Robot Swarm Control On Microsoft's Surface

zerOnIne writes "Dr. Mark Micire of UMass Lowell has built an intriguing new user interface on the Microsoft Surface, a multitouch-capable table computer. The interface is being used to control swarms of robots for disaster response, search, and rescue. One of the most interesting things about it is the intuitive tabletop joystick widget. Using a very fast hand-detection-and-identification algorithm, they can paint a touch joystick (dubbed the DREAM controller) directly underneath the hand. This joystick conforms to the size of the user's hand and tracks with hand movements, making sure that the control is always directly under the hand where the user expects it, even without haptic feedback. I've had a chance to go hands-on with this system, and I think it's truly remarkable."

Whats the worst that could happen?

[gmuslera]

Using a Microsoft product to control a swarm of (potentially killer?) robots?

Let Me Think, m$'bots Walking Around A City

[LifesABeach]

I don't know weather to laugh or scream.

Re:Mod This Shit Down

[Anonymous Coward]

This rant needs more cowbell.

EULA?

[Mr. Freeman]

Microsoft surface being used for search and rescue. Doesn't the EULA specifically state "not to be used for life saving operations or operations in which failure of the system could result in bodily injury"? A search and rescue robot certainly qualifies as a life saving device, the failure of which could result in people being dropped or crushed.

I wonder why the researchers that made this felt that disregarding the EULA was acceptable.

Re:Mod This Shit Down

[Ihmhi]

This rant needs more cowbell.

Can do!

Yeah, *tunk* I *tunk* saw *tunk* that *tunk* episode *tunk* of *tunk* Saturday *tunk* Night *tunk* Live *tunk* too. *tunk* I *tunk* laughed *tunk* at *tunk* it. *tunk* I *tunk* enjoyed *tunk* it. *tunk* With *tunk* me *tunk* so *tunk* far?

It aired *tunk* *tunk* April 8, 2000, more than ten years ago *tunk* *tunk* *tunk*. It got old *tunk*. You're not funny or clever *tunk* *tunk* *tunk*. You're not some kind of deep, cultured, worldly guy *tunk* *tunk*. You're *tunk* some *tunk* dude *tunk* on *tunk* Slashdot *tunk* *tunk* *tunk* who's repeating something *tunk* from ten years ago *tunk* that was amusing but *tunk* not all that funny *tunk* in the first place *tunk* *tunk*. It was a bit funny back when that ugly fuck *tunk* Christopher Walken said it and it was a new skit. *tunk* It's repetitive now. *tunk* *tunk* *tunk*

You *tunk* might *tunk* as *tunk* well *tunk* parrot *tunk* another *tunk* predictable, *tunk* cookie-cutter, *tunk* assembly-line *tunk* Slashdot *tunk* meme. *tunk* The *tunk* only *tunk* difference *tunk* is *tunk* that *tunk* it *tunk* would *tunk* be *tunk* a *tunk* Slashdot *tunk* meme *tunk* and *tunk* not *tunk* a *tunk* pop *tunk* culture *tunk* meme. *tunk* Nothin' *tunk* personal. *tunk* Just *tunk* that *tunk* Slashdot *tunk* will *tunk* be *tunk* greatly *tunk* improved *tunk* when *tunk* we *tunk* stop *tunk* celebrating *tunk* this *tunk* bullshit. *tunk*

(*tunk*.)

Re:Is it just me?

[Hognoxious]

Not as frightening if you are sitting at the controls

It might be a mistake in their programming. It might be due to a cunning ruse by the hero. But in the final scene, they always turn on their master. Them's the rules, see.

I can picture it now

[Hognoxious]

1) User swats away a fly
2) A thousand robots charge off the edge of a cliff
3) ???
4) *Sigh* Back to the drawing board