Meet Astro, a 3D Printed Robodog |
Posted: September 27, 2019 |
What happens if we cross Apple Siri and Amazon Alexa with quadrupled robots by Boston Dynamics? A team of scientists at Florida Atlantic University found out the answer: a smart robot dog with a 3D printed head, resembling a Doberman pinscher.
Credit: FAU This development is a product of FAU’s Machine Perception and Cognitive Robotics Laboratory. Compared to its counterparts, this robot is unique, since it has a 3D printed head that features a computer simulated brain. The scientists use it to perfect the self-learning algorithms, utilizing a neural network. No, we’re not just talking about standard commands such as “give paw” or “sit”, but about more complex and practical tasks. Despite its hilarious appearance, the model serves for testing speech recognition and biometric analysis programs, as well as coordinating actions with other autonomous robotic systems, such as flying drones.
Credit: FAU The scientists are interested whether it’s possible to use smart robots in police work, such as searching for firearms and explosives. They also consider a more social role for the robot: a service dog for visually impaired or even calling an ambulance if the owner suddenly gets sick. The robot can be programmed to do something a real dog can’t. The robot will also be able to serve in search and rescue missions as well as hurricane reconnaissance. Obviously, the military may also be interested in such a project.
Credit: FAU In the meantime the 100-pound robot performs quite innocent and educational tasks. The dog looks silly and quite cute thanks to its 3D printed head. The robot is equipped with sensory inputs like high-tech radar imaging, cameras and a directional microphone. Some modifications can also be made, allowing the robot to detect various environmental data. The visual information from cameras and a radar, which plays a crucial role in self-navigating is processed with Nvidia Jetson TX2 graphics processing units. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZTiaj4PU_4
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