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History of Robotics: Timeline
History of Robotics: Timeline This history of robotics is intertwined with the histories of technology, science and the basic principle of progress. Technology used in computing, electricity, even pneumatics and hydraulics can all be considered a part of the history of robotics. The timeline presented is therefore far from complete. Robotics currently represents one of mankind’s greatest accomplishments and is the single greatest attempt of mankind to produce an artificial, sentient being. It is only in recent years that manufacturers are making robotics increasingly available and attainable to the general public. The focus of this timeline is to provide the reader with a general overview of robotics (with a focus more on mobile robots) and to give an appreciation for the inventors and innovators in this field who have helped robotics to become what it is today. RobotShop Distribution Inc., 2008 www.robotshop.ca www.robotshop.us Greek Times Some historians affirm that Talos, a giant creature written about in ancient greek literature, was a creature (either a man or a bull) made of bronze, given by Zeus to Europa. [6] According to one version of the myths he was created in Sardinia by Hephaestus on Zeus' command, who gave him to the Cretan king Minos. In another version Talos came to Crete with Zeus to watch over his love Europa, and Minos received him as a gift from her. There are suppositions that his name Talos in the old Cretan language meant the "Sun" and that Zeus was known in Crete by the similar name of Zeus Tallaios. -
Robotics Irobot Corp. (IRBT)
Robotics This report is published for educational purposes only by students competing in the Boston Security Analysts Society (BSAS) Boston Investment iRobot Corp. (IRBT) Research Challenge. 12/13/2010 Ticker: IRBT Recommendation: Sell Price: $22.84 Price Target: $15.20-16.60 Market Profile Figure 1.1: iRobot historical stock price Shares O/S 25 mm 25 Current price $22.84 52 wk price range $14.45-$23.00 20 Beta 1.86 iRobot 3 mo ADTV 0.14 mm 15 Short interest 2.1 mm Market cap $581mm 10 Debt 0 S & P 500 (benchmarked Jan-09) P/10E 25.2x 5 EV/10 EBITDA 13.5x Instl holdings 57.8% 0 Jan-09 Apr-09 Jul-09 Oct-09 Jan-10 Apr-10 Jul-10 Oct-10 Insider holdings 12.5% Valuation Ranges iRobot is a SELL: The company’s high valuation reflects overly optimistic expectations for home and military robot sales. While we are bullish on robotics, iRobot’s 52 wk range growth story has run out of steam. • Consensus is overestimating future home robot sales: Rapid yoy growth in 2010 home robot Street targets sales is the result of one-time penetration of international markets, which has concealed declining domestic sales. Entry into new markets drove growth in home robot sales in Q4 2009 and Q1 2010, 20-25x P/2011E but international sales have fallen 4% since Q1 this year, and we believe the street is overestimating international growth in 2011 (30% vs. our estimate of 18%). Domestic sales were down 29% in 8-12x Terminal 2009 and are up only 2.5% ytd. -
Packaging Specifications and Design
ECE 477 Digital Systems Senior Design Project Rev 8/09 Homework 4: Packaging Specifications and Design Team Code Name: 2D-MPR Group No. 12 Team Member Completing This Homework: Tyler Neuenschwander E-mail Address of Team Member: tcneuens@ purdue.edu NOTE: This is the first in a series of four “design component” homework assignments, each of which is to be completed by one team member. The body of the report should be 3-5 pages, not including this cover page, references, attachments or appendices. Evaluation: SCORE DESCRIPTION Excellent – among the best papers submitted for this assignment. Very few 10 corrections needed for version submitted in Final Report. Very good – all requirements aptly met. Minor additions/corrections needed for 9 version submitted in Final Report. Good – all requirements considered and addressed. Several noteworthy 8 additions/corrections needed for version submitted in Final Report. Average – all requirements basically met, but some revisions in content should 7 be made for the version submitted in the Final Report. Marginal – all requirements met at a nominal level. Significant revisions in 6 content should be made for the version submitted in the Final Report. Below the passing threshold – major revisions required to meet report * requirements at a nominal level. Revise and resubmit. * Resubmissions are due within one week of the date of return, and will be awarded a score of “6” provided all report requirements have been met at a nominal level. Comments: Comments from the grader will be inserted here. ECE 477 Digital Systems Senior Design Project Rev 8/09 1.0 Introduction The 2D-MPR is an autonomous robot designed to collect data required to map a room. -
Irobot: ROBOTS for the HOME
