Robot, heal thyself

University of Vermont engineer invents 'resilient machines' that self-repair

Dr. Joshua Bongard has invented robots that can self-heal. For example, they detecting a missing leg and invent a new way to continue walking.
Bongard's research article entitled, "Resilient machines through continuous self modeling," will appear in Science Magazine, Friday November 17, 2006.
Dr. Bongard is assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Vermont in the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences.
"There is a need for planetary robotic rovers to be able to fix things on their own," said Bongard. "The research is essential for NASA who plan to continue using robots for planetary missions. Robots on other planets must be able to continue their mission without human intervention in the event they are damaged and cannot communicate their problem back to Earth. Our robot is able to detect -- without a camera -- that something is wrong, and teach itself to continue to walk in spite of incurred damage."

A homemade robot was used for the experiments where one robotic leg was removed. The robot is programmed to do damage assessments by moving in sequences that look playful but allow the robot to determine where damage has occurred; once identified, it then self creates a new way to move without the missing limb and therefore is able to then carry on its mission.
Dr. Bongard intends to use robot construction kits, such as Lego Mindstorms, to continue his research here at UVM, and involve undergraduate and graduate students in the process.

The research, done for NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy by Dr. Bongard while at Cornell prior to his arrival at UVM, will air on the Discovery Channel of Canada Thursday, Nov. 16 and on Discoveries This Week on the Science Channel Friday, November 17.
Dr. Bongard is available with video and pictures for media: Friday, Nov. 17 -- 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in the Dean's Office 109 Votey Building, University of Vermont.
Science Magazine http://www.sciencemag.org/magazine.dtl

For more information contact:
Dr. Josh Bongard Assistant Professor Department of Computer Science College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences University of Vermont 329 Votey Hall 33 Colchester Avenue Burlington, VT 05405 Tel: 802-656-4665 Fax: 802-656-0696 josh.bongard@uvm.edu

New ideas for wireless power transmission

How wireless energy could work

The answer the team came up with was "resonance", a phenomenon that causes an object to vibrate when energy of a certain frequency is applied.

This would work in a room let's say but you could adapt it to work in a factory Marin Soljacic

"When you have two resonant objects of the same frequency they tend to couple very strongly," Professor Soljacic told the BBC News website.

Resonance can be seen in musical instruments for example.

"When you play a tune on one, then another instrument with the same acoustic resonance will pick up that tune, it will visibly vibrate," he said.

Instead of using acoustic vibrations, the team's system exploits the resonance of electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic radiation includes radio waves, infrared and X-rays.

Typically, systems that use electromagnetic radiation, such as radio antennas, are not suitable for the efficient transfer of energy because they scatter energy in all directions, wasting large amounts of it into free space.

To overcome this problem, the team investigated a special class of "non-radiative" objects with so-called "long-lived resonances".

BBC NEWS | Technology | Physics promises wireless power

Intel researching on CNT for chips

Intel is eyeing carbon nanotubes as a possible replacement for copper wires inside semiconductors, a switch that one day could eliminate some big problems for chipmakers.
The chip giant has managed to create prototype interconnects--microscopic metallic wires inside of chips that link transistors--out of carbon nanotubes and measure how well the interconnects perform. In essence, the experiments are a way to test whether the theories about the properties of carbon nanotubes are accurate.

Mike Mayberry, director of components research at Intel's labs in Oregon, will discuss the research at the International Symposium for the American Vacuum Society next week in San Francisco. Intel worked with California Institute of Technology, Columbia University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Portland State University on the project.

Intel eyes nanotubes for future chip designs | CNET News.com