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We discuss the generation of symbolic feedback con- trol sequences for navigating a sparsely-described and uncertain environment, together with the problem of sensing landmarks sufficiently well to make feedback meaningful. We explore the use of a symbolic control approach for mitigating the lack of a detailed map of the environment and for reducing the complexity associated with finding control laws which steer a control system between distant locations. Under our language-based approach, control inputs take the form of symbolic strings. The decision process that generates those strings is guided by estimates of the vehicle's location within a set of important landmarks and by the statistical effectiveness of each string. This arrangement, and in particular the symbolic nature of the control set, allows us to formulate and solve a class of optimal navigation problems which would be exceedingly difficult to handle if approached at the level of sensors and actuators. Our approach is illustrated in a series of numerical indoor navigation experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on how penguins could be helpful to robot balance. Thanks to an innate ability to adjust for their squat build, penguins can waddle for miles without toppling over. The key is a side-to-side motion that carries them forward efficiently. Max Kurz of the University of Houston hopes to adapt the birds' unique walk to robots.

Focuses on the invention of mobile robot for elderly persons in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Capability of the robot to remind a person; Use of ultrasound and laserfinders in navigating; Miscalculation of researchers on the capacity of the robot.

Focuses on some examples of how upcoming changes may shape the United States Army in the 21st century. Information on the Army's leads with biometrics smart card; Army's testing of mobile detection robots known as Mobile Detection Assessment Response System.

The article offers information on the Autonomous Land Vehicle (ALV), a military robot, which would be developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. The ALV will replace human sentries and will be able to perform hazardous jobs such as detecting land mines, patrolling prisons and inspecting a nuclear power plant. Initially these robots will have a look of a vehicle and will be installed with cameras, laser radar and sensors.

The article discusses the plan of the U.S. Navy to use mechanized soldiers or robots for combat as of March 2008. However, the military is not yet ready to deploy a mechanical soldier at this time according to Bart Everett, director at the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Center. The author says that fully autonomous robots will be introduced in naval bases in the summer of 2008.

This article focuses on the Athlete, a mobile robot and habitat made for astronauts. The article explains that the Athlete, developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory, moves with six wheeled limbs. The article details the Athlete's attributes as well as its uses for the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts that will use it.

The article focuses on the Urban Grand Challenge, a race of driverless or robot automobiles in the U.S. to be held on November 3, 2007. The competition is sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). It offers $2 million for the grand winner, $1 million for the second placer, and $500,000 for the third placer.

The article presents an overview on several studies published within the June 2006 issue of "IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control" in the U.S. The study conducted by Sean B. Andersson and Dimitrios Hristu presents a method for generating sequences of symbolic feedback control laws for mobile robots navigating in unknown environments. Another study conducted by L.C.G.J.M. Habets and colleagues investigates the problem of synthesizing control laws for piecewise-affine hybrid systems on simplices. Furthermore, an approach to self-assembly and self-organization is proposed and investigated based on graph grammars by Eric Klavins and colleagues.

America's Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the research arm of the Department of Defence, is akin to a high-stakes venture capitalist, gambling large sums of money on risky technologies that will probably fail, but could pay off in a big way. It has had some stupendous successes, such as the internet, the Saturn rocket and micro-electro-mechanical systems. There have also been some resounding failures, such as the Total Information Awareness project, which was swiftly abandoned. But what is arguably DARPA's most outlandish scheme yet will begin March 13th, when robotic vehicles will line up in Barstow, California to make a run across 250 miles of scrub and desert. The vehicles will use digital cameras, radar and sonar, married with sophisticated home-grown software, to navigate. The Grand Challenge is asking researchers to solve the stubborn problem of building land vehicles that navigate and drive themselves. Even if the delicate digital hardware running these machines keeps going, navigating through the Mojave desert represents a complex challenge.

Reports on New Hampshire-based ActivMedia Robotics LLC's development of intelligent mobile robots. Features of the company's robots; Use of special software on the robot's on-board computer; Advantages over other mobile robots.

Presents information on technologies being developed in the U.S. as of December 2002. Mobile robot actuator built by researchers from Venderbilt University; Bone imaging technology from Imaging Therapeutics company; Ceramic, solid-state capillary pump that vaporizes liquid fuel, from Vapore company.

Reports on the contract won by Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California to create a miniature tactical mobile robot for urban operations. Features of the robot; Uses.

On 6 August, NASA's robotic rover Curiosity is scheduled to reach the end of its eight-month journey to Mars and begin its highstakes descent down to the surface of the Red Planet. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents news briefs about new technological innovations published in February 2004 issue of the journal "eWEEK." Robohelp X5, the first version of the popular help-authoring system since eHelp was acquired by Macromedia, gains welcome features that greatly expand the audiences that can be reached through help documentation. It also includes integration with Macromedia formats such as Flash. One of the big features in RoboHelp X5, which was released last month priced at $899, is the ability to write to the FlashHelp format, a dynamic and interactive Flash-based format that can be delivered to Flash players. Also welcome in this version is the ability to import PDF files and export help documentation as PDF files. Wireless links and cheap processing power make mobile robots increasingly practical for industry and public-safety applications. Originally inspired by the fictional R2-D2 "droid" of the "Star Wars" movies, iRobot co-founder Helen Greiner now equips the U.S. troops in Iraq with battlefield-grade PackBot units that can be thrown through a window to explore a potentially booby- trapped building.

In Indiana, senior citizens have adopted robotic dogs (named AIBO, Japanese for 'pal') as part of a Purdue University experiment looking at whether robo-pets can provide companionship and mental stimulation for older people who live alone. Roughly the size of a terrier, AIBO recognizes an individual's voice and can be programmed to develop a relationship of sorts with its owner.

Mentions the research of Mark Yim of Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in California on a reconfigurable modular robot. Efforts to create a robot for use in search and rescue operations, deep-sea mining, and space exploration; Description of the PARC Polybot, which can change its outward form.

Reports on the launch of the walking machine the 'adaptive suspension vehicle' in the United States. Use of motor cycle engine to power the machine; Designed for surveillance and maintenance work in nuclear power plants; Development of a more advanced experimental walking machine.

Features the robots showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Description of the Hubot robot manufactured by Hubotics Inc.; Built-in personality of Hero Jr. from Heath Co.; Price of the sentry robot by Denning Mobile Robotics Inc.

The article reports on the deployment of robots from Aethon Inc. at the FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital of Carolinas Inc. in the U.S. These five robots are tracking medical equipment, delivering drugs and significantly cutting costs at the hospital. According to chief information officer Dave Dillehunt, the robots that use the Tug automated courier and Homer radio frequency identification system-based asset management technology allow the hospital to save at least $150,000. Jackie Fenn of Gartner Inc. mentions that there is a strong potential for mobile robots to perform specific tasks.

The article offers information on the Talon Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Direction System (SWORDS ), which is the latest combat system used by the U.S. Army. The Talon SWORDS, designed by Foster Miller Inc., is a tractor-mounted, remotely controlled platform that can be equipped with M16, M240, M249, or Barrett 50-caliber machine guns. In defensive mode, the Talon uses a camera and other sensors to detect dangers in its environment while in offensive mode, it can use machine guns, grenade launchers, and rocket systems to eliminate those dangers. According to Robert Quinn, VP of Talon operations for Foster Miller, dual-track robots like Talon can roll over any terrain whether it is sand, mud, snow or ice.

Reports on the release of the AIBO robot dog from the company Sony in the U.S. in 2001. Features of the robot dog; Information on a television advertising of the robot dog; Price.

Features the mobile robot named Xavier, developed by researchers at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Carnegie Mellon University. Robot's features.