Licensed to: iChapters User CASE 5 iROBOT: ROBOTS FOR THE HOME Robots have been around for a long time. Detroit has appeared on the cover of Popular Science. It was clear used robots for four decades to build cars, and manu- by then that his future lay in inventions. facturers of all kinds of goods use some form of robot- ics to achieve effi ciencies and productivity. But until The Opportunity iRobot brought its battery-powered vacuum cleaner to the market, no one had successfully used robots in In 1990, Brooks and Angle, who by then had be- the home as an appliance. The issue was not whether it come close working partners with their MIT col- was possible to use robots in the home, but could they league Helen Greiner, borrowed from their credit be produced at a price customers would pay. Until the cards and used bank debt to found iRobot in a tiny introduction of Roomba, iRobot’s intelligent vacuum apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. The goal of cleaner, robots for the home cost tens of thousands of the company was to build robots that would affect dollars. At Roomba’s price point of $$199,199, it was now hhowow peppeopleople llivedived ttheirheir llives.ivese . AtAt tthathaat ttime, no one possiblee ffororor ttheheh aaveragevev rar gee cconsumeronsus meer too aaffordfford to hhaveava e a cocouldoulld coconceivenceie ve ooff a wawwayy tot bbringringn rrobotsoboto s into domes- robot cleanleaean the hohhouse.usu e.. TThathah t inn iitselftssele f is aann iniinterestingteerrests inng titicc lilifefe iinn aan aaffordableffforordad blle wwaway,y, aandndd iiRobotRoR bob t was still years story, bututt eevenveen mommorerer iinterestingnteresestitingg iiss ththehe eneentrepreneurialnttrepepreenen ururiiaal awawayayy ffromroom didiscoveringsscoovverrini g ththee oononee aapapplicationppliccatiio that would journey of Colin Angle and his company, iRobot. -
Service Robots in the Domestic Environment
Service Robots in the Domestic Environment: A Study of the Roomba Vacuum in the Home Jodi Forlizzi Carl DiSalvo Carnegie Mellon University Carnegie Mellon University HCII & School of Design School of Design 5000 Forbes Ave. 5000 Forbes Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 [email protected] [email protected] ABSTRACT to begin to develop a grounded understanding of human-robot Domestic service robots have long been a staple of science fiction interaction (HRI) in the home and inform the future development and commercial visions of the future. Until recently, we have only of domestic robotic products. been able to speculate about what the experience of using such a In this paper, we report on an ethnographic design-focused device might be. Current domestic service robots, introduced as research project on the use of the Roomba Discovery Vacuum consumer products, allow us to make this vision a reality. (www.irobot.com) (Figure 1). The Roomba is a “robotic floor This paper presents ethnographic research on the actual use of vac” capable of moving about the home and sweeping up dirt as it these products, to provide a grounded understanding of how goes along. The Roomba is a logical merging of vacuum design can influence human-robot interaction in the home. We technology and intelligent technology. More than 15 years ago, used an ecological approach to broadly explore the use of this large companies in Asia, Europe, and North America began to technology in this context, and to determine how an autonomous, develop mobile robotic vacuum cleaners for industrial and mobile robot might “fit” into such a space. -
A National Imperative
TorchbearerTorchbearer NationalNational SecuritySecurity ReportReport A Transformed and Modernized U.S. Army: A National Imperative An AUSA Torchbearer Issue April 2007 April 2007 9 April 2007 A speaker at an AUSA-sponsored Land Warfare forum in January 1992 spoke on the U.S. Army in the post-industrial world and outlined some Army requirements: a family of combat vehicles capable of fi ghting on the ground together at full tempo; Army air vehicles that complement the ground vehicles in a synergistic way, multiplying the capability of ground forces; systems that enable commanders to command and control the force, enhancing a common perception of the battlefi eld; and the ability to sustain the force—not only with mass quantities but with precision. Th e continued operational requirements Soldiers have encountered in the subsequent 15 years have only served to validate those requirements, and it is gratifying to see the Army make steady progress toward satisfying them. Th e strength of the Army results from whole, cohesive units and Soldiers that are fully manned, equipped, trained and ready to conduct full-spectrum operations today—and modernized to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. Th e Army has adopted a new comprehensive, innovative modernization strategy. Th at strategy provides the best equipment currently available to Soldiers fi ghting the Global War on Terror while simultaneously developing new capabilities essential for future operations. In this latest installment of AUSA’s signature Torchbearer series, we provide an in-depth analysis of the Army’s modernization plan—centered on Future Combat Systems technologies and a holistic, system-of-systems approach—to prepare the Army for success in the complex environment of the 21st century. -
Irobot Create 2 Tethered Driving Using Serial Communication and Python Nick Saxton April 2, 2015
