Robot Accepts Gift From Human Hand With Help Of Motion Capture

Scientists at Disney Research and the Interactive Systems Lab of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) say they’ve taken human-to-robot hand-off motion to the next level.                                         A team from DARPA announced earlier this month that they have created an extremely advanced three-fingered robot hand. The hand is capable of grasping up to 50 pounds and turning a key, making it one of the most agile robotic hands to come out.

Researchers have had a difficult time developing a robot that is able to recognize when a person is handing them something and predicting where to make the hand-off. However, the team from Disney and KIT will be presenting their latest achievements in this area of robotics at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Karlsruhe, Germany.

The scientists say they were able to solve the problem by using motion capture data with two people to create a database of human motion. By searching the database, a robot is able to realize what the human is doing and make a reasonable estimate of where he is likely to extend his hand.

Katsu Yamane, a senior research scientists with Disney Research, Pittsburgh, said people handing a coat, a package or a tool to a robot will become commonplace if robots are introduced to the workplace and the home. Yamane and his team’s technique could be applied to a number of situations where a robot needs to synchronize its motion with that of a human.

“If a robot just sticks out its hand blindly, or uses motions that look more robotic than human, a person might feel uneasy working with that robot or might question whether it is up to the task,” Yamane explained in a statement. “We assume human-like motions are more user-friendly because they are familiar.”

The team had to develop a hierarchal data structure in order to help the robot access the library of human-to-human passing motions with the right speed. They first developed a rough estimate of the distribution of various motion samples. Afterwards, they grouped samples of similar positions and organized them into a binary-tree structure. This allows the robot to rapidly search the database so it can recognize when the person initiates a handing motion and then refine its response as the person follows through.
The researchers tested their method with computer simulations and confirmed that the robot began moving its hand before the human’s hand reached his desired passing location. They saw that the robot’s hand position roughly matched that of the human receivers from the database it was attempting to mimic.

Yamane said the team’s work is not finished, and now they need to expand the database for a wider variety of passing motions and passing distances. They also hope to eventually add finger motions and secondary behaviors that would make the robot’s motion more engaging.

'Human Barbie Doll' Valeria Lukyanova Reveals The Secret Behind Her Unnatural Look In V Magazine

There's also been lots of speculation over whether or not she's had plastic surgery to attain her looks (she claims she hasn't had any and only uses makeup and contact lenses to attain her somewhat Japanese Anime look).SOMETIME'S GODS WANTS TO CREAT WOMEN HE EVEN MEN HEAVEN LIKE TO MAKE TOY'S FOR US  !? WHY SHOULD GOD MAKE BETTER HUMAN PERSON, HE CAN ,COME TO ME ILL MAKE MY People IN TO One TOO , THAT' S God say to us {

Ukrainian native Valeria Lukyanova may not look like a real person, but with the help of a little eye makeup and a tiny waist the model/singer has been able to fool people the world over.

Photos of the Moldavian-born Lukyanova, called the 'human Barbie', took the internet by storm earlier this year, and many questioned whether she existed or was just a very well done computer generated image. People don’t understand that it has nothing to do with looks. There are many good-looking young women, but why are they completely unknown? Because looks are just a bonus. If you spend time working only on your appearance and you forget about your inner self, people will not be interested in you because they will not feel anything. Many people think you need only good looks to be successful, but it’s not true—only spiritual work can bear tangible results.

"It's unclear whether Lukyanova exists at all, or whether it's all a hoax thanks to the world of photo editing," reported ABC News when Valeria's photos were posted online by website Gawker.com.
And now V Magazine was able to catch up with her, confirming that she's the real deal.

"Many people say bad things about people who want to perfect themselves," she tells the Magazine. "It's hard work, but they dismiss it as something done by surgeons or computer artists. Some people even spread rumors about me and retouch my pictures to hurt me. But I don't take them seriously. I'm even flattered! It's what success is like. I'm happy I seem unreal to them, it means I'm doing a good job."

Valeria, who describes herself as "endowed by nature with extraordinary external data" on her website; reveals that she's really into meditation and out-of-body experiences.

In fact, so much so that those experiences dictate who she is and how she writes her music.

