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#276: IROS 2018 Exhibition (Part 2 of 3), with Kristoffer Richardsson, Michael Zillich and Paulo Alvito

In this interview, Audrow Nash interviews Kristoffer Richardsson, Michael Zillich, and Paulo Alvito.

Kristoffer Richardsson, Developer at Bitcraze in Sweden, speaks about small open-source unmanned aerial vehicle and different ways of localizing them.

Michael Zillich, CTO of Blue Danube Robotics in Austria, discusses a robotics platform for picking up toys, called Kenny. Zillich talks about Kenny's design, including sensors and its robotic arm. He discusses how children can show the robot where to put specific toys, about how this large European project was coordinated, and about possibly commercializing this platform.

Paulo Alvito, CEO and CTO and Co-founder of IDMind in Portugal, discusses remote inspection robot for sewers. Alvito discusses what it means to be remotely autonomous, the design of the robot, and how these robots communicate data.

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7 tips for using drones for wedding photography

The following is a guest post by Chams Edhia Riahi, a drone enthusiast and founder of The Drone Logic. This is the first in a three-part series about drones and wedding photography. Look for part two this time next week.

As drone photography and videography continues to gain popularity, some wedding photographers are starting to offer drone footage in addition to standard footage. Professional drone operators are becoming more and more in demand, either through an already-established traditional photography business or as a stand-alone service.    

But before you start using drones to photograph weddings, here's what you need to know.

1. Avoid Indoor Locations

While every bridal couple wants a unique picture and beautiful aerial shots, remember that not all venues are drone-friendly.  Indoor or tented locations are much more risky to fly in than outdoor locations: you'll likely be faced with more obstacles and limited area to fly, such as ceilings, fans and light fixtures. Noise is also typically more noticeable indoors.

And the biggest problem with flying indoors? Increased risk of magnetic interference. To avoid magnetic interference problems, you'll need to turn off all sensors, obstacle avoidance and visual positioning, as well as forego IMU and compass calibration. Basically, you'll be flying in all manual mode, which is incredibly difficult for most pilots.

And even if you are outdoors, you aren't totally obstacle-free; avoid areas with a large number of mature trees, and areas with low-hanging wires.  For the best results, choose open outdoor areas, including countryside or island settings, like this beach wedding:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Intimate Wedding Planner (@eventsbykeenda) on Aug 20, 2018 at 4:01am PDT

Don't be afraid to say “No” to gigs at potentially unsafe locations.

2. Know your focus methods

The two basic autofocus system modes on drone cameras are single and continuous.  Continuous mode tends to work better for aerial photography and moving targets because it continually focuses on your subjects.  However, single AF mode is usually sufficient while hovering because it automatically focuses and locks onto your target image until you take your shot.

3. Limit use during the main ceremony

No matter the quality, most drones are not silent.  While some have quieter moving parts than others, keep in mind that a drone may cause disruptions to the wedding ceremony or festivities.  Even if noise is not a factor, guests can still be disrupted or easily startled by a drone dropping out of the sky unexpectedly as it tries to get the perfect angle.

While aerial shots are definitely unique and breath-taking, they also take extra time to capture.  Since they can be very distracting, avoid drone use during the actual wedding ceremony. Instead, get a wide shot of the venue before the wedding, or stick to just filming during the reception where the drone will not detract from the special day.

If you need a drone to capture ceremony shots,  consider capturing the close-up shots during the rehearsal, but limit its use to wide shots during the actual ceremony.

Consider using the drone for wide shots, such as this one. But avoid creating a distraction with tighter shots during the ceremony.

4. Watch the weather

Drones are an expensive and fragile piece of electronic equipment (and most aren't waterproof!), meaning inclement will severely limit – if not cancel – operations.  Avoid flying in high wind or drizzle. Follow the weather forecast, and cease operations in the even of snowfall, rain, high winds or lighting. Make sure you have in writing in your contract the ability to cancel the flight if the weather is bad.

5. Know your ISO

For the perfect aerial shot no matter the lighting conditions, use your drone's ISO settings properly.  ISO controls how sensitive your camera's sensor is to light. Using the lowest ISO ensures the highest resolution possible for your images.  (However, it is not recommended that you go below the lowest rating offered by your specific drone camera.)

Below are a few basic ISO recommendations based on lighting conditions and subjects:

Low ISO (100-200)

Outdoor subjects in sunlight

Landscape or indoor stationary subjects (when accompanied by a tripod)

Provides maximum image quality

Medium ISO (250-400)

Scenery with dull lighting

Movement in good lighting conditions

Good for hand-held candid images

High ISO Settings (500-800)

Poorly-lit areas

Concerts and night photography

Fast movement in dull or indoor lighting

6. Have insurance 

Even with optimal preparation and skill, accidents still happen, and professional drones are expensive. Touch bases with some of your local insurance companies to see if they carry drone insurance. Some policies have special requirements like certain permits or flight certifications.  Drone insurance policies such as the one offered by DroneInsurance.com allow you to insure against ground-based liabilities, and then purchase flight liability coverage on-demand, for as little as a day or as long as a year.  Here is a quick guide to drone insurance.

7.Check permits ahead of time 

Permits and regulations vary greatly state to state, city to city, and venue to venue.  Always check with the selected venue ahead of time to ensure you have everything in order (some places do not allow drone use over private property). If the venue is near an airport, you may not be able to fly, and National Parks never allow drone usage.  Do your homework. Check out the FAA's website for more information on U.S. drone laws, or use this guide to find out if you can legally fly at that particular venue.

