datum: 09-May-2012
Google gets Nevada driving licence for self-drive car

Engineers at Google have previously tested the car on the streets of California, including crossing San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge. According to software engineer Sebastian Thrun, the car has covered 140,000 miles with no accidents, other than a bump at traffic lights from a car behind.

Bruce Breslow, director of Nevada's Department of Motor Vehicles, says he believes driverless vehicles are the "cars of the future". Nevada changed its laws to allow self-driven cars in March. The long-term plan is to license members of the public to drive such cars.

Google's car has been issued with a red licence plate to make it recognisable. The plate features an infinity sign next to the number 001.

Other states, including California, are planning similar changes.

"The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error," said California state Senator Alex Padilla, when he introduced the legislation. "Through the use of computers, sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is capable of analysing the driving environment more quickly and operating the vehicle more safely."

Datum: 20-Feb-2012
Nevada approves self-driving cars on public roadways

If you happen to be driving around in the state of Nevada, don’t be surprised if you encounter an unmanned vehicle on the streets or highways. The state became the first to officially approve rules for self-driving cars on public roads earlier this week.

Bron: http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/02/nevada-approves-self-driving-cars-on-public-roadways/


Datum: 11-Oct-2010
Google Working on Cars That Drive Themselves



Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the search engine giant is currently at work on cars that are completely automated. In fact, their progress is so far along that they’ve already got a whole slew of self driving Toyota Prius that have logged over 140,000+ test miles.

Read: Google Working on Cars That Drive Themselves [Google Said to Be Working on Self Driving Cars, Have Already Logged 140,000+ Test Miles] » TFTS – Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

Google Working on Cars That Drive Themselves [Google Said to Be Working on Self Driving Cars, Have Already Logged 140,000+ Test Miles] » TFTS – Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

BBC News - Self-sculpting sand robots are under development at MIT

Tiny robots that can join together to form functional tools and then split apart again after use might be ready for market in little more than a decade, according to researchers.

A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it has developed about 30 prototype "smart pebbles" and the software to run them. Each processor can currently store 32 kilobytes of code and has only two kilobytes of working memory - so the algorithm powering the process had to be kept simple. "The idea is that they sense the border of the original shape - if a module detects it doesn't have a neighbour, it assumes it may be on the border of the shape," Mr Gilpin explained.


"But in 10 years you might see a product on the market that starts to rival traditional manufacturing approaches. I think we might all be surprised at how quickly this advances once people really start looking at the technology."

More details of the project will be presented to the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in St Paul, Minnesota next month.


Source: BBC News - Self-sculpting sand robots are under development at MIT