ICRAM V2.0

Okay - long time no "code blog post". I promise this is the last video post for this time - the next post WILL BE a code-related one.

Again this is the work of my colleagues at Bielefeld University, see credits for details

Some of my colleagues work - quite impressive. I thought it would be cool to spread the vid. Below there's an excerpt of the description on YouTube.

In Bielefeld, work is carried out on a bimanual anthropomorphic platform including the torso BARTHOC as a communication partner. We study interactive robot learning within a object learning scenario, i.e. labeling, grasping, and removing objects, aiming at a more natural human-robot cooperation. In particular, our research focuses on: bimanual action, representation and execution, tactile sensors and manipulation based on tactile feedback, online-learning object detection, integration and coordination of perception and action and principles of human-robot dialog, including non-verbal communication. * combination of exploratory and guided learning

I'm back safely for about a week now. I couldn't find the time to post some news from Singapore - or anything else at all :(

Nevertheless we were able to tape a video @Suntec Convention Center where the RoboCup took place.

This video shows team ToBI performing the Shopping Mall Task of the RoboCup 2010 in Singapore. It was the first time ever such a task was performed in a real shop - TOYS 'R' US. The robot is guided by a walker through the shelves to learn the positions of the 4 objects (that were selected from 20 known objects) and to map the environment. After that the walker will show the robot the checkout where a referee is waiting. The referee then tells the robot 3 of the 4 objects that the robot should try to find and grasp from the shelf. The robot drives to the positions and tries to find the object there to grasp it. The obects have to be brought to the referee waiting at the checkout. The overall time limit is 10min.

Just a quick note, on Ubuntu 10.04 (2.6.32-22-generic) the iSight works out of the box as /dev/video0 with the UVCVideo Driver. FYI

Hello everybody!

I am conducting a user study on human robot interaction for the project C1 of
the CRC 673 at Bielefeld University. Therefore, I kindly ask you to help us
with the study and participate in it.

You can simply fill out the questionnaire online, it will take you approx. 20
minutes.

The link is:
http://patrickholthaus.de/videostudy/

You would do me a great favor, if you participate. It would also be helpful to
ask your siblings, parents, friends, colleagues and acquaintances.

Time is running, thus i ask you to please participate as soon as possible.

Oooookay - Apple propagates its operating systems to be "64-Bitish", to be fair I've never doubted that because running a 64-Bit architecture doesn't mean you can't run 32-Bit applications. I was not soooo fataly wrong, but still - wrong. The truth is: Macs boot into a 32-Bit Kernel BY DEFAULT. So why is that? The explanation is very simple. "It keeps compatibility high with drivers and specialized software, which lowers hassles for users" {1}.