Sculpting Cyborg Ninja from Metal Gear Solid
Hello everyone. Here is some pictures of the making off my Cyborg Ninja clay sculpture. The sculpture is 11inch tall. I #39;m still a learner in clay sculpting. This is my second creation. It...
By: Joao Cardoso
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VIDEO:This is a research video showing remote-controlled steering of a giant flower beetle flying untethered. view more
Berkeley -- Hard-wiring beetles for radio-controlled flight turns out to be a fitting way to learn more about their biology. Cyborg insect research led by engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is enabling new revelations about a muscle used by beetles for finely graded turns.
By strapping tiny computers and wireless radios onto the backs of giant flower beetles and recording neuromuscular data as the bugs flew untethered, scientists determined that a muscle known for controlling the folding of wings was also critical to steering. The researchers then used that information to improve the precision of the beetles' remote-controlled turns.
This study, to be published Monday, March 16, in the journal Current Biology, showcases the potential of wireless sensors in biological research. Research in this field could also lead to applications such as tools to aid search-and-rescue operations in areas too dangerous for humans.
"This is a demonstration of how tiny electronics can answer interesting, fundamental questions for the larger scientific community," said Michel Maharbiz, an associate professor in UC Berkeley's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and the study's principal investigator. "Biologists trying to record and study flying insects typically had to do so with the subject tethered. It had been unclear if tethering interfered with the insect's natural flight motions."
In particular, the researchers said, it had been difficult to elucidate the role that smaller muscles play in fine steering. What the new study found was that the coleopteran third axillary sclerite (3Ax) muscle, found in the articulation of insect wings, plays a key function in the beetle's ability to steer left or right.
"Since the 1800s, this coleopteran muscle was thought to function solely in wing folding," said study lead author Hirotaka Sato, an assistant professor at NTU's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. "Our wireless system allows us to record neuromuscular movements in natural, free flight, so we see now that this muscle is also used for turning."
Steering muscle put to the test
The researchers tested the function of this muscle by stimulating it during flight for graded turns that were more controlled than previous versions of the cyborg beetle.
Experiments were done with Mecynorrhina torquata, or giant flower beetles. They averaged 6 centimeters in length and 8 grams in weight, about as heavy as a $1 coin.
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In the video above, watch closely for the flying insect. It swerves left and right, zigzagging across the room. Nothing too remarkable, reallyuntil you realize that someone is controlling the insect. With a remote control. By attaching a tiny backpack onto a beetle, researchers can electrically stimulate tiny muscles below its wings, creating a living mini-copter that they can steer with amazing precision. (Just look at those smooth banking turns!)
Researchers have created remote-controlled crawling insects before, forcing a bugs legs to move by electrically stimulating its muscles. Its simple enough that you can even buy your own kit to commandeer a cockroach at home. But flying bugs are harder to hijack. Scientists pulled it off for the first time in 2009, when a team at the University of California, Berkeley led by engineer Michel Maharbiz debuted their first remote-controlled beetle. They used electrical stimulation to tell the beetles wings to start and stop flapping, making the beetle go up and down. But without understanding the bugs steering muscles,their lateral control left something to be desired.
Now, in a new study, the same researchers have found those musclestiny ones below the wings with a mouthful of a name:the coleopteran third axillary sclerite. Entomologists thought the muscle was only important for folding the wings back when the bugs not in flight, but it turns out that its critical for flyingand, in particular, steering. It might sound creepyis this part of a plot to create an army swarm of remote-controlled cyborg beetles to take over the world? But the story Im interested in isnt that I want to control an insect in free flight for some nefarious purpose, says Maharbiz. Its really that this kind of technology is very useful as tools to figure out whats going on in the insect.
To show how the muscle steers, the researchers fitted a giant flower beetle, just over two inches long, with a microcontroller and a wireless receiver and transmitter weighing as much as a paperclip (the bugs can carry 20 percent of their weight, so the cargowasnt a problem). Electrodes fire pulses into the beetles muscleszap the steering muscles with more frequent electrical pulses, and they contract more, turning the wing harder. About 25 seconds into the video, you can see how an increase in pulse frequency, from 70 to 90 times a second, forces the beetle into a tighter turn.
The bug in the video can only be steered left or right, but scientists could equip it to be controlled it in other directions. And the better the control gets, the more useful these bugs could potentially be outside the scope of entomological anatomy research. Like search and rescue. Just imagine: In the aftermath of an earthquake, FEMA could come to the rescue with bugs outfitted with temperature sensors, sending them to find the body heat of survivors buried in the rubble.
