Walking
humanoid robots are marvels of engineering
and computer science. Most are also expensive,
heavy, and power hungry. A trio of skeleton-like
robots show that walking -- robot and human
-- is mostly a matter of how the thigh bone
is connected to the knee bone... Full
story
Software
gives descriptive directions
Ask a person for directions and you are likely to
hear about landmarks. Computer-generated directions,
on the other hand, can give you precise distances
but rarely include landmarks. Given that people
prefer to be told to turn left at the elevators
rather than being told to walk east for 50 paces,
route planning software has room for improvement.
A system that has a sense of place is a big step
in the right direction.
Springs
simplify micromirror arrays
Taking the twinkle out of stars allows astronomers
to see them better. Such sharpening is also important
for optical applications ranging from retinal imaging
to spy satellites. Arrays of tiny movable mirrors
make it possible to restore distorted light waves.
A control system based on the stiffness of springs
promises to make those arrays cheaper, smaller and
tougher.
