Lifeboat Foundation

“Full exploitation of this information is a major challenge,” officials with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) wrote in a 2009 brief on “deep learning.”

“Human observation and analysis of [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] assets is essential, but the training of humans is both expensive and time-consuming. Human performance also varies due to individuals’ capabilities and training, fatigue, boredom, and human attentional capacity.”

Working with a team of researchers at MIT, DARPA is hoping to take all of that human know-how and shrink it down into processing unit no bigger than your cellphone, using a microchip known as “Eyeriss.” The concept relies on “neural networks;” computerized memory networks based on the workings of the human brain.

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=3pjTHDdC3C4

War on drugs has a new friend.

The football-sized robots are designed to work in packs, programmed for various tasks from locating wreckage to detecting contraband through a ship’s hull.

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Google is working in secret at a spaceport in New Mexico to build and test solar-powered internet drones in a new initiative codenamed Project SkyBender, according to a report from The Guardian today. The company is reportedly renting 15,000 square feet of hangar space from Virgin Galactic — the commercial spaceflight outfit of business mogul Richard Branson — at the privately owned Spaceport America located near a town called Truth or Consequences. The lynchpin of Project SkyBender appears to be cutting-edge millimeter wave technology, which can transmit gigabits of data every second at speeds up to 40 times faster than modern 4G LTE.

Millimeter waves are thought to be the future of high-speed data transmission technology, and may form the backbone of 5G mobile networks. Aereo founder Chet Kanojia’s new startup Starry announced earlier this week it would use millimeter wave tech to bring gigabit internet speeds to people’s homes via Wi-Fi. Millimeter waves have much shorter range than current smartphone signals and are easily disrupted by weather conditions like rain, fog, and snow. Using what’s called a phased array, however, Google and others could potentially focus the transmissions over greater distances.

Google is currently testing the technique with a new solar-powered drone called Centaur and other units made by a division known as Google Titan, which the company formed after it acquired drone maker Titan Aerospace in 2014. The company has a deal with the FCC to continue testing until July, according to The Guardian. It’s also paying Virgin Galactic about $1,000 a day to use its hanger, as well as an additional $300,000 to Spaceport America to construct installations with servers, millimeter wave transceivers, and other tech onsite.

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Drone Racing is a new high speed competitive racing sport with skilled pilots flying quad-copter drones.

via Drone Racing League, http://creativity.condenast.com/

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The things we need to know for the 2016 robotic experience — robot clusters, manufacturing & logistics, food & healthcare, A3 Mexico Coming Soon and robotics integration.

Bold predictions for Collaboration, Connectivity and Convergence rang in 2015. One industry insider even called them prescient. Looking back a year later, we see the five-year forecast materializing faster than expected.

Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) is more than a buzzword. With drones taking to the skies and autonomous robots navigating our warehouses, local eateries, hotels, hospitals, and stores, and soon our roadways – the differences between industrial, collaborative, and service robots continue to blur. No longer are robots reserved for multinational conglomerates or the rich eccentric with a sweet tooth for high-tech toys. SMEs and your average homeowner can now join the party. Sensors, software, and hardware are getting smarter and cheaper. We’re democratizing robotics for the masses.

Continue reading “2016 – The Year of Robot Democratization?” »

Robotics store — could we eventually see a HomeDepot version of a Robotics Warehouse and More coming not too far in the future as a franchise across North America and Europe? Or, better yet, a Robotic Target for the latest clothing and accessories for your own personalized robot. In Japan, they actually have a fashion line for robots.

25 Jan, 2016 - The organization is led by President V. Scott Stoneburner. The mission of RobotStop is to create a more prosperous future through principled service and technological innovation. President V. Scott Stoneburner said, “We are extremely excited to launch RobotStop. We envision that robotics will soon be a booming market and our plan is to strategically position ourselves ahead of that exponential curve. As innovation and competition increases, prices have started to become more aligned to the consumer mass market.”

RobotStop, a global product retailer (www.robotstop.com), announced today that it has officially launched a new website and corporate identity. According to President V. Scott Stoneburner, RobotStop President and founder, the new website and brand are closely aligned with the company’s strategic vision for growth and expansion over the next decade, and beyond.

The RobotStop website offers a clean, modern design, easy-to-navigate functionality, and a content-rich site experience. The e-commerce function enables customers to quickly and easily order RobotStop LLC products from a broad range of categories, including Robots & Kits, UAVs & Drones, Wearable Technology, Virtual Reality, Hot New Robots, Miscellaneous Robot Products, Professional Robots etc.

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It’s not a fighter jet, it’s a Warthog (A-10), obviously.

Assuming this footage is real, that probably means it’s some kind of experimental ground attack drone. Also, I’ve read that there have been a few warthogs converted into drones themselves, so maybe it’s some sort of drone integration trials or something.

Continue reading “Fighter Jets Are Seen ‘Chasing A UFO’ — But They Don’t Shoot” »

Amazon’s plans to create a fleet of automated drones to deliver packages straight to customers’ doorsteps are widely known. But now the company is addressing concerns about noise pollution, collisions and even people who might try and shoot drones down.

In an interview with Yahoo News, Amazon Vice President of Global Affairs Paul Misener explained that the company is trying to implement a high-tech delivery system to get small packages to customers in 30 minutes or less – a far shorter period than a driver navigating a system of roads would require.

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Davos, US military branches, Time Magazine, etc. are all talking about the Robotic Battlefield.

Automated systems have already reshaped modern warfare, most notably with the widespread use of drones in conflict. Now, experts predict that advances in artificial intelligence could further change how we fight battles.

The new frontiers of warfare are not without ethical questions. Many have already challenged whether the United States should use unmanned drones to kill terrorists.

Continue reading “How Will Artificial Intelligence Change War?” »