Engineers are developing their own robotic flyers to do the same thing, like these small flying or crawling robots. But its tough to beat the built-in flying biology of a bug. Insects are just amazing fliers compared to anything we can build at that scale, Maharbiz says. Cyborg bugs have the potential to be enormously usefuljust dont let the remote control fall in the wrong hands.
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Parade to the Beach at Beaches Negril
Great family fun at Beaches Negril. Looking for an all inclusive family friendly resort that caters to kids. Check out Beaches Negril. (see more below) M...
By: Marla MuraskoTV
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Phuket Beaches Kata Karon - Thailand
Phuket nestles in balmy Andaman Sea waters on Thailand #39;s Indian Ocean coastline 862 kilometres south of Bangkok. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and...
By: Micha
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Time lapse recordings of Zakynthos nesting beaches
Time lapse recording denotes the video technique of speeding up time by taking a photo frame every few seconds and playing back all the frames in a normal rate (usually 24 frames per second)....
By: sotiriscaretta
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LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. (AP) The starving sea lion pup was so tiny that it looked like a rock at the base of the seaside cliff until it struggled to raise its head as humans approached.
It bleated weakly as volunteer Brennan Slavik eased it into a crate for transport to a rescue center, where it peered from a child's playpen with woeful eyes made enormous by an emaciated frame.
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A quiet sunrise in Seaside Heights.(Photo: WILLIAM TERLECKI)
It's almost that time again.
As we speed through March and head toward spring, there's something that's starting to creep onto everyone's radar:
Hitting the beach.
Once summer hits the Jersey Shore, our beaches become mobbed with everyone under the sun literally.
Beaches have a lot to offer - what is your favorite and why?(Photo: FILE PHOTO)
The tourists flock in droves, and the locals get situated in their favorite spots, parking themselves for three months of waterfront relaxation.
ASBURY PARK PRESS
Who has the best slice at the Shore?
With Memorial Day weekend just slightly more than two months away, we're looking for the best beaches at the Jersey Shore.
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Theres no debate here that beaches and swimming activities are perfect getaways for dry season. But if youre weary with beach activities alone, why not try to trek mountains? Sweat it out first before pulling off your summer wear and have a different view of nature atop mountains.
Mount Pulag
Here are the five must-trek mountains this summer to offer you hiking activities with sidetrips best for this season. These mountains are far from the stressful city but quite near from home:
Zambales is one of the top summer destinations because of its proximity from Metro Manila. Beaches and island hopping are the best activities here.
Anawangin Cove
To add worthwhile experience in your visit to Zambales, come to Anawangin Cove via Mt. Pundaquit. Yes, thats correct. Pass through first the summit of 464-MASL (meter-above-sea-level) Mt. Pundaquit before enjoying the beach of Anawangin.
View from Anawangin Cove
Enjoy the view of the West Philippine Sea and its islands from the peak of Mt. Pundaquit. A day is not enough to make the most of this trip. So you may try to camp out in Anawangin Cove after your Mt. Pundaquit trip and enjoy the beach. The next day, you may still want to visit other island like Capones Island before calling it a day.
Anawangin Cove campsite
How to get there? From Metro Manila, ride bus bound for Iba, Zambales then alight to San Antonio Public Market. From the wet market, ride tricycle going to Pundaquit. Then from Anawangin Cove, rent a boat going to Pundaquit then ride tricycle going to bus station bound for Manila.
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COUNCILOR Leo Avila III said Monday that beaches in Davao City are currently "not healthy for swimming," as the rivers have been found with high levels of coliform in the recent Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) water quality assessment.
Avila, who is also the chairperson of the Committee on Environment, said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex that results from the 2014 water quality assessment of the EMB showed that the city had "failed miserably."
In a copy of the report, total coliform found for both downstream and upstream of Davao River was estimated at 4,900 to 1,887,000 most probable number (mpn) per 100 ml wherein the standard level should only be 1,000mpn per 100 ml.
With a downstream standard level of 200mpn per 100 ml, fecal coliform in Davao River was estimated at 9,600 to 293,000mpn per 100 ml while for the upstream, with a standard level of 100mpn per 100 ml, it was found with 1,700 to 8,700mpn/100 ml of fecal coliform.
Talomo River was found with a total number of 1,006 to 456,000 MPN per 100 ml with around 414 to 183,000mpn per 100 ml of fecal coliform.
The report showed that the rise in the coliform level was due to human and animal wastes, houses located near the river, poultry and hog farms disposing their wastes in the river, and the City not having sewerage/septage treatment facility.