–By Chams Edhia RiahiFollowing his passion and ambition for writing and technology, Chams Edhia started TheDroneLogic.com, an authority site where he writes about the best drones on the market, tips on how to fly them and other industry announcements.

The post 7 tips for using drones for wedding photography appeared first on The Drone Girl.

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Dubai Municipality Develops Flying Drone Lifeguard

Dubai has long been known as a city that's at the forefront of innovation – and in the last five years, that innovation has also been extended to the drone industry. The city (largest in the United Arab Emirates) has some of the best drone infrastructure in the world and desperately wants to become the ...

The post Dubai Municipality Develops Flying Drone Lifeguard appeared first on Dronethusiast.

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Report: Multiple PS4 Consoles Frozen by Receiving Messages Due to Possible Glitch

Multiple Reddit users have stated that their PS4 systems have been frozen and they have been forced to do a factory reset after receiving a message. ...Read More

The post Report: Multiple PS4 Consoles Frozen by Receiving Messages Due to Possible Glitch by Grant Huff appeared first on DualShockers.

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30 of the Most Iconic Horror Movie Quotes

Since Halloween is just around the corner, you probably have Halloween plans, right? Apart from trying to be cute door-to-door in order to score some candies, you might want to try something more classic instead. Like binge-watching horror movies until you get de-sensitized from all the gore and the screams. Better yet, invite some people over and play a guessing game of horror movie quotes, take turns saying or acting out a scary movie quotes and have someone guess it. Why it is perfect for both the cinephiles and those looking for some good old-fashioned Halloween fun.

Of course, you will have to come up with some interesting consequences and reward for right and wrong guesses, so do the whole thing in a haunted house while in costume. Okay, maybe not a haunted house– that's up to you, but it is hard to call something Halloween without a few scares. Generally, horror movies set up the perfect stage for helping people with their bowel movements and bladders. We can certainly help you out with our list of iconic horror movie quotes, 30 of them in fact. Do note that while this is not a ranking from worst to best, but from newest to oldest. Without further ado, here are the iconic horror movie quotes:

30. It (2017)

Turns out a modern Pennywise is a lot more horrifying when done right with modern movie magic, proving once and for all that clowns are up to no good, here is one of his most menacing lines while terrorizing a kid:

Tasty, tasty, beautiful fear.”

29. The Conjuring (2013)

2013's “The Conjuring” is a good example of a classic exorcism and haunted house movie done right in the modern era. Here is one famous line explained by Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) as an exorcist:

The devil exists. God exists. And for us, as people, our very destiny hinges upon which one we elect to follow.”

28. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Iconic for one of the first few Hollywood movies that made fun of the horror genre while being a legitimate horror film. Here's a quote where the two remaining protagonists apologize to each other in the face of apocalypse.

I'm sorry I let you get attacked by a werewolf, and you know, ended the world.”

27. Insidious (2011)

This movie made James Wan one of the leading directors of the horror genre right now. This quote is quite chilling as most of the time, horror movie protagonists find solace in the fact that only the property is haunted:

It's not the house that's haunted, it's your son.”

26. Paranormal Activity (2009)

Incorporating the first-person creepiness of found footage horror films, “Paranormal Activity” re-ignited a dormant flame for found footage horror films with its success. This quote is when the protagonists/victims acknowledge what is happening to them:

Basically, they're these malevolent evil spirits that only exist to cause pain and commit evil for their own amusement.”

25. The Descent (2006)

Ever wanted to visit caves and do some spelunking? Watch this movie first and you might change your mind. The quote below is when our protagonists find themselves in a hopeless spot in the abyss:

I'm an English teacher, not fucking Tomb Raider.”

24. Blair Witch Project (1999)

The Progenitor of the found footage horror genre, shot in a low-resolution camera and is evidently low-budget. The quote below is the calm before the storm when the protagonists still have the energy to joke around:

What's that? Is that the Blair Witch? No, it's Heather, taking a piss.”

23. Ringu (The Ring, 1998)

Who would have thought that videotapes and long-haired female ghouls make for exceptional horror material? The Japanese, of course. This quote is mentioned when people realize just how deadly and scary Sadako is:

It's not of this world. It's Sadako's fury. And she's put a curse on us.”

22. Scream (1996)

Before “Cabin in the Woods” there was “Scream,” a classic horror movie about horror movies too. These words are uttered when Bill went full-on psycho while shouting an iconic quote:

Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative!”

21. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

This is the reason why Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter still cannot be topped today. When Hannibal Lecter escaped, he called Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) seemingly in an attempt to mock her with the words:

I'm having an old friend for dinner.”

20. Misery (1990)

Kathy Bates proves that when one wants to be a monster, one only needs psychotic obsession instead of a mask and some claws. This one is when a creepy Kathy Bates assures an unlucky author of her devotion to his novels, before torturing him:

I am your number one fan.”

19. Child's Play (1988)

We all know that dolls are like the clowns when it comes to toys, seemingly harmless but psychotic inside really. These words were uttered by Chucky himself a few seconds before all hell broke loose:

Hi, I'm Chucky. Wanna play?”

18. The Fly (1986)

Jeff Goldblum's career highlight before he became an eccentric mathematician on a quest to discourage GMO dinosaurs. It also features a younger and sexier Geena Davis, who caught her boyfriend (Goldblum) cheating on her:

Be afraid. Be very afraid.”

17. Aliens (1986)

Sequel to the highly-acclaimed “Alien” movie, this one is less slow burn horror and more action and suspense. Ripley, being a veteran and a survivor of the Xenomorphs at this point, gives some wisdom on how to deal with them:

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure!”

