History of robotics timeline Pt.2

1927- Metropolis (Fritz Lang).
This influential science-fiction film presents a highly stylized futuristic city where a beautiful and cultured utopia exists above a bleak underworld populated by mistreated workers. When the privileged youth Freder discovers this, he befriends the teacher Maria, and tries to help the workers. Click for more


1929- Gakutensoku - Japan’s first robot.
Gakutensoku (which comes from the Japanese for “learning from the laws of nature”) was the first robot to be built in Japan in 1928, and was designed and manufactured by biologist and botanist Makoto Nishimura. It could change its facial expression (using springs and gears in its head), puff its cheeks (to imitate breathing) and move its head, hands and body. Click for more


1932- Lilliput, created in Japan, was the first robot toy to be produced for mass consumption.

1937- Elektro robot built by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Ohio
ELEKTRO was a 7ft high robot made from aluminium over a steel frame weighing 260 lb. It was built for New York’s World’s Fair in 1939 by J M Barrnett of Westinghouse. Its ‘brain’ includes an electric eye, 48 relays and signal lights. Walking was achieved using rollers under each foot driven by chains connected to motors in its torso. It also had 9 motors to operate its fingers, arms, head and the mouth – for simple speech.

Elektro the Moto-Man and his Little Dog Sparko

1939- Isaac Asimov writes his robot stories.
Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) was a chemist and prolific author famous for his Foundation Universe as well as his books on robots with ‘positronic’ brains. His first robot story was written in 1939, and I, Robot, published in 1950 was his first collection of robot stories, which influenced the 2004 Will Smith film of the same name. He also wrote a series of books featuring his detective Elijah Baley and his robot partner R Daneel Olivaw. Key to these stories were his three laws of robotics, which relate to how robots interact with one another and with humans: - A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. - A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. - A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws. To which were added in a later novel, the zeroth law - A robot may not harm humanity, or, by inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.


1940- Mechanically coupled ’master-slave’ manipulators created by German engineer Goertz.
In 1949, Ray Goertz started developing master-slave manipulators which led to various devices, such as electronically remote manipulators for the nuclear industry and teleoperator configurations for the Lunar space program.

1949- Grey Walter's robots (Elmer and Elsie).
In the late 1940s, Grey Walter built his first two turtle robots called Elmer and Elsie. He wanted to prove that complex behaviour could be achieved by suitable connection between brain cells. His work inspired later generations, including Rodney Brooks. We’ll have a closer look at Grey Walter’s Machina Speculatrix in week four.


1952- Astro boy.
Between 1952 and 1968, Osamu Tezuka from Japan wrote a series of adventures for a robot named Astro Boy. Astro Boy (or the Mighty Atom) lives in a futuristic world where Robots and humans coexist. He has seven powers which he uses to fight crime, evil and injustice. Click for more


1954- First patent for the first industrial robot.
George C Devol Jr, applied for patent on the first industrial robot, Unimation.


1960- General Electric Handyman/Hardyman.
Ralph S Mosher created a cybernetic anthropomorphous machine. The movement of a human operator’s arms is detected using a mechanical system, which is connected to the actual robot, whose arms move just like the human’s arms. Click for more


1961- MH-1.
The MH-1 was a computer operated mechanical hand, developed by Heinrich Ernst, as part of his work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

1966- Shakey - the first mobile robot which could reason its actions.
Shakey (so called because of its jerky actions) was created in 1966 by the Stanford Research Institute. It was the first mobile robot which could reason its actions, because it had a bump detector, TV Camera and Range Finder. It could take general instructions and work out how to achieve them, rather than being given explicit commands. For example, if commanded to ‘move blocks around a room’ it would work out how it would need to move in order to achieve this.


1969- General Electric Walking Truck.
Designed by Ralph Mosher to help soldiers carry equipment over difficult terrain. The walking truck used feedback to give the operator a better idea of what was happening.

1969- Unimation Inc. introduce first industrial robot.
In 1959, George Devol and Joseph Engelberger formed their company, Unimation, which produced the first industrial robot. It used hydraulic actuators and was controlled by a program on a magnetic drum, which specified the angles of each joint, accurate to 1/10,000 of an inch.


1969- Stanford Arm - Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
In 1969, Victor Scheinman invented the Stanford arm. This was a pioneering robot, which made precise movements under a computer’s control, which was a significant development for future robot applications such as; assembly in the manufacturing industry. The design was sold to Unimation in 1977. Click for more

1977- First Star Wars Movie
Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) was released. The film featured robots R2-D2 and C-3PO.