"I'm a teacher at the School of Out-of-Body Travel," she says. "It's an international school in which our instructors show students how to leave their physical body and travel in their spiritual body, where you can visit any place on the planet and in the universe. I know that this is the future of mankind and that it has huge potential. Hidden reserves will be tapped soon. "Many people say bad things about people who want to perfect themselves. It’s hard work, but they dismiss it as something done by surgeons or computer artists. This is how they justify not wanting to strive for self-improvement. It’s how they explain their continued inaction. It’s just an excuse. There are plenty of video clips on the Internet showing what I really look like. Some people even spread rumors about me and retouch my pictures to hurt me. But I don’t take them seriously. I’m even flattered! It’s what success is like. I’m happy I seem unreal to them, it means I’m doing a good job. What do you make of all the women popping up online who are getting attention by presenting a look similar to yours? Would you consider this aesthetic some type of beauty movement?
VL People don’t understand that it has nothing to do with looks. There are many good-looking young women, but why are they completely unknown? Because looks are just a bonus. If you spend time working only on your appearance and you forget about your inner self, people will not be interested in you because they will not feel anything. Many people think you need only good looks to be successful, but it’s not true—only spiritual work can bear tangible results.

Incalculable comments on the Internet accuse you of being artificial in some way, either through computer technology or surgical procedures. Is there any truth to this?
VL Many people say bad things about people who want to perfect themselves. It’s hard work, but they dismiss it as something done by surgeons or computer artists. This is how they justify not wanting to strive for self-improvement. It’s how they explain their continued inaction. It’s just an excuse. There are plenty of video clips on the Internet showing what I really look like. Some people even spread rumors about me and retouch my pictures to hurt me. But I don’t take them seriously. I’m even flattered! It’s what success is like. I’m happy I seem unreal to them, it means I’m doing a good job.

What would people be surprised to know about the real Valeria?
VL I’m a professional mountain climber. I trek up the Himalayas and live far away from civilization for weeks at a time. I have traveled all over, and I love extreme recreation and adrenaline. I’m not afraid of anything, and I love taking risks. I love the unknown. I observe the flow of energy and bring its vibrations into my work. In my view, you can say it with music better than with words.

As far as her music goes, it's almost obvious that she's into the New Age stuff.
"I have written most of my songs during my astral travels or during meditation. This is also how I collaborate with other composers of new age music. They inspire me," she tells V.

"My genre is new age opera. Sometimes I can write a piece in one breath, in as little as five minutes." says the fan of such artists as Sarah Brightman, Deep Forest and Enigma.

And her recent fame is something she plans on using to do good things.
"I believe that because of it I have a responsibility to bring more good, light, and positive emotions to people. I want to share my art and my music and tell people about my spiritual ideas. When you feel happy, you want to tell everyone about it so that others become happier too," she says.

the Life of Lithium Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles

"The battery pack could be used during a quite reasonable period of time ranging from 5 to 20 years depending on many factors," said Mikael G. Cugnet, Ph.D., who spoke on the topic. "That's good news when you consider that some estimates put the average life expectancy of a new car at about eight years."

Cugnet explained that the lifespan depends mainly on the battery's temperature, state of charge and charge protocol. Battery performance begins to suffer as soon as the temperature climbs above 86 degrees Fahrenheit. "The higher the temperature, the lower the battery service life," he said. "A temperature above 86 degrees F affects the battery pack performance instantly and even permanently if it lasts many months like in Middle East countries."

Cugnet also recommended that electric vehicle (EV) owners pay attention to how much their battery is charged, another factor in a battery's longevity. He reported that a fully-charged battery is more vulnerable to losing power at temperatures above 86 degrees F.

To test the limits of lithium-ion EV batteries, Cugnet's team reconstructed the experience of a typical EV battery in the laboratory. Using data gleaned from a real five-mile trip in an EV, they put EV battery packs and cells through simulated lifetimes of driving with cycles of draining and recharging. The researchers considered a battery to be beyond its useful lifespan when it had lost 20 percent of its full power.

