RT Middleware

By Takeshi Sasaki

Going back to explaining a little bit on what we do here in the lab, we have a great introduction and a little video of what RT Middleware is by our resident researcher.

Recently, OMG (Object Management Group, http://www.omg.org/) adopted the RTC (Robotic Technology Component) Specification that defined a component model for development of robotic systems.
In module or component based systems, independent elements (module or component) of functions of the systems are first developed and the systems are then built by combining the modules.
The modularization increases maintainability and reusability of the elements.
Moreover, flexible and scalable system can be realized since the system is reconfigured by adding or replacing only related components.
OpenRTM-aist (http://www.is.aist.go.jp/rt/OpenRTM-aist/) is a middleware that complies with the standard.
It also includes a template code generator which makes a source code of a component from the specification of the component (e.g. number of I/O ports, etc.) and a system design tool which provides graphical user interface to change the connection of components and start/stop the system.
The attached video shows an example of system construction using the OpenRTM-aist.

Minority Report

 

Any of you remember the movie Minority Report. DO you remember the user interface that was used to get the information out of the computer.

A Lab at MIT is working jointly with some companies into developing such interface, which was inspired precisely in this laboratory's work.

We are expecting to create something similar but maybe using a different user interface system, who knows, maybe we are on the brink of something great.

System name is G-Speak.

Wiring the brain

Jennifer Raymond at Stanford University has a deep interest in how the brain works, she is currently developing an electric model in which we will be able to simulate the way it works.

Where this attempt prove to be successful it is obvious we will be able to finally understand the way we either remember someone's name or address or to record the way we move and process information.

Stanford online talks brings to us a brief explanation in this topic.

Emotiv

Submitted by Lazlo Jeni

Emotiv is a company that devoted itself to build a very good user interface that allows us to control videogames with our minds.

Now, imagine what we may do if we build this interface in an Intelligent Space such as ours, quite interesting applications may be achieved.

Do you have any ideas, please put it in the comment section.

A cute robot

Submitted by Lazlo Jeni

Robotics is not always just about how to make the best interaction, or the best interface. Sometimes it is also about having people to have some kind of reaction for the robot.

In NYU an Art student build a somehow simple robot and made it walk through the streets of New York. It did not had any kind of sensor, it only walked in a straight line.

The objective was to watch what would be people’s reaction when they see the robot encounter some obstacle, whether they help or just stand by.

On Augmented reality

Submitted by Peshala

We know we have not talked a lot about augmented reality and is because of this that this time we are going to present something about that.

Augmented Reality has always been a hot topic not only to those who conduct research at Hashimoto lab but also to those crazy minds out there who dream about future technology.

It seems like this is not far from reality as some students at the MIT Media Lab have developed a wearable computing system that turns any surface into an interactive display screen and thereby providing the user with all information he needs.

A picture is worth a thousand words. And a video, of course, more than that.

So, Let's have a look at this awesome presentation.

Asimo controlled with the mind

Hello and happy Hanamatsuri, or as well Buddha's Birthday.

Today we are going to post some recent application in EEG detection mixed with Robotics, and that is exactly as it sounds in the title. The robot from Honda, Asimo was controlled using brainwaves.

It gives us a good idea of how user interfaces can improve current technologies as we in Hashimoto Laboratory try to do, to improve human interaction with its surrounding in space in order to make their lives easier and smoother.

Like always I leave you with a video of the application.

A good inspiration

Hello:

So far so good in the week, I am terribly sorry for our readers in Italy after such a huge earthquake, we send you our most sincere hopes of welfare.

Surfing in the web you may find a number of great things, and among that there is this video, where Microsoft presents what may be the future, or at least their research path.

I hope you will find it rather interesting, and get some good ideas for your own research from it.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-GB&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:a517b260-bb6b-48b9-87ac-8e2743a28ec5&showPlaylist=true&from=shared" target="_new" title="Future Vision Montage">Video: Future Vision Montage</a>

Academia dot Edu

Hello again

I hope your week will be fine.

Now, to inform you all of Academa.edu it is a social network, like facebook or my space where one can share interests, and update their profiles.

The interesting factor is that it is mainly related to research topics, one can update his current research interests, and get in contact with people in the field.

The Link is the following one.

http://www.academia.edu/