1983- NASA Canadarm
A robotic arm was needed for Space Shuttle missions to allow payloads to be deployed, manoeuvred and captured in space. The Shuttle Remote Manipulator system was designed by Canadians for the purpose – hence the term Canadarm. The original arm was capable of moving objects weighting 332.5 kg in space, later versions could cope with items weighing 3293kg in space (on Earth the arm cannot lift itself!). Click for more

1994- Dante ll
Carnegie Universities eight-legged walking robot, Dante ll, successfully descends into Mt Spurr to collect volcanic gas samples.


1997- Mars Pathfinder
This comprised a lander, named the Carl Sagan Memorial Station, and the associated rover called Sojourner. Between landing on July 4th 1997 and its final transmission on Sept 27, 1997, 550 images from the rover were sent back to Earth, together with data from chemical analysis of rocks and soils and information on Mars’ weather. Click for more


1999- AIBOSony releases the first version of AIBO, a robotic dog with the ability to learn, entertain and communicate with its owner.

2000-ASIMO
Honda debuts ASIMO, the next generation in its series of humanoid robots. Click for more


2002- First cyborg?
There is ongoing research into cyborgs. Professor Kevin Warwick, now Visiting Professor of Cybernetics at the University of Reading, claims to be the first cyborg because he has implanted a microchip into his nervous system as part of ‘Project Cyborg’.


2004- Second Mars rover
After leaving in July 2003 NASA’s, twin robot geologists (the Mars Exploration Rovers), finally landed on Mars in January 2004. This was part of a long term robotic exploration of the red planet, to search for and characterize rocks. The rovers also took panoramic images which provide scientists with the information they need for further research.

2005- DARPA Grand Challenge 

2005- Self-replicating robot
Researchers at Cornell University build the first self-replicating robot. Each ‘robot’ is made up of a small tower of computerized cubes which link together through the use of magnets. Click for more


2008- MOD Grand Challenge
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) Grand Challenge is a competition designed to find solutions to a comprehensive range of military threats in an urban environment. Two teams from the University of Reading reached the final of the competition, where each team was given an hour to search 150m2 of Copehill in order to identify different types of threat. These could include improvised explosive devices, snipers, military vehicles and armoured soldiers, with the number of correct identifications being used to rank the teams. The entrants’ vehicles needed to move autonomously from a forward operating base and communicate the identity and position of threats back to base. Click for more

2012- DARPA robotics challenge/ Curiosity lands on Mars
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) Grand Challenge is a competition for American autonomous vehicles and to facilitate robotic development. The first challenge was held in a desert in California in 2004, however there was no winner as none of the robots finished the route. 2012 was also the year that the Curiosity Rover landed on Mars.

History of robotics timeline Pt.1

The concept of creating life, or at least a mechanical machine that can replicate the actions of humans and animals, (as well doing the housework) has been a popular concept in science, literature, and the arts. Have a look at the timeline below for important events:

Unknown date- Talos mythical golden robot built by Hephaistos was fabled to roam the island of Crete.


350 B.C. — NaN- The Pigeon.
The Greek mathematician, Archytas of Tarentum builds a mechanical bird dubbed "the Pigeon". The device was a bird-shaped model, propelled by steam. Click for more


222 B.C. - Ktesibios/Tesibius. Water clocks and regulators.
Water clocks and regulators Whilst at first sight, water clocks don’t sound robotic, they are relevant to robotics for two reasons. Firstly, they are examples of feedback systems, and secondly some early intricate robotic devices acted as water clocks. It is worth pointing out that a bucket full of water with a hole in it is a feedback system. The flow of water that comes out through the hole is determined by the pressure exerted by the water, which is the water weight divided by the area of the hole. So, as water comes out, the weight of water and hence the pressure is reduced so the water comes out less quickly. This is relevant to perhaps the first man-made feedback system: the water clock of Ktesibios in around 250 BC. The aim was to have a measure of the time since the sun rose and this was achieved by having a bucket which was emptied initially and into which water flowed at a constant rate – the height of water in the bucket indicating the time. The difficulty was to ensure the water flowed in at a constant rate, for which a second bucket was provided, with a hole in the bottom. But as noted above, the flow from such a bucket varies with the amount of water in it. The solution: to keep the top bucket full. Then, assuming atmospheric pressure variations were small enough, a constant flow of water left this bucket. So as to ensure the second bucket was always full, a float valve was used: if the water level dropped the float dropped thereby opening a valve to let water into the vessel. Water flowed until the bucket was full again.