The question of longevity matters to EV owners and manufacturers alike. The cost of the lithium-ion batteries that power these vehicles remains high, and an EV can cost twice as much as a gas or diesel equivalent. Customers want to make sure they get their money's worth, and manufacturers are eager to demonstrate that EVs are economical.

One obvious saving is the cost of fuel over a car's lifetime, but EV makers are also pushing so-called "second life" uses for batteries that could make them valuable even after they've lost too much power to be useful in cars. These applications could include backup power for computers and medical equipment, or electrical grid storage, which would go hand-in-hand with renewable power like wind or solar to keep electricity flowing even when environmental conditions aren't right. Another option is recycling a battery's components to make new batteries.. But a typical hybrid car can only go short distances on electricity alone, and they hold less charge in very hot or very cold temperatures. With the government push to have one million electric cars on U.S. roads by 2015, the pressure to solve these problems is high. To make electric vehicles a more realistic alternative to gas-powered automobiles, the researchers realized that an improved battery was needed.

The scientists developed a high-capacity, nanostructured, tin-carbon anode, or positive electrode, and a high-voltage, lithium-ion cathode, the negative electrode. When the two parts are put together, the result is a high-performance battery with a high energy density and rate capacity. "On the basis of the performance demonstrated here, this battery is a top candidate for powering sustainable vehicles," the researchers say.

COMPARE DINOSAURS

Argentinosaurus Tyrannosaurus rex TALLEST DINOSAURS.LONGEST DINOSAURS
Also Known As Dino Don T Rex. HEAVIEST DINOSAURS
Name Translation - Tyrant Lizard
Time Period, Cretaceous
Cretaceous.Name Tyrannosaurus rex
Also Known As T Rex
Name Translation Tyrant Lizard
Time Period Cretaceous,Locomotion Bipedal
Compare Bipedal Dinosaurs
Predation (diet) ,Carnivorous
Native Region North America
Locomotion Quadrupedal Bipedal
Predation (diet) Herbivorous Carnivorous
Native Region Argentina,South America North America
-Discovery Details.
Year Discovered 1987 1874
Discovered By Guillermo Heredia A. Lakes
Area of Discovery Argentina Golden, Colorado USA
-Physique
Weight (approximate) 220,000 lbs 16,000 lbs
Height (approximate) 70 ft 23 ft
Length (approximate) 115 ft 50 ftCretaceousDinosaurs ruled our earth for many, many millions of years. They are thought to be one of the most successful creatures that ever lived in terms of longevity and adaption. They evolved into many different shapes and sizes and had diverse modes of living.
The Carcharodontosaurus was a ferocious carnivorous dinosaur that grew to 40 feet.

Some grew to magnificent sizes such as the more well known dinosaurs Brachiosaurus which measured 45 feet in height......and the Diplodocus at 50 feet high.
However, recent research has suggested that the Sauroposeidon (which means Earthquake God Lizard) was a colossal 60 feet tall and weighed around 60 tons and was the largest dinosaur that ever walked the earth. This dinosaur will be coming soon!

The creatures that we normally think of as dinosaurs lived during the Mesozoic Era, from late in the Triassic period (about 225 million years ago) until the end of the Cretaceous (about 65 million years ago) until they were wiped out by a massive comet that hit the earth, along with deteriorating environmental conditions. However, Dinosaurs are still around us today in many forms, and they are the birds who miraculously survived the blast all those years ago.

Dinosaurs are a specific subgroup of the archosaurs, a group that also includes crocodiles, pterosaurs, and birds. although pterosaurs are close relations, they are not true dinosaurs.

Browse around the site using the menu at the top to find out more about these magnificent creatures. Don't forget - there are monthly special features which will cover some of the main points during certain periods - Jurassic Seas, Kings of the Sky, Early Mammals and more to come!
840,LBS,6,FT,18,FT,
Quadrupedal Herbivorous. DINOSAURS OF THE CRETACEOUS PERIOD
Acrocanthosaurus,Cretaceous,13,600,LBS,18,
FT,40,FT,Bipedal Carnivorous.,

