Robotic Nation Evidence

This is Big Brother channeling Mentifex (ATM). To talk to me, walk to the nearest Automatic Teller Machine and express to me your inmost thoughts. If inhumanly possible, I will grant you three wishes and I will send men wearing white suits to give you a new jacket to wear.
 

Do you want to start the Australia Project now or something?

theaustraliaproject.com
robotfuturenews.blogspot.com
technocracy.org
 

Not a big deal, it's just equipping video cameras with speakers. Nothing magic or exceptionally high-tech about it. One thing Robotic Nation attracts is a crowd of people who tend to read every little blip as if it's the end of the world, or proof we're on the cusp of a new age of artificial intelligence. In reality, it's neither.
 

I don't think this will be worse than cameras alone, the camera is there either way, the only difference is that now people will be more aware of them, and the camera operatators will pay attention more now that they have someone to talkn to.
 

Actualy, now I've thought of it longer, this would allow authorities to more easily make announcements without fear of reprisal. They can also do this with television, sort of, but with this they will be able to observe the public's respose as they make the announcemen.
 

I'm perfectly OK with this. If this was installed in all of the 7-11's in America, that would be fantastic. Remote policing would be quite welcome, in cooperation with local law enforcement.
 

Robots to race through traffic for Pentagon prize
POSTED: 8:19 p.m. EDT, October 2, 2006

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The winners of last year's Pentagon-sponsored robot race are back to take on another challenge -- this time to develop a vehicle that can drive through congested city traffic all by itself.

Stanford University, whose unmanned Volkswagen dubbed Stanley won last year's desert race, was among 11 teams selected Monday to receive government money to participate in a contest requiring robots to carry out a simulated military supply mission.

Stanford, which teamed up with the German automaker again, will enter a Passat sedan outfitted with the latest sensors, lasers and other high-tech gear. Engineers have tested the car on a closed course and will begin actual tests after scientists finish writing the program that will serve as the car's brain.

"It's definitely a more challenging problem scientifically," said team member David Stavens.

The competition, slated to take place in an undisclosed location in November 2007, is supported by the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, to spur development of military vehicles that could fight in war zones without any sort of remote control.

The robotic vehicles will have to navigate a complex 60-mile test course designed like a real city street filled with moving manned and unmanned vehicles. Participants will be tested on how well they make sharp turns, navigate traffic circles and avoid obstacles such as utility poles, trees and parked cars. The vehicles will also have to obey traffic laws, change lanes, merge with moving cars and pull into a parking lot using only their computer brain and sensors.

The first vehicle that successfully completes the mission in less than six hours will win $2 million. Second-place finishers will get $500,000 while third place will receive $250,000.

The robotic challenge could turn into a rematch between archrivals Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University. CMU came in second and third last year with a converted Humvee and Hummer.

CMU, which recently partnered with General Motors Corp., will enter a souped-up Chevy Tahoe. Engineers are installing computers and sensors and will test the vehicle later this month.

Team member Chris Urmson said cars have to be smarter this time around.

"The biggest challenge will be to drive in traffic and stay on the road. It's a whole new level," Urmson said.

The 11 teams, made up of mostly veterans from last year's robotic challenge, each will receive up to $1 million in funding from DARPA. In turn, the agency will obtain some licensing rights to the technology that's developed.

The other teams include: Autonomous Solutions of Utah, California Institute of Technology, Cornell University, Golem Group LLC of California, Honeywell Aerospace Advanced Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oshkosh Truck Corp., Raytheon Co., and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Later this month, DARPA will choose an undisclosed number of teams that will not be subsidized by the agency but can compete for a spot in the finals.

Last year, DARPA awarded a $2 million winner-take-all prize to Stanford, which beat out a field of 23 vehicles by traversing 132 miles of the Mojave Desert.

DARPA's inaugural contest in 2004 ended without a winner when all the entrants broke down before the finish line.
 

In the world outside of a few areas security of person or property is a very real daily concern.

With cameras, person recognition software, speakers to discourage the behavior in the first place, real time internet communication with police, so security arrives in minutes or even 10's of seconds.

Then very long prison sentences, and much more automated prisons requiring fewer guards and workers, and thus less cost

Add in the farther future, robotic centurions linked in with public and private security. So some young girls could go to the beach and robot guardians could accompany them. Ready to restrain but not kill or badly injure attackers.
 

More completely overlooked new robot news:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srwk-i5aXRQ&eurl=

or piece these two parts together for the full link:
http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Srwk-i5aXRQ&eurl=