10- Hero of Alexandria. Self opening temple doors, theatrical robots.
Hero of Alexandria was a Greek Mathematician and Engineer who devised ‘automata’ and theatrical robots. ‘Automata’ can be used to describe devices which use mechanics or pneumatics, for example, the automatic opening and closing temple door. He also constructed a three-wheeled cart powered by a falling weight which pulled string wrapped around the cart’s axle. The strings were wrapped in different directions which then determined the way the cart (robot) moved. This string-based control is equivalent to a modern day programming language. Click for more


1200- Al-Jazarī. Elephant water clock.
al-Jazarī was a scholar, inventor, mechanical engineer, craftsman, artist and mathematician who lived during the Islamic Golden Age. He made an Elephant Water Clock for the King of Diyarbakr in present-day Turkey in about 1200 CE, i.e. over 800 years ago! It’s not only a clock that tells the time but also a pioneering robotic machine. Click for more

The elephant clock from Al-Jazari's manuscript.

1495- Leonardo da Vinci sketched plans for a humanoid robot.


1515- Leonardo da Vinci’s Lion (Codex Atlanticus).
Leonardo Da Vinci’s mechanical lion was presented as the star gift in a pageant in honour of François, the new king of France in 1515. Da Vinci also designed a mechanical knight, able to bend its legs, move its arms and hands, turn its head and open its mouth. It could also ‘talk’ by using an internal automatic drum roll and is often claimed to be the first ‘programmable’ computer. Click for more


1739- Vaucanson’s Duck.
Jacques de Vaucanson (1709 - 1782) was a French engineer credited with creating fine automata that some regard as the world’s first robots. His defecating duck ‘ate’ food out of the exhibitor’s hand, swallowed it, digested it, and excreted it, all before an audience. He is also credited with creating the first completely automated loom.

Vaucanson duck automaton

1770- Jaquet-Droz ’scribe’. Clockwork automata: writing, drawing and playing music.
The most complex of three automata by Pierre Jaquet-Droz, Henri-Louis Jaquet-Droz and Jean-Frédéric Leschot. It is able to write up to 40 letters of text which is coded on a wheel. The actual writing is done by a goose feather which the scribe dips in ink. Click for more


1770- The Turk.
Wolfgang von Kempelen constructed The Turk, supposedly an automaton which could play chess. The Turk played several games during demonstrations across Europe and often won! In fact there was space under for a man to recline inside the machine to make it work - Certainly a good example of telemanipulation.

An engraving of the Turk from Karl Gottlieb von Windisch's 1784 book Inanimate Reason

1817- Frankenstein published. 
Frankenstein (or The Modern Prometheus), written by Mary Shelley and published in 1818, is often considered the first true science fiction story. It tells the tale of scientist Victor Frankenstein who is horrified when he creates life in the form a grotesque creature. The story has been adapted into many films (the first in 1910) and TV shows.


1864- US patent with the word "Android" issued.
This was patented in reference to miniature human-like toy automatons.


1898- Remote controlled robot boat.
Nikola Tesla builds and demonstrates a remote-controlled robot boat at Madison Square Garden. Click for more

1913- First conveyer belt assembly line.
Henry T Ford installs the first conveyor belt based assembly line, allowing Model T Fords to be assembled in 93 minutes

Ford Assembly line

1920- Rossum’s Universal Robots published which introduced the word ‘robot’ to the English Language.Rossum’s Universal Robots (RUR) is a science fiction play by Karel Čapek. The play is about a young idealist Helena Glory, who goes to the remote island where Rossum’s Universal Robots are made, aiming to liberate the robots, which are ‘stripped down’ versions of humanity designed as inexpensive workers. The play introduced the word robot to the English Language. Robot comes from robota meaning ‘drudgery’ and robotnik meaning peasant or serf.

Information extracted from Future Learn Robotic course

Lime Part 3

By-Products Of Lime
Some known by-products of lime are as follows:

• Lime Oil
• Perfumes
• Cleaning Agents
• Skin Care Products
• Candies
• Chemicals e.g. Calcium Hydroxide

How to Plant a Lime Tree

The Steps when planting a lime tree are as follows:

• Dig a hole.
• Place the lime seed and cover with the soil.
• Observe and then wait for the lime tree to grow.
• Water the plant and ensure it get the required sunlight.
• If necessary, apply the required fertiliser to the plant.
• Remove any unwanted weed around or next to the plant.
• Then finally after the tree grows, the fruit can be harvested when it is fully ripe. 