iRobot Create 2 Tethered Driving Using Serial Communication and Python Nick Saxton April 2, 2015 Executive Summary: This application note will detail the necessary steps to write a simple Python script to control an iRobot Create 2 through serial port communication. Following an introduction to the topic and the technology used, a detailed walkthrough will be provided showing the reader how to write a user controlled tethered driving script. This walkthrough will start with a blank file and show all of the required steps to reach the final script. Additionally, automated driving code will be discussed, including comments on how it is used in the Automated 3D Environment Modeling project sponsored by Dr. Daniel Morris of the Michigan State University 3D Vision Lab1. Keywords: iRobot Create Tethered Driving Serial Communication2 Python Programming 1 Introduction: This section will introduce the technology and concepts used in this application note. First, an overview of the iRobot Create 2 Programmable Robot will be provided. Then, the Python programming language will be examined, including a brief history of the language and some of its key features. Finally, serial port communication will be discussed. Following this introduction, the objective of this application note will be looked at. The iRobot Create 2 Programmable Robot is a fully programmable version of iRobot’s popular Roomba vacuum cleaning robot. It weighs under 8 lbs, measures a little over 13 inches in diameter and approximately 3.5 inches tall, and has a serial port on its top side, accessible after removing the top cover. An image of the Create 2 can be seen below in Figure 1. -
Irobot® Warrior™ X700 a MULTI-MISSION, MODULAR ROBOT with SUPERIOR POWER
iRobot® Warrior™ X700 A MULTI-MISSION, MODULAR ROBOT WITH SUPERIOR POWER The iRobot Warrior is a powerful critical in a variety of missions, FLEX THE ROBOT’S MUSCLES and rugged robot that can carry including explosive ordnance The Warrior is highly configurable • CBRN greater than 150 lb payloads, travel disposal (EOD), reconnaissance, and to meet the demands of real-world • Battlefield Casualty Extraction through rough terrain and climb firefighting.Funded by the Technical situations such as: • Physical Security stairs with heavy loads. The robot’s Support Working Group (TSWG), • Explosive Ordnance Disposal design offers an advanced digital Warrior is currently under develop- • Firefighting • VBIED architecture and an extremely sturdy ment and is expected to become • Surveillance • SWAT platform to support the weight of available for sale in early 2008. • Target Acquisition • Reconnaissance heavy payloads, such as firearms • Weaponized Missions and hoses. The Warrior robot will be • HazMat iRobot Warrior Chassis Capabilities and Specifications Length Software Battery Endurance Deployment 40 inches First robot designed specifically – 9-Pack Sincgars Radio Lithium Rapidly deployable from non- Width for AWARE 2.0 Ion Batteries specialized vehicle 29 - 32.5 inches Navigation – 1.45 - 16 hours depending Mobility on mission profile. (depending on configuration) Leverages odometry waypoint Dual track system for enhanced 1.0 minute change-out for bat- Height navigation via built-in GPS model mobility teries 18 inches (stowed) Supports assisted tele-operated Maintenance behavior: Hardened Electronics Weight Fast pit-stop like plug and play – Obstacle avoidance sensors MIL-STD-461 – Approximately 250 lbs. concept using 3-tiered – Intelligent CG shifting MIL-STD-464 maintenance concept: – Total weight of platform and flipper control and mission payloads: Communications – Field Maintenance 400 lbs. -
Intelligent Robotic Behaviors for Landmine Detection and Marking
Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction Volume 11 Issue 2 The Journal of Mine Action Article 42 April 2008 Intelligent Robotic Behaviors for Landmine Detection and Marking David Bremmer Idaho National Laboratory David Few Idaho National Laboratory Curtis Nielsen Idaho National Laboratory Miles Walton Idaho National Laboratory Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons Recommended Citation Bremmer, David; Few, David; Nielsen, Curtis; and Walton, Miles (2008) "Intelligent Robotic Behaviors for Landmine Detection and Marking," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 11 : Iss. 2 , Article 42. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol11/iss2/42 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Bremmer et al.: Intelligent Robotic Behaviors for Landmine Detection and Marking should absorb most of the blast energy.6 Also, During a recent visit to Cornell University, all the expensive sensors and computers are Nobel Peace Prize Co-laureate Rae McGrath had enclosed in a watertight, rugged box, which is the chance to meet with Cornell MineSweeper. being refined to meet military specifications “I really want to congratulate Cornell for allow- Intelligent Robotic Behaviors for Landmine Detection and Marking for explosion proofing. -
Irobot CORPORATION