16. Gremlins (1984)

Everyone wanted a Gremlin until “Gremlins” showed the damage those things can do to the society, take proper care of your pets kids!

First of all, keep him out of the light, he hates bright light, especially sunlight, it'll kill him. Second, don't give him any water, not even to drink. But the most important rule, the rule you can never forget, no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never feed him after midnight.”

15. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Just when you thought horror film monsters could not more invasive, they start invading your dreams. That's what Freddy Kreuger is all about, even managing to terrorize the protagonist through the phone line with:

I'm your boyfriend now, Nancy.”

14. The Thing (1982)

“The Thing” is generally regarded by a lot of horror movie buffs as one of John Carpenter's best work. It also has that famous line when people realized just how hard it is to kill the monster they are dealing with:

Oh you've got to be f***ing kidding!”

13. The Evil Dead (1981)

Director Sam Raimi's debut in the horror film franchise, low budget, gory, and one of the best Halloween movies ever. It has this famous creepy mocking line from the demons haunting the victims:

We're going to get you. We're going to get you. Not another peep. Time to go to sleep.”

12. The Shining (1980)

Stanley Kubrick may have made a masterpiece, though the author of the source material, Stephen King, did not like it. But you know it is good when you get a crazed Jack Nicholson uttering one of the most famous movie lines ever while chasing his wife and son:

Here's Johnny!”

11. Friday the 13th (1980)

You just can't talk about the slasher horror subgenre without mentioning Jason Voorhees, this is where the iconic hockey mask first appeared. Turns out Jason's mother was just as crazy and murderous as he was:

Jason was my son, and today is his birthday.”

10. Dawn of the Dead (1979)

Often hailed as one of the most entertaining and compelling zombie movies ever, courtesy of visionary George Romero. This line served as the perfect build up for the premise:

When there is no more room in Hell, the dead will walk the Earth.”

9. Alien (1979)

The birth of a true cinema monster, one that is truly menacing and can actually bring about the destruction of mankind without them even seeing it coming. Luckily, Ripley survived the ordeal and managed to record everything:

This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off.”

8. Halloween (1978)

Another masterpiece from John Carpenter, probably his best ever too. Be sure to keep your eyes open for a belated sequel/reboot sometime in the near future. Here's Michael Myers being creepy as ever:

I'm not Michael, I'm a clown.”

7. Carrie (1976)

A horrific take on superpowers, because when you give a volatile teenage girl telekinesis, all hell is bound to break loose during prom night. The way Carrie's mom was, well, it's easy to see why:

They're all going to laugh at you!”

6. Jaws (1975)

Sharks were not really viewed as monsters back then, that is until “Jaws” came along and embedded the idea that the open water is a meatgrinder once you see a triangular dorsal fin in the horizon. This is when the shark chow victims realize what they are dealing with:

You're gonna need a bigger boat!”

5. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

When a movie features a chainsaw-wielding hillbilly named Leatherface who was inspired by a real-life murdered named Ed Gein, then there is no denying that it is bound to become one of the most iconic horror films ever.

Look what your brother did to the door!”

4. The Wicker Man (1973)

To this day, “The Wicker Man” from 1973 has still not been decently reproduced in a modern remake, as a testament to its quality and the bar it set for horror. The way the creepy pagan Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) says it is also unsettling:

It is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man.”

3. The Exorcist (1973)

The still unmatched and one-and-only movie about exorcism actually put Linda Blair's acting and vomiting skills to the test. Who could forget this famous exorcism line after going on repeat 100 times:

The power of Christ compels you!”

2. Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Filled with a mother's hysteria and classic horror vibes that has stood the test of time, even after similar and more modern films have come along. Oh, there is also a rape scene, beware:

This is no dream! This is really happening!”

1. Psycho (1960)

The film that made the fictional Bates Motel famous, it's success resonates to this day with a lot of horror and suspense titles. All this is thanks to Alfred Hitchcock's directorial prowess and reputation. Oh, and this is perhaps Norman Bates' (Anthony Perkins) most intense moment, trying to justify his and his mother's madness:

We all go a little mad sometimes.”

You might also like:

8 Iconic Horror Murder Weapons

2017: The Best Year for Horror Movies Ever

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Drones With Laser Scanners Monitor Costa Rican Forests

“There are many ways of taking these metrics,” said Felipe Carazo, “but none with this level of resolution.” Carazo is the executive director of Fundecor, a private non-governmental organization that's working to manage Costa Rican forests in a more environmentally sustainable fashion. In association with American technology company Intel and the San Jose-based Aerial Robotixs, ...

The post Drones With Laser Scanners Monitor Costa Rican Forests appeared first on Dronethusiast.

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Southie Autonomy focusing on ease of use with intelligent robot software

Ease of use is a key factor in getting new industries and small and medium-sized companies to adopt automation. Robotics companies are doing a much better job keeping end users in mind when designing products, but for too long that was not the case. Fetch Robotics, Ready Robotics and Waypoint Robotics, among many others, come…

The post Southie Autonomy focusing on ease of use with intelligent robot software appeared first on The Robot Report.

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Airware shuts down after burning through $118 million in venture capital

One of Silicon Valley's most heavily funded drone companies, Airware, has crashed.

Airware, a San Francisco-based drone startup working on operating systems, is ceasing operations immediately.

“History has taught us how hard it can be to call the timing of a market transition,” according to a blog that was posted Friday on Airware's site. “This is not the business outcome we had worked so hard for over the years.”

The news was first reported by Tech Crunch, which shared screenshots from the Airware alumni Slack channel detailing how the staff was told that the company would shut down.

The news appears to have come across as unexpected even to former employees, garnering comments such as “holy moly,” “didn't they just announce some new partnerships?” and “how do I get my options sent to me on paper so I can burn them all in a fire.”

Airware had once been seen as one of the drone industry's darlings, after having raised $118 million from big investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Google's GV, and Kleiner Perkins.

The company went through a series of business transitions, having launched in 2011 as a company to make autopilot systems. It then transitioned to building entire drones, and later pivoted to a company that would consult other companies on enterprise applications.

Airware at one point launched its own drone investment fund called the Commercial Drone Fund, which claimed would make investments of between $250,000 and $1 million in promising startups. That fund ultimately invested in three companies, according to Crunchbase: Redbird (which it eventually acquired), Cape and Raptor Maps.

According to Airware's own blog post, they were “pioneers in this market and one of the first to see the power drones could have in the commercial sector.”

But for others, the news may be less surprising. The company had also struggled lately to keep up with other startups in the drone sector. Airware had been absent from recent, big FAA decisions, such as the UAS Pilot Program, which gave favor to other startups such as Airmap and Flirtey, or the LAANC program, which has seen progress from startups including Airmap, Kittyhawk and Skyward.

The news also illustrates the challenges of competing against behemoth DJI in the hardware development sector, as well as competing with small startups and even individual consultants in the increasingly crowded space of enterprise consulting operations.

Chinese drone manufacturer DJI has repeatedly dominated the lower-tier prosumer drone market, as well as the enterprise market with robust drones that offer thermal cameras, zoom lenses and are deeply integrated with enterprise software. DJI has a conservatively estimated 70% market share, but that number could continue to grow if the trend around major companies like Airware calling it quits continues.

The post Airware shuts down after burning through $118 million in venture capital appeared first on .

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Bat-inspired Robat uses echolocation to map, navigate environment

The “Robat” is a fully autonomous, four-wheeled terrestrial robot with bat-like qualities that uses echolocation, also called bio sonar, to move through novel environments while mapping them based only on sound. It was developed at Tel Aviv University (TAU). Bats use echolocation to map novel environments, navigating them by emitting sound then extracting information from…

The post Bat-inspired Robat uses echolocation to map, navigate environment appeared first on The Robot Report.

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CVs of Famous Fictional Characters

Anyone will tell you that after completing your course, the first significant step in finding a job is the creation of your CV. First impressions are crucial and this will be a potential employer's first glimpse of who you are, ideally prompting them to offer you an interview.

Many of the guys at Find Courses are fans of modern fiction, and this prompted them to wonder what the CVs of some of their favourite fictional characters from books, TV and movies might look like. Read on to see how many of them you recognise, and how good (or bad) their CVs are!

Gandalf

After a stressful 78 years of work, this elderly gentleman from one of the most epic movie franchises is not adjusting well to retirement. A recent immigrant to the land of Valinor, he is now looking for employment in his new home to keep himself from getting too bored. As you can see, his work and education histories are fairly extensive, with various achievements as testament to his breadth of wisdom and strength of character.

Jack Sparrow

This individual has recently found himself out of work and unable to remain self-employed after losing his primary means of generating income. While he has over twenty years of experience in his field (making him a potentially great asset to the right company), it seems that years of being his own boss has made him somewhat belligerent and lacking in respect, judging by the personal statement.

Sybil Trelawney

The overconfidence of lady's personal statement could suggest insecurity hidden beneath a veneer of audacity; although considering her skillset, some employers might feel reassured by this level of certainty. Her education and experience are more encouraging – studying at an illustrious or impressive institution implies a high standard of training, and her many years teaching at the same place of work shows that she can hold down a long-term job.

Jesse Pinkman

This young man has an advanced education and great experience in one field but is looking to start again and make a career change. While the progression he made in his previous career implies drive and a willingness to work, his lack of professional experience outside of that could somewhat limit his options.

Forrest Gump

This next CV is a particularly ambitious one, based on the job this man is applying for. The tone of his introduction is more casual than one might hope, and the points it makes are not especially salient or effective in showcasing why he would be the best man for the job. Nevertheless, his skills and previous experience demonstrate an open-minded and well-rounded individual, willing and able to turn his hand to a variety of different professions.

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Autonomous robot evolution: from cradle to grave

A few weeks ago we had the kick-off meeting, in York, of our new 4 year EPSRC funded project Autonomous Robot Evolution (ARE): cradle to grave. We – Andy Tyrrell and Jon Timmis (York), Emma Hart (Edinburgh Napier), Gusti Eiben (Free University of Amsterdam) and myself – are all super excited. We've been trying to win support for this project for five years or so, and only now succeeded. This is a project that we've been thinking, and writing about, for a long time – so to have the opportunity to try out our ideas for real is wonderful.

In ARE we aim to investigate the artificial evolution of robots for unknown or extreme environments. In a radical new approach we will co-evolve robot bodies and brains in real-time and real-space. Using techniques from 3D printing new robot designs will literally be printed, before being trained in a nursery, then fitness tested in a target environment (a mock nuclear plant). The genomes of the fittest robots will then be combined to create the next generation of 'child' robots, so that – over successive generations – we will breed new robot designs in a process that mirrors the way farmers have artificially selected new varieties of plants and animals for thousands of years. Because evolving real robots is slow and resource hungry we will run a parallel process of simulated evolution in a virtual environment, in which the real world environment is used to calibrate the virtual world, and reduce the reality gap*. A hybrid real-virtual process under the control of an ecosystem manager will allow real and virtual robots to mate, and the child robots to be printed and tested in either the virtual or real environments.