How to Care for a Lime Tree

Some ways to care for a lime tree are as follows:

• Water the plant daily for healthy growth.
• Pull out the weeds or unwanted grasses around the plant.
• Ensure the plant gets the required sunlight for a healthy growth.
• Apply manure to fertilise the soil when needed. 

Taking Care of a Lime Tree

Picture showing the application of fertiliser onto a lime plant

Picture showing the pruning of a lime plant

NOTE: Pruning is the act of trimming or cutting down the dead branches and stems of a tree.

Mammals: SQUIRRELS

Squirrels

Squirrels are nimble, bushy tailed rodents found all over the world. They belong to the Sciuridae family which includes ground squirrels, chipmunks, prairie dogs, tree squirrels and marmots. There are more than 200 species of squirrels and they are categorized into three types. These three types are tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels. A group of squirrels is called a scurry or dray.

Since there are so many types of squirrels, they range greatly in size. The smallest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel. It grows to 2.8 to 5 inches (7 to 13 centimeters) in length and weighs just 0.35 ounces (10 grams). The Indian giant squirrel is the world's largest known squirrel. It grows to 36 inches (1 meter) long and weighs up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).

A Squirrel's Characteristics

Squirrels are generally small animals that vary in size. This mammal has slender bodies with very bushy tails and large eyes. A squirrel’s fur is soft and silky and most are thick. They have four of five toes on their paws. Unlike most mammals, squirrels can descend a tree head first. They do so by rotating their ankles 180 degrees so the hind paws are backward-pointing and can grip the tree bark. Squirrels have an excellent sense of vision and sturdy claws for climbing.


A Squirrel's diet

Many people think that squirrels only eat nuts, but this isn't true. Squirrels are known as omnivores. A squirrel’s diet consist primarily of a wide variety of plants, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi, and green vegetation. Some squirrels, however, do consume meat. To prepare for cold months, squirrels will bury their food. In the winter months they have a store of food they can eat when supplies are scarce.


A Squirrel's Habitat

Tree squirrels typically live in wooded areas, since they prefer to live in trees. Ground squirrels dig burrows, a system of tunnels underground, to live in. Some squirrels also hibernate in burrows during the winter to keep warm. Flying squirrels make their homes in tree holes or nests that are built into the crooks of branches.

Baby Squirrels

Fun Facts about Squirrels

• Squirrels communicate with each other through various vocalisations and scent marking. They also use their tails as a signalling device, twitching it when uneasy to alert other squirrels of potential danger.
• When a squirrel is scared and feels that it is in danger, it will at first remain motionless.
• Squirrels are extremely intelligent creatures.
• Squirrels are born blind.
• Squirrels are very trusting animals and are of the very few wild animal species which will eat out of a person's hand. 
• Flying squirrels can’t fly like birds but they can glide between trees.

20 misused English words

English grammar can be tricky, and, a lot of times, the words that sound right are actually wrong.

Accept vs. Except

These two words sound similar but have very different meanings. Accept means to receive something willingly: “His mom accepted his explanation” or “She accepted the gift graciously.” Except signifies exclusion: “I can attend every meeting except the one next week.” To help you remember, note that both except and exclusion begin with ex.


Affect vs. Effect

To make these words even more confusing than they already are, both can be used as either a noun or a verb. Let’s start with the verbs. Affect means to influence something or someone; effect means to accomplish something. “Your job was affected by the organizational restructuring” but “These changes will be effected on Monday.” As a noun, an effect is the result of something: “The sunny weather had a huge effect on sales.” It’s almost always the right choice because the noun affect refers to an emotional state and is rarely used outside of psychological circles: “The patient’s affect was flat.”

Lie vs. Lay

We’re all pretty clear on the lie that means an untruth. It’s the other usage that trips us up. Lie also means to recline: “Why don’t you liedown and rest?” Lay requires an object: “Lay the book on the table.” Lie is something you can do by yourself, but you need an object to lay. It’s more confusing in the past tense. The past tense of lie is—you guessed it—lay: “I lay down for an hour last night.” And the past tense of lay is laid: “I laid the book on the table.”


Bring vs. Take

Bring and take both describe transporting something or someone from one place to another, but the correct usage depends on the speaker’s point of view. Somebody brings something to you, but you take it to somewhere else: “Bring me the mail, then take your shoes to your room.” Just remember, if the movement is toward you, use bring; if the movement is away from you, use take.


