Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #02114
To: "BEAM" beam@corp.sgi.com
From: "Jarrell Clark" Jclark76@bellsouth.net
Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1999 12:33:46 -0000
Subject: [alt-beam] Rudolph
Not BEAM but an interesting read none the less:
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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Fact of the Day for April 8, 1999
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What kind of robot can "see" by sonar?
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"Rodolph" (short for "robotic dolphin") is a specialized robot that
can "see" detailed images using sonar. Its sonar vision is so precise
that it can tell whether a coin is showing heads or tails.
The robot has electrostatic transducers that emit and receive sound
waves. The receivers are mounted in movable "ears" that swivel to aim
at the object being examined. The ears and emitter are mounted on a
movable arm, so that the whole robot can aim in different directions.
The robot's inventor, Yale professor Roman Kuc, says the next step is
to give the robot a mobile body so that it can explore its
environment.
Sonar vision is simpler in some ways than vision by light. Sonar
images are three-dimensional, which might make them good for uses such
as security devices, like a device to recognize people by the exact
shape of their face.
More about Rodolph:
http://www.yale.edu/opa/ybc/v26.n5.news.03.html
-_-_-_-_-_
I find that one of the most handy, helpful, useful, beneficial,
advantageous, valuable items I have in my home is a thesaurus.
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