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We have seen quadrocopters do some pretty awesome indoors maneuvers, from swarming to playing a piano symphony. But what we really want to see is a full-fledged airplane whipping around the inside of a building.
MIT’s Robotics Group is taking steps toward making this a reality with an autonomous UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) that can fly around in a tight car park. To accomplish this feat, the MIT scientists developed a short winged, laser-equipped brainiac UAV that can understand where it is and how to avoid obstacles all on its own.
MIT professor Mark Drela developed the UAV with a short 2-meter wingspan so that it could maneuver quickly in enclosed spaces. More importantly, the small airframe packs the same computational power as a netbook, with an Intel Atom processor inside.
It needs all this processing power to run a state-estimation algorithm in conjunction with a set of lasers, accelerometers, and gyroscopes. With these combined technologies, The UAV is able to figure out its own orientation and velocity as well as 15 other in-flight factors without a GPS signal. At the same time, the UAV constantly runs an algorithm that it uses to avoid obstacles it comes across on the fly.
So far, the MIT scientists have run a preliminary test of the system aided by a preloaded map. The UAV successfully flew for a total of three miles at 22 miles per hour.
The MIT researchers’ next step will be to build an algorithm that allows their UAV to make a map of its surroundings on the fly.
9. A. Look at the title of the article. What do you think it will be about?
SDR-4: King of the Dance Floor
The figure moves in perfect time with the music, using fancy footwork and waving its arm above its head. Whether the music is rock and roll classics, disco hits or slow romantic ballads, the dancer never misses a step or stops to rest.
This human-shaped robot, named SDR-4, has recently been developed by Sony. It is 60 centimetres tall, with a shiny silver body and large round eyes. At the moment, though, few homes will be able to afford one, as this miracle of robotics costs about the same as a luxury car.
The SDR-4 is certainly entertaining. It can be programmed with so much music and so many lyrics that it can outperform a jukebox. The SDR-4 can really work the dance floor, as it doesn’t only move to the beat of the music, but it also shakes its hips and moves its arms and legs to the rhythm.
The SDR-4 also has a great sense of balance, so it rarely falls over. This is because its feet contain special sensors, which allow it to walk and dance on uneven surfaces. Even the most agile dancers take a tumble sometimes, but you can be sure that even the SDR-4 falls over, it will not fall apart. Instead, it gets back on its feet to continue its performance.
Besides, the SDR-4 has the ability to talk. It can recognize as many as ten people by face and voice, and is able to greet them by name and even have a conversation with them.
The SDR-4 is the most advanced robot for home use, but experts believe that this is only the beginning. The SDR-4 is ready to dance the night away in living-rooms around the world. Who knows – it might even teach you some of its moves!
B. Expand the following statements:
1. The SDR-4 is good at dancing.
2. Not everyone can buy the SDR-4.
3. The SDR-4 can outperform a jukebox.
4. It rarely falls over.
5. The SDr-4 performs an entertaining function.
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