The project will be divided into five work packages, each led by a different partner: WP1 Evolution (York), WP2 Physical Environment (UWE), WP3 Virtual Environment (York), WP4 Ecosystem Manager (Napier) and WP5 Integration and Demonstration (UWE).

Here in the Bristol Robotics Lab we will focus on work packages 2 and 5. The goal of WP 2 is the development of a purpose designed 3D printing system – which we call a birth clinic – capable of printing small mobile robots, according to a specification determined by a genome designed in WP1. The birth clinic will need to pick and place a number of pre designed and fabricated electronics, sensing and actuation modules (the robot's 'organs') into the printing work area which will be over printed with hot plastic to form the complete robot. The goal of WP5 will be to integrate all components, including the real world birth clinic, nursery, and mock nuclear environment with the virtual environment (WP3) and the ecosystem manager (WP4) into a working demonstrator and undertake evaluation and analysis.

You can see an impression of what the birth clinic might look like above.

One of the most interesting aspects of the project is that we have no idea what the robots we breed will look like. The evolutionary process could come up with almost any body shape and structure (morphology). The same process will also determine which and how many organs (sensors, actuators, etc) are selected, and their positions and orientation within the body. Our evolved robot bodies could be very surprising indeed.

And who knows – maybe we can take a step towards Walterian Creatures?

*Anyone who uses simulation as a tool to develop robots is well aware that robots which appear to work perfectly well in a simulated virtual world often don't work very well at all when the same design is tested in the real robot. This problem is especially acute when we are artificially evolving those robots. The reason for these problems is that the model of the real world and the robot(s) in it inside our simulation is an approximation. The Reality Gap refers to the less-than-perfect fidelity of the simulation; a better (higher fidelity) simulator would reduce the reality gap.

Related materials: Article in de Volkskrant (in Dutch) De robotevolutie kan beginnen. Hoe? Moeder Natuur vervangen door virtuele kraamkamer (The robot evolution can begin. How? Replacing Mother Nature with virtual nursery), May 2018. Eiben and Smith (2015) From evolutionary computing to the evolution of things, Nature. Winfield and Timmis (2015) Evolvable Robot Hardware, in Evolvable Hardware, Springer. Eiben et al. (2013) The Triangle of Life, European Conference on Artificial Life (ECAL 2013).

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The Apocalypse Bicycle

It seems to be a perennial among humans, the tendency among some to expect the End Times. Whether it was mediaeval Europeans who prepared for a Biblical Armageddon at the first sight of an astronomical phenomenon, 19th-century religious sects busy expecting a Noah's flood, cold-war survivalists with bunkers under the lawn, or modern-day preppers buying survival gear, we have a weakness for thinking that Time's Up even when history shows us repeatedly that it isn't. Popular culture has even told us that the post-apocalyptic world will be kinda cool, with Mad Max-style rusty-looking jacked-up muscle cars and Tina Turner belting out ballads, but the truth is likely to be a lot less attractive. Getting away from danger at faster than walking pace as a starving refugee would likely be a life-or-death struggle without the industrial supply chain that keeps our 21st-century luxury cars on the road, so something more practical would be called for.

[Don Scott] has written a paper describing an extremely straightforward solution to the problem of post-apocalyptic transport, which he calls the Apocalypse Bicycle. As you might expect it's a two-wheeler, though it's not the kind of machine on which you'd lead a break-away from the Tour de France peloton. Instead this is a bicycle pared down to its minimum,, without advanced materials and with everything chosen for durability and reliability. Bearings would have grease nipples, for instance, the chain would be completely enclosed for better retention of lubrication, and the wheels would be designed to have strips of salvaged tyre attached to them. Interestingly, the machine would also be designed not to attract attention, with muted matte colours, and no chrome. It occurs to us that many of the durability features of this machine are also those that appear on the rental bicycles owned by bike sharing companies that have been spread liberally on the streets of many cities.

You might wonder what use the idea might have, and why a prepper might consider one alongside their tins of survival rations. But it's also worth considering that these machines have a real application in the here-and-now, rather than just an imagined one in an apocalyptic future. Many Hackaday readers are fortunate enough to live in countries unaffected by wars or natural disasters, but there are plenty of places today where an aid agency dropping in a load of these machines could save lives.

Apocalyptic cycling has featured little here. But we have brought you at least one bike made from wood.

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US Army making mobile robots more reliable for soldiers

Researchers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University developed a new technique to quickly teach robots novel traversal behaviors with minimal human oversight. The technique allows mobile robots to navigate autonomously in environments while carrying out actions a human would expect of the robot in a given…

The post US Army making mobile robots more reliable for soldiers appeared first on The Robot Report.

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A Look at the Future of AI in Gaming, Design and Branding

How will AI change the future of gaming, design, and branding? That is a loaded question because there are so many things that have already been altered by the advent of AI and design. The tools that have been used in the past certainly already had elements of artificial intelligence, but the need for speed, automation, and human characteristics elements have driven the industry to new extremes.

One example of this evolution is HTC Vive. This is one of the hottest virtual reality systems on the market today. It comes with a fully immersive headset and lots of virtual reality tools to get started, plus a full virtual reality experience that will provide hours of entertainment.