Proxy Statement Dear Stockholder: April 10, 2013 You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of stockholders of iRobot Corporation to be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at iRobot Corporation headquarters located at 8 Crosby Drive, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730. At this annual meeting, you will be asked to elect two (2) class II directors for three-year terms, to ratify the appointment of our independent registered public accountants, to cast an advisory vote on the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, and to consider a shareholder proposal entitled “Proxy Access for Shareholders." The board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR election of the director nominees, FOR ratification of appointment of our independent registered public accountants, FOR approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers, and AGAINST the shareholder proposal entitled "Proxy Access for Shareholders." Details regarding the matters to be acted upon at this annual meeting appear in the accompanying proxy statement. Please give this material your careful attention. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, we urge you to sign and return the enclosed proxy so that your shares will be represented at the annual meeting. If you attend the annual meeting, you may vote in person even if you have previously returned your proxy card. Your prompt cooperation will be greatly appreciated. Very truly yours, COLIN M. ANGLE Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board Proxy iROBOT CORPORATION 8 Crosby Drive Bedford, Massachusetts 01730 Statement (781) 430-3000 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To Be Held on May 22, 2013 To the Stockholders of iRobot Corporation: The annual meeting of stockholders of iRobot Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., local time, at iRobot Corporation headquarters located at 8 Crosby Drive, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, for the following purposes: 1. -
Helen Greiner 11 Gage Road Wayland MA 01778 617-669-6665
Helen Greiner Prepared Testimony 11 Gage Road Senate Commerce Committee Wayland MA 01778 The Case for Space: Examining the Value 617-669-6665 October 23, 2009, 2:30PM [email protected] My name is Helen Greiner. I am currently the CEO of a startup company called The Droid Works. I received my Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering and Masters Degree in Electrical and Computer Sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Between 1990 to 2008, I cofounded and served as President and later Chairman of iRobot Corporation, a company that went from an apartment based startup to a publicly traded company and is a worldwide leaders in robot product sales and cutting edge robotics research. I currently serve as a trustee for MIT, the Boston Museum of Science, the National Defense Industrial Association, and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. I also serve as the elected President of the Robotics Technology Consortium, an industrial and academic consortium of 179 companies including top tier defense contractors, top universities and non profits, and over 120 small businesses – we have members from over 2/3 of the states. In other words, I am an engineer, entrepreneur, and active in representing the robotics industry. My own career and iRobot’s history is inextricably intertwined with NASA. I was an intern at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory where I worked on manipulators for satellites. This internship provided the opportunity to learn from NASA engineers and the support that I needed to pursue an advanced degree. Upon graduating, I founded iRobot in 1990 with Rod Brooks and Colin Angle, and NASA helped by purchasing robots from us – specifically an 18 degree of freedom walking robot and two portable tracked robots our very first sales. -
1 ROS SEMINAR UNIT 1.3 ROS & People & Rethink Give a Short
ROS SEMINAR UNIT 1.3 ROS & People & Rethink Give a short description of the following organizations and include their contributions to Robotics and ROS. Give References. a. Willow Garage b. iRobot c. Rethink Robotics a. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_Garage Willow Garage hired its first employees in January 2007, Jonathan Stark, Melonee Wise, Curt Meyers, and John Hsu. All four were recruited by Scott Hassan to work on Willow Garage's first projects which included an SUV entrant into the DARPA Grand Challenge and an autonomous solar powered boat for deploying scientific payloads in open oceans.[8] In the Fall of 2008, Eric Berger and Keenan Wyrobek pitched Willow Garage on creating a common hardware (PR1) and software (ROS) platforms and the idea of creating a Personal Robotics Program at Willow Garage[9]. They has previously started the Stanford Personal Robotics Program[10] to build the platform technologies that would enable the personal robotics industry. At Willow Garage they led the development of PR2[11], the common hardware platform for robotics R&D, and ROS[12], the open source robot operating system. https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/robotics-software/the-origin-story-of-ros-the-linux-of- robotics [9] Willow Garage currently has eight spin-offs: Here are four of importance: Industrial Perception Inc. - Acquired by Google in August 2013, IPI had as its broader mission "eyes and brains for industrial robots", focused on new robotic applications in logistics such as autonomous truck unloading. OpenCV - An open source computer vision and machine learning software library built to provide a common infrastructure for computer vision applications and to accelerate the use of machine perception in the commercial products.