With this, Avila is requesting for the implementation of the Septage and Sewerage Management Ordinance of the city which the implementing rules and regulations had already been approved back in 2013 during Mayor Sara Z. Duterte's term.
"When Mayor Rody came in, he already made one of the requirements; one of the provisions of the IRR is for the creation of the ESS (environmental sanitary section) of the City Health Office (CHO) whose task is for the ordinance to be implemented," he said.
Avila said that the group, which includes the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENR), City Engineers Office, Department of Public Works and Highways and the EMB, has not yet met to discuss for the implementation of such.
"Sabi ng ESS marami silang kulang (ESS said that they are still lacking on things) like equipment and personnel for the implementation," he said.
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Astronomy For Everyone - Episode 63 - Astronomy Programs at the University of Toledo August 2014
Astronomy For Everyone is a TV series of monthly TV shows developed by members of the Ford Amateur Astronomy Club (FAAC) targeted to beginner and intermediat...
By: Astronomy For Everyone
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Blue yster Cult; "Astronomy"
Blue yster Cult; Secret Treaties 1974.
By: Jones Smith
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How small is planet earth! Astronomy measurement
Le dimensioni del pianete terra, in confronto con gli altri pianeti e stelle.
By: IZKBA - Stay tuned!
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In astronomy, the term tidally-locked applies to planets or other astronomical bodies such as the Moon which are said to be tidally-locked to another larger body when the gravitational gradient causes the same side of the smaller body to perpetually face the larger body. For example the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. This concept allows us to draw an interesting analogy with the present state of Mauritian politics. For decades, the electorate has been tidally-locked to the same mainstream parties, facing and electing members of these same parties, without ever being able to break free from the latters gravitational-pull and drag new parties within the electoral systems orbit. An investigation of the possible causes would be certainly enlightening. If we factor-out cultural tendencies, the main causative factor is, ironically, a facet of democracy the first-past-the-post election system, which is also referred to as the plurality voting system. In such a system, the winner of a seat is the candidate with the most votes. In political science, Duvergers law is a principle which states that the plurality voting system fosters a two-party system, as a result of an alliance of weak parties or the elimination of weak parties by voters. In the latter case, voters gradually desert small parties on the grounds that they are perceived to have no chance of winning and that a vote for these parties is a wasted vote. Another consequence of the first-past-the-post system is the concept of tactical-voting by the electorate. Voters feel they have an incentive to vote for one of the three candidates they predict are most likely to win in their constituency even if they would prefer other candidates to win, because a vote for any other candidate will in all likelihood be wasted and have no impact on the final result. Since a few parties are perceived as credible politically, voters may well end up voting for candidates with whom they largely disagree so as to oppose a candidate with whom they disagree even more. Examples abound from the recent elections of the above assertions. Despite demonstrating its prowess and legitimacy through its successful legal battle to enable its members to stand as candidates for general elections without having to state their ethnic belonging, the Rezistans ek Alternativ party was unable to ride the wave of discontent which hit the incumbent government and seems condemned under the plurality voting system to be at best a pressure group and at worst a political party marginalized by the electorate due to its perceived political weakness. Further, soon after the debacle for the Labour party, its representatives did not wait to brandish the argument of vote sanction et non vote dadhsion to explain the large victory of the Alliance Lepep, which, if true, would be an example of tactical voting as encouraged under the first-past-the-post system. In light of this analysis, we must pre-empt the evolution of the political scenery over the coming decades with the overarching intention to improve the system towards a truly representative democracy. If the first-past-the-post election is maintained, a two-party system will always prevail. The solution in this case is to open up those few big / mainstream parties to new blood as opposed to promoting a dynastic leadership. Opening up would be encouraged by way of limiting the prime ministerial mandate to two tenures for any individual and putting in place primaries within the mainstream parties to elect the candidate for prime-ministership. The only obstacle to these evolutionary steps is the lack of will on the part of todays political stars (that is mainstream parties) shining down the electorate. These political stars must recall that in astronomy it is well known that despite their mass and energy, stars eventually turn into dwarves before dying.
Citoyen & Cadre dans la Finance
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Politics : the tidally-locked state of the Mauritian electorate
Rimworld Alpha 9: Season 1 - Episode 1
Rimworld is a game where you have to start and maintain a colony. Viewed? Liked? Subscribed? Get the game at http://www.Rimworldgame.com The gameplay of RimWorld is driven by AI (Artificial...
