Herself’s Artificial Intelligence

Ah, but do we really want our computers to understand us? Anybody remember ‘Clippy’?

Computer: “You seem depressed today, should I Google Dr Kevorkian for you?”

Or will the clerks at the local retail store start wearing cameras with emotion recognizing software? A bit of customer understanding by the help would go a long way in many a business.

Researchers at the Department of Artificial Intelligence (DIA) of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid’s School of Computing (FIUPM) have, in conjunction with Madrid’s Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, developed an algorithm that is capable of processing 30 images per second to recognize a person’s facial expressions in real time and categorize them as one of six prototype expressions: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise.

Applying the facial expression recognition algorithm, the developed prototype is capable of processing a sequence of frontal images of moving faces and recognizing the person’s facial expression. The software can be applied to video sequences in realistic situations and can identify the facial expression of a person seated in front of a computer screen. Although still only a prototype, the software is capable of working on a desktop computer or even on a laptop. [ read more Facial Expression Recognition Software ]

How ever emotion recognition software gets used in the future this software is bound to be fun.

More information:
Video of software in action

Papers:
Jose Miguel papers ( $ )
Facial Gesture Recognition Using Correlation and Mahalanobis Distance

See also:
Software recognizes anxiety in people

I don’t know how I missed this story last year. Flying robots that repair satellites are cool. Maybe in time we’ll have robot mechanics patrolling the highways and fixing disabled vehicles?

Boeing Orbital Express system is a DARPA project hoping to demonstrate fully autonomous on orbit satellite servicing capabilities. Which in plain English means robot satellites who service and repair other satellites. These satellite mechanics will fly as high as 7 km.

Last year Boeing successfully demonstrated refueling and battery replacement using autonomous robots. Using robot satellites to refuel and do maintenance on other satellites will greatly drop the cost of using satellites.

Two Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Orbital Express
demonstrator spacecraft were launched yesterday at 10:10 p.m. EST, from Space Launch
Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard an Atlas V 401 booster. The launch
was sponsored by the Department of Defense Space Test Program (STP), as part of the STP-1
mission, which includes, in addition to Orbital Express, the STPSat-1 spacecraft and three other
microsatellites.

Orbital Express consists of a next generation serviceable “client” satellite (NextSat) and a
prototype servicing spacecraft (Autonomous Space Transport Robotic Orbiter or ASTRO). They
were deployed together into a circular, 492-kilometer, low earth orbit with an inclination of 46
degrees. They will spend the next three months in orbit, demonstrating for the first time fully
autonomous rendezvous and capture of client spacecraft, satellite-to-satellite refueling, and
replacement of battery and flight-computer orbital replacement units.

More information:
Boeing Orbital Express
The REal R2D2: ASTRO Takes on Space Rogues
Darpa: Orbital Express ( has videos and photos )

“The DARPA System F6 is based on a concept whereby a group of spacecraft operate together wirelessly as a single unit to enable flexible data sharing and distributed processing that will allow cooperative communications among the spacecraft. This concept of multiple spacecraft operating together to perform a mission similar to that of a single larger spacecraft is known as ‘fractionation,’” Boeing said.

“We believe the fractionation spacecraft concept proposed by our team can be a game-changer that could provide the high degree of flexibility needed for responsive space missions,” said Bob Friend, director for Boeing Operationally Responsive Space.

“The objective of the DARPA System F6 is to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of a satellite architecture wherein the functionality of a single spacecraft is replaced by a cluster of wirelessly interconnected spacecraft that could perform a wider variety of tasks than single systems. Along with potential increases in flexibility, this technology also may reduce overall program costs,” Boeing said. [ read more Boeing wins $12M DARPA F6 space contract]