The 360-degree virtual controllers are designed specifically for the gaming and virtual reality experience. The creators of HTC Vive also had as one of their priorities to make the virtual reality experience safer for the end users. There's a front-facing camera that gives the user an ability to see what is happening in the real world and you never have to take off the headset.

This is just one example of the trends in virtual reality gaming. Forevergeek.com has others you can read about on their blog. You'll find that the rules are always changing when it comes to creating and maintaining the new virtual reality and AI environments in the gaming world.

AI and Design – The Progressive Movement for All Brands

How has AI changed the future of the design industry? Within the gaming industry, we already see many changes in the graphics, tools, and environments of the design world. For example, if you look at what is happening with minimalist design trends, you'll see the vast majority of minimalist sites are very “AI-friendly.” In other words, they are created to give the user an easy experience and to allow the owner of the website to “guide” the customer along with his journey.

This gives more control to the site owner when trying to create an effective marketing channel. With the technology that smart AI gives you within the minimalist environment, you can guide the customer every step of the way to your landing or sales page. This way, you will be able to have them do exactly what you want them to do, which results in higher leads generation and sales conversions.

When it comes to machine learning and AI - it's all about the concept of providing the best value possible, while simplifying the needs of a business, service, or even the end user. For example, Baidu is currently using machine learning to automate the process of making phone calls with 'real', yet AI-powered conversations. You can see more examples of this type of technology being used here.

This type of AI-technology isn't just happening in the world of business services and machine learning either, it's also happening in more simple and direct forms as well. For example, Designhill has been working on a new technology to cater to both their audience and brands looking to build their online identity. With so many sites on the internet focused on the concept of online gaming, it's important to stand out from the crowd. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to have a professional logo for your site. Through the use of their artificial intelligence-based logo maker, this can be accomplished in just minutes, while also requiring zero design skills in the process. This site (and others) allows you to create a logo design quickly and easily using the smart AI technology they already have on their site. What's different about this solution is that not only is it completely automated, it's also powered with AI-technology and will generate an unlimited supply of concepts and logo designs to choose from.

By inputting your company name, selecting different colors, and other elements, you can create a professional logo fast using only electronic technology components. This is valuable to business owners as well as gamers and designers because of the way it automatically creates the vision that the person has for their project. It's kind of like taking the driver's seat in a project without having to do the hard work.

This is just one of the most simple forms of how an everyday gaming blogger can start using AI for their own blogging or professional use. To see an example of how some of the top gaming blogs are using their logo designs and branding to create a following online, you can follow this review of the Playstation gaming blog. Notice how each section of the site not only takes advantage of the Playstation logo, but also the well-known buttons and branding from previous systems like the PS4, PS3, Vita, and PSN. It's also no surprise that Playstation is actively making their way into the AI-space as well.

There are some downsides to using this type of technology. For example, you may not be able to create a unique design. If you can go to the site and create your logo, others can do it too. This means that the AI technology, though convenient, may prevent you from being able to create a truly unique design that is only possible with a professional logo design company.

Still, the convenience and accessibility of this sort of system can save time and money and help business owners create what they need fast at a minimal cost. This is hard to beat when it comes to managing your time as a business owner, so it is something that many business owners want to look into on some level.

Design options will continue to improve in other ways due to AI and automation technology in the future including smart drawing tools, AutoCAD improvements, and much more.

Look for changes within software that you already use such as AutoCAD (mentioned above). This is one way that AI technology is infiltrating and changing the capabilities of design and creative project rendering.

The Automation Component and Big Names Powering It

AI does not stand alone. It is encircled by a wide variety of other technologies that are inherent in the technology itself. For example, automation alone is a primary reason that people cling to AI technologies. There is already a great deal of AI technology online on websites such as Amazon, Google, and countless others. The very fact that you can have an automatic shopping assistant pop up to help you at a moment's notice or have something ordered and delivered without doing much of anything manually is an indication that the automation component of AI is perhaps one of the drawing factors of this innovation.

Not only are these types of companies planning on how they can use AI for their business, they are also expanding on the opportunities in allowing AI-technology to be granted and accessed by both users and game/application developers in the world today. A perfect example of this can be seen in the Google AI Experiments program.

It's not just the world of gaming that artificial intelligence will improve all aspects, it's already happening with some of the biggest names in online marketing and content creation as well. Business owners and eCommerce business people all agree that sites like Shopify, with its multiple AI components and features, saves them time and money over the long term by automating processes and scenarios that would ordinarily take hours to complete.

For this reason, AI will be around for a long time due to the amount of time and money you can save using this innovative technology.

Branding and AI – Where Games are Headed in the Next Few Years

The idea of using AI in gaming and branding is not new, but it has just begun to take a front seat on the radar of site owners. Branding involves everything from creating a logo to designing professional graphics, infographics, videos, and other assets. AI comes into play when site owners choose to utilize the many tools available to create these digital assets to promote their brand. In order to effectively use artificial intelligence, it's all about having a good understand of what can be automated, learned and best applied to a service or an audience's needs.

A perfect example of this can be seen in this article from Analytics India Mag, which highlights the best video games and their current use of AI so far. Since the technology is still fairly new, and it will likely take a new platform and gaming system to fully develop, it's still interesting to see how different games can use AI, while still offering a premium gaming experience.

Whether it's in some of your favorite games, or branding and business development, there is a subtle process of reputation building and making a great first impression whenever AI is being used. For example, the computer algorithms that are utilized on websites and within web servers is based primarily on the AI system. Machine learning is essential in connecting with the customer on a personal level, without actually have to have human beings on the site at all times.