By: Arthod GDT
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"The A.I APP Review" RESULTS 2015 Artificial Intelligence App By John Clark AI App Reviewed
The A.I App Review - Artificial Intelligence App By John Clark More Info: http://doiop.com/AIAPP "The A.I App Review" Artificial Intelligence App RESULTS 2015 Artificial Intelligence App...
By: Thomas Vincent
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"The A.I APP Review" RESULTS 2015 Artificial Intelligence App By John Clark AI App Reviewed - Video
Rimworld Alpha 9: Season 1 - Episode 2
Rimworld is a game where you have to start and maintain a colony. Viewed? Liked? Subscribed? Get the game at http://www.Rimworldgame.com The gameplay of RimWorld is driven by AI (Artificial...
By: Arthod GDT
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LONDON, March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the mimicking of human thought and cognitive processes to solve complex problems automatically. AI uses techniques for writing computer code to represent and manipulate knowledge. Different techniques mimic the different ways that people think and reason (see case-based reasoning and model-based reasoning for examples). AI applications can be either stand-alone software, such as decision support software, or embedded within larger software or hardware systems
AI has been around for about 50 years and while early optimism about matching human reasoning capabilities quickly has not been realized yet, there is a significant and growing set of valuable applications. AI hasn't yet mimicked much of the common-sense reasoning of a five-year old child. Nevertheless, it can successfully mimic many expert tasks performed by trained adults, and there is probably more artificial intelligence being used in practice in one form or another than most people realize.
Really intelligent applications will only be achievable with artificial intelligence and it is the mark of a successful AI software designer to deliver functionality that can't be delivered without using AI.
We work closely with customers to move them from manual information management into the world of advanced analytics. Our approach allows analysts to shift from raw data scanning to the creation of important, actionable intelligence.
We deliver software systems to help our customers solve problems that defy traditional approaches. We specialize in artificial intelligence products and solutions for...
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Our software development, implementation, and technology transfer services ensure the successful deployment of effective, long-term solutions.
Talee AI Services can help with the design, review and implementation of your contemplated AI system
Implementing AI and expert systems can be a fairly significant undertaking, and is usually at the heart of the system value proposition itself. By utilizing members of our team that are working with a broad set of algorithms and approaches on a daily basis, the time and costs associated with your project can be greatly reduced. We can even just review and provide written analysis of your project status, in addition to optionally building and integrating. Systems can be stand-alone PC - based or fully web-based. Hosted, local or embedded.
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The South by Southwest festival of tech, arts and music features lively debates over the benefits, and risks, or artificial intelligence. Which made it a good setting for the North American debut of Ex Machina, a movie about a tech CEO creating a conscious female robot.
In the film, a young programmer at a Google -like company named BlueBook wins a lottery to spend a week living and working alongside its reclusive CEO, Nathan, on a secret project. The CEO introduces the programmer, Caleb, to Ava, a self-aware, sentient cyborg. Tensions among the three rise as the programmer befriends Ava while evaluating her human-like qualities.
Writer and director Alex Garland said he wants audiences to feel conflicted between Ava and her human friends and creator.
But Garlands sympathies are clear. Im 100% for the robots, he said during a Q&A session after the Saturday night screening. I am very sort of suspicious and worried about people. I dont feel that way about robots. I think they might more reasonable than we are.
Ex Machina, which hits U.S. theaters on April 10, is Garland first film as a director. Hes best known for writing independent films such as 28 Days Later, Sunshine, and Never Let Me Go.
Garland said he chose to make the film because of what he views as misplaced fears about technology, particularly artificial intelligence.
We dont really understand how these things work, so thats strange, but they seem to know how we work, Garland said of search engines and social networks. They can anticipate things about us. They know more about us than we know about them. And that makes us feel scared.
There was no fear at the screening, which brought laughter and applause from a packed house at the Paramount Theatres 1,100-seat auditorium. Jarrod Neece, SXSW Films senior programmer, said Ex Machina might be the best film ever played at the festival.
In a Sunday interview with The Journal, the filmmaker said he doesnt want to perpetuate doomsday scenarios and fears of artificial intelligence. Garland also said he feels like its only a matter of time before truly self-aware and conscious artificial intelligence is created.
Sentient artificial intelligence feels as inevitable as a cure for cancer, he said. Broadly speaking, if and when we can do something, someone somewhere does it.
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Hillgrove Flight Aerospace ALP featured in News5 on the 7th March 2015
Hillgrove Flight Aerospace ALP featured in News5 on the 7th March 2015.
By: ILoveHillgrove
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Hillgrove Flight & Aerospace ALP featured in News5 on the 7th March 2015 - Video