Cretaceous,,30,000,LBS,21.FT.52,FT,Aeolosaurus,Cretaceous,50,FT,

Quadrupedal Herbivorous,Afrovenator,Jurassic,3,000,LBS,10,FT,30,FT.Bipedal Carnivorous,Agilisaurus
Jurassic,88LBS,4,FT,
Bipedal Herbivorous
Alamosaurus
Cretaceous
60,000,LBS,28,FT,69,FT
Quadrupedal Herbivorous
Albertosaurus
 COMPARESEE DETAILS ›
Cretaceous
6,000,LBS,15,FT.30.FT
Bipedal Carnivorous
Alectrosaurus,
Cretaceous
1,000.LBS.FT
Bipedal Carnivorous,Algoasaurus,Cretaceous,Jurassic,Here is a list of dinosaurs, Pterosaurs and Sea Reptiles and other prehistoric creatures featured on this site, The dinosaur list is in alphabetical order

A,Abelisaurus,Aegyptosaurus,Afrovenator,Allosaurus,Ammonites,Ammosauru,sAnkylosauru,sApatosaurusArchaeopteryx,Archelon.Argentinosaurus,Arrhinoceratops.
B,Bactrosaurus,Bagaceratops,Barapasaurus,Barosaurus.
Belemnites,Borogovia,Brachiosau,rus,Brachylophosaurus,Brachytrachelopan,
C,.Camptosaurus,..Carcharodontosaurus,.Ceratosaurus
Coelophysis,..Coelurosaur,..Cryptoclidus
D
Daspletosaurus,Dicraeosaurus,Dimetrodon,Dimorphodo,nDiplodocus,Dromaeosaurus,
Dromiceiomimus,Dryosaurus,Dsungaripterus,
E
Edmontonia,,EoraptorElasmosaurus,,Erketu,,Eryops,,Eudimorphodon,,
Euoplocephalus,,Eustreptospondylus,..
F,,..Fabrosaurus,,Frenguellisaurus,,FulgurotheriumoFutabasaurus
GGallimimus,.Gargoyleosaurus,,Gasosaurus,.Giganotosaurus,..Giraffatitan,.Guanlong

JanenschiaJaxartosaurus,.Jobaria,.Jainosaurus
K,..Kentrosaurus,.Kotasaurus,.Kritosaurus,..Kronosaurus
Q
Qantassaurus,Qinlingosauru,sQuaesitosauru,sQuetzalcoatlus,Quilmesaurus,
R
RhamphorhynchusRevueltosaurus,Rhabdodon,
Rhoetosaurus,Riojasaurus,
S.,..Saltopus,..Shunosaurus,.Spinosaurus,,.Stegosaurus,..Styracosaurus
T,Tapejara,Tenontosaurus,Torosaurus,Torvosauru,sTriceratops,
Trilobite,Tylosaurus,Tyrannosaurus Rex,.

Charging Electric Vehicles Cheaper and Faster

Since the electric motor and the inverter are not used during battery charging, the researchers looked into the possibility of using them in the charger circuit and building some kind of integrated motor and battery charger. In other words, would it be possible to use the motor and inverter in the charger circuit to increase the charging power at a lower cost?
"Instead of having a separate isolated battery charger, we introduced a new concept for the power transfer, the rotating transformer, which was developed to transfer electric power while rotating," says Saeid Haghbin. "The battery is charged through the transformer and a split-phase electric motor that was especially designed for this purpose."
The Chalmers integrated charger is, from a university perspective, still on laboratory level. To achieve a more optimal system, further investigations and experimentation are necessary. However, the product has resulted in both a Swedish and an international patent. Chalmers is trying to find a potential industrial user, and Volvo AB is working on the concept for further enhancement to be used in its system.
"Electric cars have been discussed as a possible solution to reduce carbon emissions for a long time, but scientists debate whether this mode of transportation is the future or not," says Saeid Haghbin. "If we manage to solve the main problems with the battery and the battery chargers, I think the electric vehicles will succeed. And in general, I think electric transportation will become more common in the future, for example trains, trams and plug-in hybrids."The ideal scenario would be to have a charger powerful enough to charge a car in five to ten minutes, but this would cost over $100,000, which is more expensive than the car itself," says Saeid Haghbin. "The question we posed was: how can we reduce the size, weight and price of the on-board charger."