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All the fun of the desert and the rainforest from the (relative) comfort
of home? Sign us up. That's the promise offered by the admittedly
awesomely named Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research
(that's LASR, for you abbreviators out there), first announced last
month. The robotics lab, housed in a $17.7 million building at the Naval
Research Laboratory in Washington DC, offers up around 50,000 square
feet, a portion of which is aimed at reproducing some of the Earth's
more extreme ecosystems to test out naval robotics. The facility is home
to firefighting robots, swimming 'bots and hydrogen fuel cell-powered
unmanned aircrafts, to name but a few.
The Naval Research Laboratory opened the doors of the massive facility up to members of the media today. Included in the tour were two simulated environments. The Tropical High Bay is designed to mimic rainforest terrain, with flowing water, fog and climate controlled temperature and humidity. The Desert High Bay is a bit let complex in its environmental simulation, limited to a sand pit, rock way, and adjustable light, smoke and wind.
Meanwhile, an on-site indoor pool is used to challenge aquatic vehicles. Testers demonstrated the Pectoral Fin Swimmer – an autonomous bot inspired by the biological movements of fish, in order to access areas not reached by more traditional propel driven robots. Also on hand was Lucas, a Mobile, Dexterous, Social (MDS) humanoid robot [pictured above] with a Segway base. The laboratory demonstrated how the robot was capable of reasoning in a simulated firefighting scenario – and, equipped with an extinguisher, was capable of putting out a very real fire on the floor of the facility.
The Naval Research Laboratory opened the doors of the massive facility up to members of the media today. Included in the tour were two simulated environments. The Tropical High Bay is designed to mimic rainforest terrain, with flowing water, fog and climate controlled temperature and humidity. The Desert High Bay is a bit let complex in its environmental simulation, limited to a sand pit, rock way, and adjustable light, smoke and wind.
Meanwhile, an on-site indoor pool is used to challenge aquatic vehicles. Testers demonstrated the Pectoral Fin Swimmer – an autonomous bot inspired by the biological movements of fish, in order to access areas not reached by more traditional propel driven robots. Also on hand was Lucas, a Mobile, Dexterous, Social (MDS) humanoid robot [pictured above] with a Segway base. The laboratory demonstrated how the robot was capable of reasoning in a simulated firefighting scenario – and, equipped with an extinguisher, was capable of putting out a very real fire on the floor of the facility.
Source: Engadgets
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