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20 The Clarington Independent, Bowmanville, Saturday, August 13, 1994 Disabled Children Find a New Friend in Robot PLAYBOT, a robotic system being being developed by a team of university researchers, promises more autonomy autonomy for physically disabled children by increasing the range of tasks they can perform on their own. Designed to be attached to a child's wheelchair, PLAYBOT consists consists of a computer display touch-pad known as ActiveDeskTop, a robotic arm and a head complete with vision. By touching the appropriate symbols on the computer display screen, a child will be able to compose a directive directive such as "Get the red ball". PLAYBOT will respond by finding and moving to within reach of the ball and retrieving it. Employment Wanted An Added Touch Let your housekeeping be my business. Experienced, trustworthy, sparkling service. Supplies available Lee 987-0545 Quotations "There's a number of complex activities activities going on in executing a task that seems deceptively simple. For a mobile robot to intelligently interact with its environment, it must understand understand a rich vocabulary of objects in the world and this requires a great deal of sophisticated software," explains explains John Tsotsos, PLAYBOT project project leader and a member of the artificial artificial intelligence group at U of T's computer science department. "We're asking the robot to figure out which object is the red ball and that means identifying shape and color. color. It must then solve navigational problems to get to where the red ball is, and then get into the right position so that its arm can reach and retrieve it. " One of the most innovative features features of PLAYBOT is its object vision vision system. PLAYBOT is the first robotic head with full capability for depth perception, allowing it to perceive perceive depth in the way only human and animal eyes can. PLAYBOT's unique vision system system features two "eyes" which pan sideways and tilt up and down. The eyes move in (toward the centre of the head) and out and can rotate slightly. It is this slight rotation that allows for the full range of depth perception, perception, enabling the robot to more effectively navigate in three- dimensional space. So far, PLAYBOT is able to recognize recognize a limited number of simple objects, such as blocks or cylinders, and locate and retrieve four or five toys from a table top. It is also able to execute the following actions: pick up, put down, drop, move arm, push, and stop. "One of the greatest challenges will be getting PLAYBOT to search for things in the three-dimensional world. For example, I could say, 'There's a loonie somewhere in the room. Please find it.' Once we can do that there will be applications for the technology in many other fields such CLARINGTON HYDRO-ELECTRIC COMMISSION INVITES QUOTATIONS (#SM-94-05) FOR Storage and Removal of various scrap metal and wood, from the Commission's yard. Contract duration 94-09-01 to 96-09-01. Sealed quotations shall be submitted no later than 9:00 A.M. Thursday, August 18, 1994 to: MR. R. W. PLAIN P.O. BOX 130 2849 Hwy. #2 Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 Quotation documents may be obtained from the office between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday. 2 1SN Road Rules Refresher From Insurance Bureau For many, learning to drive is a cherished memory of youth. The basics of driving safety - like obeying traffic signs, keeping to the speed limit, and wearing a seatbelt - should be second' nature. Yet ensuring ensuring you're safe on the road requires a conscious effort. Here are a few tips: The Circle Game: Get into the habit of doing a quick 'circle check" of your vehicle. Walk around it, and make sure your tires, wipers, signal lights and headlights are in working order, and that your mirrors and windows are clean. Vote For Inflation: Without good tires you can't accelerate, accelerate, brake or steer properly. Transport Canada says almost 90% of all vehicles have at least one underinflated underinflated tire. At least once a month, check each of your tires for the recommended pressure, using your own gauge. Remember, the colder it gets, the more pressure your tires lose. Be Prepared: Store an emergency kit in the trunk, which includes items such as a jack, lug wrench, portable tire pump, jumper cables, and a flashlight or flares. Always keep a spare tire, and WE MAKE A GREAT IMPRESSION You'll be impressed by the quality of our work and our personalized service too! We're a multi-faceted print shop providing complete services from graphic design and typesetting through printing and binding, so no part of your job ever leaves our capable hands! We offer consistent results with quick turnaround time at competitive rates. Try us for all your personal and business needs. Phone: 623-3303 Fax: 623-6161 JAMES PUBLISHING LTD. 62 King Street West. Bowmanville, Ontario as forestry, security and space robotics," robotics," said Tsotsos. Tsotsos and Michael Jenkin of York University have applied for a patent for ActiveDeskTop, the system's system's computer display interface. ActiveDeskTop ActiveDeskTop is a flat, touch-sensitive video display interface that will be used to represent symbols for toys and actions. For example, one symbol symbol represents the red ball and another another symbol represents the actions: pick up. ActiveDeskTop will also feature a "window" through which the child will view what the robot's vision sees. ActiveDeskTop offers a key advantage advantage over other computer display interfaces currently in use, which often often offer the user only a limited number number of symbols. With ActiveDeskTop the child will have access to a much larger vocabulary because it will be possible to call up different sections of the dictionary, displaying and storing storing a large amount of graphics. The research group is now working working to refine and extend PLAYBOT's object recognition, develop the system's system's ability to perceive objects in motion, refine its motor skills and increase increase its vocabulary. Then PLAYBOT PLAYBOT will be tested with children. Other PLAYBOT team members include U of T researchers Allan Jep- son, Demetri Terzopoulos, Sven Dickinson, Brian Down, Suzanne Stevenson and Eugene Amdur as well as York University researchers Jenkin and Evangelos Milios. Research to date has been supported supported by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Advanced Research, the Information Technology Research Centre (one of the Province of Ontario's Centres of Excellence), PRECARN Associates' Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (one of the Government of Canada's Networks of Centres of Excellence), Excellence), as well as the Natural Sciences Sciences and Engineering Research Council. Contact: John Tsotsos, Computer Science (416) 978-3619, Kim Luke, U of T Public Affairs, (416) 978- 2105. learn how to change it. "Survival" provisions include a first aid kit, clothes and blankets, and non- perishable food. A bottle of drinking water and water for an overheated radiator radiator is also helpful. In winter, add appropriate items such as a shovel, traction devices, salt or sand, an ice scraper and a snow brush. 3 Second Rule: Keep to the 3 second rule when following another vehicle. Pick a landmark, and when the vehicle ahead of you passes it, start counting. A 3-second gap will keep you a safe distance back in case you have to brake in a hurry. See The Light: Since December 1989 all new vehicles vehicles in Canada have come with daytime running lights. If your vehicle vehicle is older, it's a good idea to switch your lights on whenever you drive. Even when the sun is out, lights increase increase visibility. Hitting The Skids: In a skid you only have seconds to correct the problem, so it's crucial to know what to do beforehand. Release the brake and take your foot off the accelerator. Depress the clutch, or shift to neutral quickly, steering in the same direction as the skid. If you still can't gain control and the car is spinning, hit the brakes as hard as you can to lock all four wheels. Common Courtesy: Remember that other cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians all share the road. 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