Ironic vs. Coincidental

A lot of people get this wrong. If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that’s not ironic—it’s coincidental (and bad luck). Ironic has several meanings, all of which include some type of reversal of what was expected. Verbal irony is when a person says one thing but clearly means another. Situational irony is when a result is the opposite of what was expected. O. Henry was a master of situational irony. In his famous short story The Gift of the Magi, Jim sells his watch to buy combs for his wife’s hair, and she sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch. Each character sold something precious to buy a gift for the other, but those gifts were intended for what the other person sold. That is true irony. If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that’s coincidental.If you drive up to the mountains to ski, and there was more snow back at your house, that’s ironic.


Imply vs. Infer

To imply means to suggest something without saying it outright. To infer means to draw a conclusion from what someone else implies. As a general rule, the speaker/writer implies, and the listener/reader infers.


Nauseous vs. Nauseated

Nauseous has been misused so often that the incorrect usage is accepted in some circles. Still, it’s important to note the difference. Nauseous means causing nausea; nauseated means experiencing nausea. So, if your circle includes ultra-particular grammar sticklers, never say “I 'm nauseous” unless you want them to be snickering behind your back.


Comprise vs. Compose

These are two of the most commonly misused words in the English language.Comprise means to include; compose means to make up. It all comes down to parts versus the whole. When you use comprise, you put the whole first: “A soccer game comprises (includes) two halves.” When you use compose, you put the pieces first: “Fifty states compose (make up) the United States of America.”


Farther vs. Further

Farther refers to physical distance, while further describes the degree or extent of an action or situation. “I can’t run any farther,” but “I have nothing further to say.” If you can substitute “more” or “additional,” use further.


Fewer vs. Less

Use fewer when you’re referring to separate items that can be counted; use less when referring to a whole: “You have fewer dollars, but less money.”


Original Post from LinkedIn Author- Dr. Travis Bradberry

Spanish class 101

Day 1: Lesson 1

1. Learning Greetings
2. Ask someone his/her name and say my name
3. Ask someone how he/she is and how you are
4. Say Goodbye

Hola - Hello
Buenos Dias - Good Morning
Buenas Tardes - Good Afternoon
Buenas Noches - Good Night/Evening

Hola is an informal way of greeting someone.

Como estas - How are you? (Informal)
Que Tal? - What's up or how are you? (Informal)
Como estas VD. / usted - How are you? (Formal- when addressing someone elderly)

Como te llamas or Cual es tu nombre - What is your name? (pronunciation ll-[y] )
Me llamo ... or Mi nombre es... - My name is
Y tu? - And you?

mucho gusto/ encantado/a - pleased to meet you

bien - well or good
muy bien - very well
bastante bien - quite well
no muy bien- not very well

gracias - thank you
adios - goodbye
hasta pronto - see you soon
hasta luego/ hasta la vista - see you later
hasta manana - see you tomorrow
el amigo/ la amiga - friend

23 New Words for Emotions That We All Feel, but Can’t Explain

Here are 23 Examples of Koeing’s genius that we can all identify with.

Sonder: (n) The realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own

Opia: (n) The ambiguous intensity of Looking someone in the eye, which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable

Monachopsis: (n) The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.

Énouement: (n) The bittersweetness of having arrived in the future, seeing how things turn out, but not being able to tell your past self.

Vellichor: (n) The strange wistfulness of used bookshops. 

Rubatosis: (n) The unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat.

Kenopsia: (n) The eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that is usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet. 

Mauerbauertraurigkeit: (n) The inexplicable urge to push people away, even close friends who you really like. 

Jouska: (n) A hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head.

Chrysalism: (n) the amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm. 

Vemödalen: (n) The frustration of photographic something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist.

Anecdoche: (n) A conversation in which everyone is talking, but nobody is listening 

Ellipsism: (n) A sadness that you’ll never be able to know how history will turn out. 

Kuebiko (n) A state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence.

Lachesism: The desire to be struck by disaster – to survive a plane crash, or to lose everything in a fire. 

Exulansis: (n) The tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it. 

Adronitis: (n) Frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone. 

Rückkehrunruhe: (n) The feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness. 

Nodus Tollens (n) The realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore. 

Onism (n) The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time. 

Liberosis: (n) The desire to care less about things. 

Altschmerz: (n) Weariness with the same old issues that you’ve always had – the same boring flaws and anxieties that you’ve been gnawing on for years.

Occhiolism: (n) The awareness of the smallness of your perspective. 

More from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. - See more at: http://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/