Unmanned aircraft are controlled by gestures. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Drones are controlled by gestures

29.03.2012

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) believe that in the near future, unmanned aerial vehicles will be able to perform taxiing along the runway, focusing on the standard gestures of ground personnel.

UAVs are already capable of auto-landing, but runway traffic is still continuously monitored from a remote control held by the operator. In some cases, ground personnel simply manually push the drone to the right place. Manned military aircraft do without additional difficulties - pilots simply follow standard gesture commands: open / close hatches, start engines, taxi to the desired lane, drive into the hangar, etc.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology decided to test whether UAVs could recognize hand gestures and follow the same commands as pilots. This would be extremely useful in busy military bases and especially on the deck of an aircraft carrier. It should be noted that many terrestrial robots, such as AlphaDog, successfully recognize hand gestures and obediently follow human commands.

As experiments by MIT specialists have shown, video cameras and drone computers, using a special computer algorithm, are quite capable of recognizing simple gestures and performing appropriate actions. Initially, the positions of the body, hands and fingers of the operator corresponding to various gestures were recorded in the computer memory, after which the computer compared the picture from the video cameras with the images recorded in the memory. The algorithm developed by scientists allowed the UAV to recognize 76% of the gestures used by personnel working on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

The researchers are currently working on improving the reliability of the algorithm and are confident of their success. In the future, "smart" UAVs will be able to move along the runway and deck of an aircraft carrier in the same way as manned vehicles, which will reduce the complexity of operating drones and increase flight safety.

<< Back: iPad is 5 degrees hotter 29.03.2012

>> Forward: CIA considers using microwaves and irons for spying 28.03.2012

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Artificial leather for touch emulation 15.04.2024

In a modern technology world where distance is becoming increasingly commonplace, maintaining connection and a sense of closeness is important. Recent developments in artificial skin by German scientists from Saarland University represent a new era in virtual interactions. German researchers from Saarland University have developed ultra-thin films that can transmit the sensation of touch over a distance. This cutting-edge technology provides new opportunities for virtual communication, especially for those who find themselves far from their loved ones. The ultra-thin films developed by the researchers, just 50 micrometers thick, can be integrated into textiles and worn like a second skin. These films act as sensors that recognize tactile signals from mom or dad, and as actuators that transmit these movements to the baby. Parents' touch to the fabric activates sensors that react to pressure and deform the ultra-thin film. This ... >>

Petgugu Global cat litter 15.04.2024

Taking care of pets can often be a challenge, especially when it comes to keeping your home clean. A new interesting solution from the Petgugu Global startup has been presented, which will make life easier for cat owners and help them keep their home perfectly clean and tidy. Startup Petgugu Global has unveiled a unique cat toilet that can automatically flush feces, keeping your home clean and fresh. This innovative device is equipped with various smart sensors that monitor your pet's toilet activity and activate to automatically clean after use. The device connects to the sewer system and ensures efficient waste removal without the need for intervention from the owner. Additionally, the toilet has a large flushable storage capacity, making it ideal for multi-cat households. The Petgugu cat litter bowl is designed for use with water-soluble litters and offers a range of additional ... >>

The attractiveness of caring men 14.04.2024

The stereotype that women prefer "bad boys" has long been widespread. However, recent research conducted by British scientists from Monash University offers a new perspective on this issue. They looked at how women responded to men's emotional responsibility and willingness to help others. The study's findings could change our understanding of what makes men attractive to women. A study conducted by scientists from Monash University leads to new findings about men's attractiveness to women. In the experiment, women were shown photographs of men with brief stories about their behavior in various situations, including their reaction to an encounter with a homeless person. Some of the men ignored the homeless man, while others helped him, such as buying him food. A study found that men who showed empathy and kindness were more attractive to women compared to men who showed empathy and kindness. ... >>

Electronic helmet for truck drivers 14.04.2024

Road safety, especially for drivers of heavy construction equipment, is a top priority for engineers and scientists. In light of this, the German Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Strength and System Reliability has introduced a new product - an electronic helmet, which is designed to protect drivers from serious injury when driving construction vehicles. A new electronic helmet developed by a team of engineers from the Fraunhofer Institute opens up new perspectives for the safety of truck and construction equipment drivers. The device is capable of monitoring the level of shaking in the car cabin and warning the driver of possible danger. The basis of the helmet's operation is a built-in piezoelectric sensor, which generates electricity during physical deformation. This mechanism allows the device to respond to intense vibrations typical of construction equipment. When the level of deformation exceeds safe values, an alarm system is activated on the helmet, ... >>

Antivitamins instead of antibiotics 13.04.2024

The problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is becoming increasingly serious, posing a threat to the effective treatment of infections. In light of this, researchers are looking for new ways to combat superbugs. One of the promising directions is the use of antivitamins that can have an antibacterial effect. Antivitamins, although known as the opposite of vitamins, have proven to be a promising tool in the fight against bacterial antibiotic resistance. A study conducted by scientists from the University of Göttingen in Germany confirmed their potential in creating new drugs to combat dangerous infections. With the rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, there is a need to find alternative treatments. Antivitamins are molecules similar to vitamins, but capable of inhibiting bacterial activity without harm to the human body. At the moment, science knows only three antivitamins: rose ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Soft robotics for agriculture 02.10.2021

"Soft" robots are made of malleable materials such as silicone and other polymers, rather than metal. These materials give the robots organic characteristics, replicating the work of muscles and allowing them to move and do work instead of a human that old metal machines can't.

A particular application of soft robotics that I was interested in was agriculture. Most automatic harvesting solutions only deal with large and hard crops. There are several mechanisms for picking smaller crops, but many are tough and can damage the plant in the process. Some success has come from companies such as Soft Robotics Inc, which have created grippers with soft features. But they were still only able to work with harder crops. These difficulties led to a research project in which I participated. The aim of the project was to explore the possibility of autonomous picking of light fragile berries, in particular raspberries. This task required a unique grip. Given the fragility of raspberries, this problem could be solved with the help of soft robotics.

The idea that arose was to create a tubular structure that would move towards the berry bush and separate each raspberry from its neighbors.

The end effector slides up the stem of the berry, after which the soft robotic bags come to work, which do not directly capture the fruit. Instead, they lightly press on the back of the berry, which connects to the plant's peduncle. Then the entire tube moves away, displacing the berry from the stem. It is similar to how a person pulls a berry with his fingers.

The innovations associated with the creation of robots that resemble the human body coincide with the development of the brain of robots. Advances in artificial intelligence are allowing machines to detect feelings like happiness and sadness in speech. Research is also focused on developing computer vision technologies that can detect emotions by analyzing facial expressions.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews