NASA's OSIRIS-REx on its way to rendezvous and capture asteroid

NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sampling mission is on its way. At 7:05 pm EDT, the unmanned probe lifted off atop an Atlas/Centaur booster from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. According to NASA, the liftoff and orbital burns went off without a hitch and the spacecraft is functioning as expected. 

OSIRIS-REx began its seven-year mission to the asteroid Bennu without any holds or other problems. After the Atlas first-stage rocket shut down and separated, the Centaur second stage ignited and executed two burns separated by a 22-minute coast phase.

At the end of the second six-minute burn, the deep-space probe separated from the booster as it sped over Australia and headed off into deep space at 25,000 mph (40,000 km/h). At 8:13 pm EDT, mission control confirmed that the solar panels had deployed as planned and the spaceship was under power.

The Origins-Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security REgolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) will rendezvous with the asteroid Bennu (1999 RQ36) in 2018, carry out an extensive survey, and return a 2-oz (60-g) sample of its surface to Earth in 2023. The acronym may seem complicated, but Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator says that, "the mission name is an awesome acronym that describes our primary science objectives."

The purpose of OSIRIS-REx is to study the origins of the Solar System, carry out direct spectral interpretations of the asteroids, identify potential asteroid resources for commercial exploitation, study how to deflect asteroids to improve Earth's security from impacts, and as a regolith explorer to learn more about the loose blanket of gravel and dirt on the asteroid's surface.

The video below outlines the OSIRIS-REx mission.

Source: NASA, New Atlas

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Geek Speak: Rakshin

It’s Sunday and weekend is already over before it began. It’s 11th hour for all those who’ve been rather lax since friday evening. Notebooks being scribbled with hurried assignments and high intensity preparations for the upcoming weekly tests are rather a characteristic of a late sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, back at Kidobotikz, it is business as usual as far Sundays are concerned. Batches of students are here taking their robotics lessons in the earnest. It is a rather leisurely class hour for them as most of them are in the middle of their learning courses where everything seems to be progressing at optimum pace. I enter the first classroom and discover someone who seems rather docile. He seems to have finished the assignment his trainer had asked him to complete and is now just quiet and unassuming. I request him to step out of the classroom and engage in a brief conversation with him. And his name is rather unique as well.

Hey Rakshin! Why don’t you temme a bit about yourself and your path to Kidobotikz?

I am Rakshin. I study in class 8 at PSBB Millennium. I joined Kidobotikz in the month of April this year. Back here at Kidobotikz I am in the advanced level.

You joined in April and are already in the advanced level? That’s rather impressive! How did that happen?

Well, I came to know of Kidobotikz through a friend of mine named Shreyas. I visited the center around the month of april and found out that there was a summer camp that was being conducted during that time. I managed to complete 2 levels within those 10 days. That’s how it happened. 

So, describe your experience of being a roboticist at Kidobotikz?

Before joining Kidobotikz, my expectation was to do something “cool”. Here, I discovered more than just “cool”. Robotics has changed a lot in me. It has made quite smart. I can actually feel myself getting smarter everyday. All thanks to Kidobotikz.

Interesting. So, how did you take part in KRG? And how was your experience?

This was my first KRG. Thereby, it was a wonderful learning experience. I took part in almost all events- Autotransbot, Autonomous race, Balloon Bursters, Temple Run seniors. I knew I wasn’t gonna win in these events, but it did give me a wonderful learning curve.

Impressive! So, what kinda robots capture your imagination?

I love all kinds of robots, but I have a major liking towards Bionic Arms. According to me, they represent the future way of how we will work and use robots. I am actually planning to try and build one of these when I gain the required resources. 

My best wishes for you! To conclude our chat, I’d like to know your future plans and ambitions when you graduate from Kidobotikz and high school

Well, I haven’t figured out much. But, I wanna be able to join MIT. Ever since I saw their four legged robot gallop across obstacles, i’ve been inspired to do my robotics studies there.

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Lowe's introduces LoweBot, a new autonomous in-store robot

"Hello, I'm NAVii. How can I help you?" This is how the store associate of the future may greet you.

Starting in the fall, Lowe's shoppers in the San Francisco Bay Area will be greeted by autonomous robots. The LoweBot speaks multiple languages, and will be deployed to 11 stores to help guide home improvers to find items in store. "This is a response to things people wanted since retail began, but up until now there just wasn't the technology to be able to make that happen," said Kyle Nel, executive director of Lowe's Innovation Labs.

The robots, made by Fellow Robots, use a 3-D scanner to detect people as they into stores. Shoppers can search for items by asking the bot what they want or typing items into a touch screen. The bot can guide them to those items using smart laser sensors, similar to the technology used in autonomous vehicles, said Marco Mascorro, chief executive officer of Fellow Robots.

As customers follow the bots to find items on store shelves, location-based special offers show up on a second screen on the back of the LoweBot. The LoweBot is the younger sibling of the OSHBot, an earlier version which Lowe's tested in Orchard Supply Hardware stores over the past two years. The most surprising query OSHBot had to deal with? "Where are the restrooms?" said Nel.

The LoweBot is not a fancy looking device with a lot of bells and whistles. Its role is to find solutions to consumers' most basic problems, said Nel.

"The LoweBot solves and serves our common cold problems," he said. "When I walk into a store and I want to know where something is I want to know right then — I don't want to have to download an app — a robot can really help with that."

The LoweBot also scans shelves using computer vision to send up-to-date information to store associates, even while it is showing people around the store. Inventory tracking may seem mundane and boring, but is incredibly important to a retailer, said Nel.

It never calls out sick and doesn't need to take coffee breaks. That said, the goal is to augment the work of store associates and free them up to work on advising customers on products and delivering a more personalized service overall, not replace them, said Nel. For example, the LoweBot can serve as a translator, since it is impossible to find store workers who understand every customer, he said.

Could the LoweBot one day eliminate jobs? "Most definitely not — my phone doesn't make me obsolete," said Nel.

"Having had this in stores for two years, I was shocked at how fast customers and store associates got used to it," he said.

Video:

Source: CNBC, Engadget

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Geek Speak: Mukhil

It is Saturday and brings with it comes a weekend of catching up with friends and partners in mischief. However, as far as Kidobotikz is concerned the mischief and shenanigans are usually limited to the robots. The students take pleasure in enabling them though. Meanwhile, we are back at the makerspace to meet up with a duo who have been working on their respective schools projects since yesterday evening. We met one of them, Ahilesh, who was a rather interesting lad. His buddy, Mukhil is with us today and we’re going to try and find more about him.

Hey Mukhil! May I know why’re you here today?

Well, as my friend Ahilesh told you yesterday, there’s a project expo that is about to be held. That is why we’ve slogged since last evening to get our respective projects up and ready.

Interesting. So, I assume Ahilesh and you go way back?

Well, not really. While Ahilesh and I are schoolmates, the two of us are actually in different sections. He’s in the ‘A‘ section while I study in section ‘B’. so, until I joined Kidobotikz, I really had no inkling as to he was here. Besides, he’s been at Kidobotikz for a long time now. I’m a relatively new comer. But, the time we spend time at Kidobotikz is one I try to know more about robotics from him.

So, do you mind describing your journey to Kidobotikz?

Well, I have to thank my dad who found out about Kidobotikz through a friend of his. He then asked me whether I was interested in getting myself enrolled here. I was all yes for it. I even remember the week I joined Kidobotikz. It was on the 3rd week of January this year. I know that because the next week was KRG.

Interesting. So, how does it feel to be a kidobotikzian? And could you elaborate on your school project?

I love it here at Kidobotikz. The teachers are quite wonderful and they take efforts to ensure that we get our concepts right. Moreover, I am always aware that the things I do here at Kidobotikz puts me ahead of my classmates back at school. That, for me is quite exhilarating. 

Impressive! So, what kinda robots capture your imagination?

Racerobots are my passion. It is impressive to see them run. Another huge favourite is Quadcopters. They are such a marvel. And with drone technology coming into its own, I hope to see more of these around.

My best wishes for you! To conclude our chat, I’d like to know your future plans and ambitions when you graduate from Kidobotikz and high school

Well, I haven’t planned much. I just like to take things as they come. So, as of now, my plans are to learn robotics. Let’s see what comes after that. 

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Geek Speak: Ahilesh

Friday is here and along with it has descended the weekend mindset. Far more that the weekend, it’s the weekend which brings the feel of peace and serenity, for people know that they have a whole weekend of joy ahead of them. Meanwhile, back at Kidobotikz’s classrooms, students have started to dot the classroom with their excited faces. They are here to attend their classes. But the makerspace of Kidobotikz paints quite a different picture. It bears a rather deserted look and has only two young students who’ve taken the corner to themselves. While the makerspace being empty could simply be attributed to the fact that it is still 4:30 PM on a friday evening, the presence of these two young kidobotikzians who seem to be unto themselves seems rather intriguing. Turns out they’re here for a purpose and their hands are full. I decide to strike up a chat with one of them and the other concedes to talk to me tomorrow. Meet Ahilesh who took some time to indulge in the “Geek Speak”.

Hey Ahilesh! May I know why’re you here today?

Well there’s a project expo that is about to be held at our school in a few weeks from now. That is why I’ve come here to Kidobotikz to develop a project for the expo. 

Which school do you belong to, if I may ask?

Well, I am a 9th Grader at Kolaperumal Chetty Vaishnav Senior Secondary School. 9B to be precise (laughs). 

Well, that’s a rather long school name for me to remember. But I guess I won’t be asking much about your school, so I guess that saves me the trouble of remembering the name. 

So, do you mind describing your journey to Kidobotikz?

Well, my introduction to Kidobotikz is a rather interesting story. I have always been obsessed with robotic sciences and have even tried to do a lot of experiments as Kid. But, I had always longed for a formal robotic training course. Being a school kid was a major impediment. But, as chance would have it, I once was having a stroll on the street and happen to stumble upon a pamphlet that was lying down on the street. I saw the name Kidobotikz on it and immediately took home the pamphlet. (I) used the number given on the sheet and gave them a call. Not long after that was I a Kidobotikzian.

Interesting. So, how does it feel to be a robotics hobbyist? And could you elaborate on your school project?

Roboting for me is a passionate experience. Thanks to Kidobotikz now I can actually do roboting the proper way. Also, it helps me see things on a holistic level. Things of everyday life don’t appear as just magical gadgets but actual marvels of engineering. As for my school project, it is a gesture controlled cleaning robot. We’ve used the stock robot and incorporated functionality into it which makes it capable of being controlled using gestures. This way the user can clean the surrounding using nothing but gestures.

Impressive! So, what kinda robots capture your imagination?

Well, I’ve always felt amazed by Honda’s ASIMOs. They represent the hotbed of cutting edge innovations that is Humanoid robotics. Another major inspiration is the work of Boston Dynamics. Their work is truly magnificent.

My best wishes for you! To conclude our chat, I’d like to know your future plans and ambitions when you graduate from Kidobotikz and high school

Well, I wanna be a robotics engineer. That much I am sure about. Where I plan to study and what I plan to specialize in is something that I am still not sure of.

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US Army tests drones that sniff out clouds of chemical agents

Drones are proving their worth in dangerous situations we don't want to expose humans to by keeping an eye out for sharks, mines and methane leaks. Now a team from the US Army's Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center (ECBC) have tested a new pair of unmanned vehicles to detect chemical and biological agents.

The S/K Challenge is an annual event held by the US Army that allows different agencies and organizations to test their chemical and biological detection technologies by releasing clouds of "simulant agents" in controlled environments at the Dugway Proving Ground. In this year's event, held from August 15 to 26, ECBC entered Deep Purple, a quadcopter drone made from commercial and custom parts, and an unmanned ground vehicle known as the Mobile Detection Assessment and Response System (MDARS).

To take advantage of the calmer wind and weather at night, the tests were held over those two weeks between the hours of 11pm and 5am. A simulated agent was released into the air somewhere within the test space and with the help of stationary sensors, the drones would be sent off to intercept the cloud and identify the agent.

The sensors used were the Joint Chemical Agent Detector and the Tactical Biological Generation II Detector (TACBIO), which specializes in detecting airborne biological threats. These were packed into thermos-shaped containers and attached to the roof of MDARS and the underside of Deep Purple, respectively.

Rather than carbon fiber, the drone's airframe consists of printed circuit boards, which the team says allows for direct, real-time communication with operators or field soldiers up to 2 miles (3.2 km) away. This data, along with that gathered by MDARS, is then collected by a central information sharing system.

"This is a system of systems, every part has to be able to communicate with every other so it works as an integrated system," explains Steven Lagan, a ECBC team member. "We get data on the location and movement of the simulant cloud from stationary sensors, which we can then send to our sensor mounted vehicles. The sensors then communicate to us the identity of the agent, which we share with all the other participants, and if this were real, the chain of command, through a common operating language."

Getting the various components to understand each other was a challenge, the team says, but some creative coding helped them through it. And in the end, the tests highlighted some other weaknesses of ECBC's systems, which can be focused on and honed before next year's event.

The S/K Challenge proved its value to ECBC by revealing what the system does well and where it needs more work. The team is looking forward for the contest next year.

Source: Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center, New Atlas

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New system could bring HUD to more helmets

Chances are that head-up display (HUD) systems are the next big thing in motorcycle helmet tech, with several startups developing such systems. Seemore's HUD module is designed to be factory-fitted to helmets, offering an abundance of features that include a group interaction tool.

The last decade has seen several attempts at bringing in-helmet display systems to the market, starting from the SportVue way back in 2004. Today's offerings range from Reevu's rear view camera display to Intelligent Cranium's tech-laden helmet, and have even attracted the interest of major manufacturers like BMW Motorrad.

Based in Wroclaw, Poland, Seemore is developing a HUD system that puts the rider's smartphone in the center, using its resources to create an augmented reality environment. The module itself contains the display unit, a controller and a battery – all of which are installed inside the helmet. Connecting via Bluetooth to a smartphone app, this HUD transparently displays its information on the upper right corner of the helmet visor.

In contrast with several other HUD solutions that display at the bottom part of the visor, Seemore based its choice on tests ran by the University of Michigan which suggested that humans are able to get information much faster if it is presented at the upper part compared to lower or middle part. Allegedly saving up to 1.5 seconds in information absorption time can make a huge difference while riding at speed.

The display module is placed in the upper front part of the helmet and projects its content through a 10 x 10 x 35 mm (0.4 x 0.4 x 1.4 in) prism. The module is powered by a small battery that's good for up to 12 hours of continuous use and be charged via USB in less than three hours.

According to Seemore's business plan, the kit will not be available directly to the public, but will instead be installed by helmet manufacturers in their models. This choice has been made primarily for safety reasons, since adding electronic components inside a helmet requires scrutiny to ensure that these cannot cause injuries in case of an impact.

Using the smartphone as the brain of the whole operation allows for a variety of features to be displayed. Web and GPS resources are used to project information on current speed, speed limits and camera warnings, traffic information, navigation, and a configurable list of points of interest (petrol stations, parking areas etc). The display can also include notifications of incoming phone calls and text messages, although there is no prevision for calling or replying to calls while riding – which would eventually contradict the very essence of a system designed to help the rider keep their focus on the road at all times.

The basic HUD kit can also support a rear view camera (to be sold separately) which can be placed on the motorcycle and connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to transfer its panoramic view to the display.

Finally, a very interesting and innovative feature serves group interaction by displaying information on the location of every member of the group, and distances between members. Should one rider lose the rest of the pack, the navigation will come automatically on and inform on the whereabouts of the others.

The first commercially available helmet with the Seemore module is expected in mid-2017.

Source: Seemore, New Atlas 

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