This is an essential component of not just video games, but also how businesses can better improve customer relations through the use of AI bots and programs to handle and maintain the subtler aspects of your brand and business. Again, these components will all get better with time.

Applying AI to Your Everyday Life

How you choose to use AI in your daily life, marketing, gaming, design, or branding is totally up to you. There are many options and tools available that you can utilize - even for someone who isn't interesting in the gaming or business aspect. We've also covered several different examples of how gaming platforms, web design or logo design use AI smart technology to create a better user experience. Another is the use of smart algorithms that serve as the basis for new games or programs that help people build their online presence.

In fact, some markets that AI-technology is already making a lot of progress can be seen within these mobile applications. As more people continue to use their mobile devices to take care of their daily operations and communications, we will likely see more of these apps being powered by AI resources and concepts.

Gamers and design artists, consumers, and business owners alike are all benefitting from the continual development of AI technologies. You can do more research at Machine Learnings.co to learn more about how this fascinating industry of AI tech is changing everything.

Humans vs. Computers – “All Your Base Are Belong to Us”

Ironically, the ultimate goal of AI is to recreate the “human component.” In other words, humans created computers. Computers were designed to get smarter and smarter, and finally to emulate humans. So the goal of AI is now to get back to the human element, despite the race to create machines that can outsmart humans!

Who knows what the future holds? No one.

But one thing is for sure, when it comes to AI, machine learning, and automation, the more things change, the more they stay the same!

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Todd Howard Knows The Elder Scrolls VI Release Date, But He's Not Telling

One of the most interesting things to come out of this year's E3 was getting a quick look at titles that could quite possibly be launching on the next generation of consoles. Most notably, Bethesda showed us a teaser for The Elder Scrolls VI, a game that is more than a few years away, and chances are we won't see it until after the PlayStation 5 has released. The mountains, trees, vistas, and fog we see in that trailer could be our first look at a next-generation video game environment.

In an interview with GameSpot, Bethesda Game Studios Director Todd Howard indicated that he knows The Elder Scrolls VI release date. Of course, he's not about to tell any of us that information, not even a hint about what year we might see it in. The game is currently in the early stages of development (concept and design phase), which means it's probably at least three years away if Bethesda's sets their sights on outdoing the wildly successful Skyrim.

Bethesda's first new franchise in 25 years, Starfield, is said to be farther along and will likely release well before we see what's next for The Elder Scrolls. In numerous interviews, Howard mentioned more powerful next-generation hardware, leading many to believe that both Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI will be ambitious games that require a generational leap, even though Starfield is reportedly in a playable state and in full production.

The next major tentpole release from the studio will be Fallout 76, set for release this November. While a PlayStation 5 release for both Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI would mean no 2019 release for Bethesda Game Studios (RAGE 2 is being published by Bethesda Softworks, but developed by Avalanche and id), it's not uncommon for the studio to go for multiple years with no releases, sometimes up to four years. By that logic, Starfield as a 2020 or 2021 game wouldn't be surprising, with The Elder Scrolls VI release date even further out. Development timelines are also constantly changing, which means that while Howard may know the target date for The Elder Scrolls VI, it is always subject to change.

Do you think we'll see The Elder Scrolls VI or Final Fantasy VII Remake first? Is this further proof of a PlayStation 5 arriving in 2020? Let us know if you are ready to move into the next generation of consoles for The Elder Scrolls VI in the comments below.

[Source: GameSpot]

Starfield - Bethesda

It is SUPER exciting that Bethesda is working on a brand new IP for the first time in 25 years. It's even more exciting that it's a sci-fi title. But, um, maybe don't mention anything until you have something to show? That is, other than space, a planet, and a ship and a comment that it's a next-gen title. If they mean next-gen as in PS5 next-gen, then we won't be able to see anything with it for awhile anyway.

Control - Sony

At first glance, I thought this might be a sequel to Quantum Break. A lot of the mechanics seemed similar, not to mention the color scheme. But no, this isn't Quantum Break or a true sequel, and we have no idea what kind of powers this female protagonist has. It looks like she has control over things, but what kind of control?

Granted, as it is a Remedy game, it wouldn't be them without keeping a lot of the mystery going until release.

Daemon X Machina - Nintendo

Whatever this is, it looks amazing. Love the cel-shading, love the Platinum Games-esque action, and love that it's about mechs. But, um, what is this, really? Is it a single-player experience? Is it Battle Royale? Come on, Nintendo, you had talking heads in your presentation. No one could give any hints?

Death Stranding - Sony

Yes, we've seen more of Death Stranding than we've ever seen before with this E3 trailer, but we still have no idea what the hell this is, either. No idea what Norman Reedus and Norman Fetus (especially Norman Fetus) are doing.

Halo Infinite - Microsoft

I knew Microsoft was going to announce a new Halo title. It had been some time since Halo 5: Guardians' release, and Microsoft needs them exclusives right now. Considering the number of Halo games out there, how exactly is this announcement nothing? We already know what the game is about, and we know what the combat is. All are valid points, but it's the name of this entry that befuddles what this could be.

What does the Infinite part mean? Is this a true #6 in the franchise or is it like ODST or Reach? Or is this Halo: Battle Royale? (Dear God, please no.)

The Quiet Man - Square Enix

Square Enix had a bizarre showcase, in that it was about 30 minutes of a sizzle reel of their upcoming titles. No explanation. No talking heads. They just showed the games and dropped the mic. For most of their announcements it worked, because it was regarding Final Fantasy XIV, Dragon Quest XI, NieR: Automata, and Kingdom Hearts III. However, they threw in a live-actiony game called The Quiet Man with no bravado, and then quickly went on to the next thing on their list. A little explanation would have been nice, Squenix.

