What is Artificial Intelligence?

Who would not like a treat? Something free that's worth a thousand bucks when actually sold. Yes, and it's Microsoft Robotics giving away its RDS software to anyone... no restrictions... for FREE!

What's an RDS by the way? It's Microsoft Robotics platform for developing your own robot using its Robotics Developer Studio (RDS). The new R3 version is a Windows®-based platform for academic, enthusiasts, and industrial developers to effortlessly produce robotics applications over a huge range of hardware available. All previous versions though have been integrated into this new version, RDS 2008 R3.

Why has Microsoft done such a good act? It is actually part of Microsoft's new philosophies, that by providing such tools for free would help to ignite a reform in consumer robotics, and start a new era in robotics technology.

The New RDS R3 is a set of development tools containing a visual programming interface and a 3D simulator which, when synchronized to work together with lots of tutorials on the side, will make one to start creating his first robot as easily as possible.

Microsoft RDS includes a programming model that makes it quick to create asynchronous, state-driven applications. Microsoft RDS provides a standard, conventional programming framework that can be applied to support a huge range of robots, enabling code and skill transfer.

You can download Microsoft R3 2008 here.

Click here to read more about Microsoft Robotics, New Microsoft RDS 2008 R3.

EPOC communicates via Skype to Rovio

A mind controlled spy robot is rather expensive. If you don't have enough funds to support your enthusiasm, why not build one for yourself?

Yes, you can do it yourself! Let us take for example one engineer who wanted to build one for himself with just a few of the essential elements for the development; hardware, some software and brains to make it work.

Robert Oschler is just one of the robot fans who wanted to create his own version of ROVIO, a mind controlled Robodance. However this time he wanted to control it with his mind using the EPOC EEG Headset.

Remember the EPOC EEG headset which we also featured in this blog sometime in January of this year? Well, if you were able to get one, you will be able to use it to control your own spy robot.

How does it works?

1) He created a connection between the EPOC headset and the Robodance with his own set Emotiv Systems software developer’s kit (SDK).

2) The EPOC headset communicates with the Roboclient, a software program, which translates signals and sends them via Skype to another client computer.

3) The other computer interprets the date from Skype, and sends it to the Robodance software

4) Then, Robodance take these signals as robot commands, which are then communicated via WiFi to the Rovio

Just watch the video below and you'll see how cool it is.

Click here to read more about ROVIO, Mind Controlled Spy Robot

Our brain is made up of neural circuits continuously evolving to solve complex day to day problems. While there are robots controlled with "organic brains" like the wheeled Robot with a Rat Brain of the University of Reading, for robots to move autonomously with an "evolving brain circuit" is far from reality.

Before, scientists and engineers alike would rely on sophisticated microprocessors and sensors to control the routines and functions of robots.

But just recently, researchers from Japan and Michigan have come up with the world's first brain-like "evolutionary circuit" that works just like the human brain (we hope so).

Being immensely analogous, this computer circuit allows immediate changes of ~300 bits unlike the world's fastest supercomputers which can only process bits one at a time in each of their networks.

The authors, Anirban Bandyopadhyay, from the National Institute for Materials Science, National Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Japan and Ranjit Pati, of the Michigan Technological University Department of Physics, described their work as phenomenal, being able to solve problems instantaneously without knowing which specific algorithms are at work.

Click here to read more about Brain-like Evolutionary Circuit, Organic Molecular Layer

TA2 is a telepresence project that uses ambient intelligence to bring families closer together

An EU-funded project, TA2 is a collaboration of researchers from several European countries aiming to create the interactive communication media that will bring together families wherever they are at any given time.

TA2, short for "together anywhere, together anytime" is an ambitious tele-presence project that integrates sophisticated video and audio communications systems with digital media, interactive devices and ambient intelligence.

In Berlin, in IFA, known as the largest consumer electronics fair in the world, TA2 was exhibited and demonstrated with two rooms, two TV sets and two tables or boards with integrated touch screens on which demonstrators could play games.

During the actual demonstration, many spectators were particularly interested and amazed at the demonstrators playing a board game together as if they were all in the same room.

According to Nikolaus Färber, head researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Germany. "People have become isolated by technology." That's why they created a technology that will bring every member of the family whenever they want to anywhere.

Click here to read more about TA2, Ambient Technology

According to the Nikkei, Japan plans to develop "mind-reading" robots and consumer electronics that can be controlled by thought alone and hopes to market them within a decade.

Reports say that this project is a partnership between the government and the private sector.

Using sensor-mounted headsets, these devices would use brain-machine interface technology, which analyses users' brain waves and brain blood-flow patterns detected. Applications of these devices would include television sets that can be operated without lifting a finger and mobile phones that send text messages composed purely through thought.

They are also planning on making a car navigation system that searches for restaurants when the driver thinks of having a meal, and air-conditioners that adjust the temperature when people in the room feel too warm or cold.

Click here to read more about Mind-Reading Robots and Brain Interface Devices.