The Elder Scrolls VI - Bethesda

This announcement cracked me up. Bethesda knows what the people want, and evidently, they want grass, fog, and a logo of a popular franchise. Bethesda closed their show with a literal 37-second trailer of grass, fog, and a font. That's really all they needed, as fans of the series lost their minds on Twitter over an announcement that literally said nothing.

The post Todd Howard Knows The Elder Scrolls VI Release Date, But He's Not Telling appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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This Week In Techdirt History: May 27th - June 2nd

Five Years Ago

This week in 2013, we took a look at a big intellectual property report that focused on fearmongering about Chinese IP theft (while asking the public to foot the bill), called for companies to be allowed to use malware against infringers, and proposed cutting off funding to the World Health Organization if it doesn't start prioritizing IP protection, for some reason. Meanwhile, Hollywood studios were trying to wipe Kim Dotcom's Mega off the web, the RIAA was denying that it stifles innovation (while facing opposition from the Internet Association over its attempts to wipe out DMCA safe harbors), and CBS was trying to deny that its direct threats to sue Aereo actually meant it would sue Aereo.

Ten Years Ago

This week in 2008, Viacom and YouTube were slugging it out in court while the former tried out some new anti-embedding arguments. The RIAA dropped its attack on the defunct Allofmp3, while ignoring the resurrection of the site under a different name, and ASCAP released a hugely problematic bill of supposed rights for artists. Metallica was trying to embrace the internet without offering any free downloads, and discovering that they had already squandered all their goodwill in that arena. And ACTA went from obscure trade agreement to a source of pushback and protests in record time.

Fifteen Years Ago

This week in 2003, eBay lost a patent lawsuit over the Buy It Now feature, leading to a scramble from other online retailers to buy up the patents in question. We saw early discussion of tech ideas like personal 3D printers and telepresence robots (oh, and anti-infringement watermarks on content). Microsoft settled its dispute with AOL with a $750-million payout. And a court solidified many of the problems with the DMCA by ruling that rightsholders don't have to investigate the sites that they target.

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Does “Geek Culture” Still Exist?

There was a time when geek culture wasn't cool. Superhero comics, Dungeons and Dragons, video games, computer coding: they were all the domain of the sweaty, socially awkward nerds that loved the material. Today, however, the world seems to have verifiably changed. Cultural artifacts once limited to geeks are now shared and recognized by the population at large. Indeed, many of the largest film franchises in the world are based on source material once beloved by geeks. What gives?

What is Geek Culture?

Let's take Star Wars as a canonical example. These sci-fi movies were known by all, but beloved by only a handful. And they were very beloved. But today, to be a Star Wars fan is to enjoy one of Disney's largest properties. Star Wars merch is available almost everywhere; I just bought a Star Wars button-down shirt at Target. The movies are hugely popular, and cannot be said to be the domain of any kind of subculture. They're just far too large now. Star Wars has irreversibly become mainstream culture.

Superheros and video games have followed similar trends. To be a fan of comic books or Xbox games is no longer special or unusual. It's like enjoying cooking or movies, a hobby like any other. And we should celebrate this! Being in an isolated sub-culture absolutely sucks. No one wants to be isolated and bullied over their interests or identity. So now that “geek culture” has been mainstreamed, we can all breath a sigh of relief.

But there's also been some drama. Those who once defined themselves as geeks find that label no longer meritable. It's no longer a badge of honor, an indication of membership in a hardcore society of interest-sharing men. Some see this as “theft of the things they once identified with. Take the reaction from the Internet when a woman is prominently featured in a video game: scorn, frustration, and disappointment. It's hard not to see this as a reaction to a once shared secret subculture becoming mainstream and common. There's no exclusivity or honor to being a gamer or a Star Wars fan any longer. That's been a major blow to some folks, and they've taken it hard.

Does Geek Culture Still Exist?

So, geek culture doesn't exist in the way it once does. But does that mean it's been completely wiped of the cultural landscape? Not so! There are definitely still domains of geekery floating around in the world around us. But instead of being about specific topics, it's about the intensity of interest in an idea. Today, it's common to hear someone say that they're a “music geek” or something similar. What does that mean? They're deeply interested in the material, know a lot about it, and spend a lot of time learning and talking about it. It's a major interest for them, and a large part of their lives. Does that mean they're a smelly loser? Certainly not.

However, the idea of “geek culture” having exclusive domain over specific topics has likely bit the dust. Simply maintaining an interest in Batman or fantasy novels, for example, isn't the sole quantifier of geekhood anymore.

So What?

Why did this happen? Part comes from the reboot-centric nature of today's culture, movies especially. Original stories don't get as much traction as they used to, so storytellers are leaning on old material and tropes to make money.

We're also seeing a steady degradation in the insistence on stereotypes. The Internet gave everyone a voice. And it's hard to listen to someone talk without gaining some degree of empathy for them. Sure, there are still negative stereotypes out there. But they aren't as rigid or all-encompassing as they once were.

Look to the young people of today. By and large, they're far more accepting of difference among their peers. They've absorbed the messages of diversity in culture today. They've seen the celebration of other cultures and ways of living. They respect other people's viewpoints and opinions. Today, you're less likely to be judged for your interests, but for your behavior. And that feels like a definably more fair system than isolating sci-fi fans.

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