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November 22, 2005
Braintech Accepts Resignation of Frederick Weidinger
Braintech, Inc. (OTCBB: BRHI), a leading provider of vision guided robotic (“VGR”) software solutions, announced today that it has accepted the resignation of Frederick Weidinger from its Board of Directors.
Vancouver, BC (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) November 17, 2005 -- Braintech, Inc. (OTCBB: BRHI), a leading provider of vision guided robotic (“VGR”) software solutions, announced today that it has accepted the resignation of Frederick Weidinger from its Board of Directors.
Owen Jones, Braintech’s CEO states, “We were very pleased when Rick Weidinger joined our Board of Directors. He brought to us a wealth of knowledge and an extensive background in building successful technology companies. Subsequent to joining Braintech, Rick became the owner of A1 Team USA. The A1 Grand Prix auto racing circuit is considered the world cup of motorsport and Rick’s A1 Team USA will compete against teams from up to twenty-four other countries in a calendar of twelve racing events on five continents. Rick has also become the Chairman of Chalk Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Chalk Media Corp. These two new endeavors don’t allow Rick the time to participate fully on our Board of Directors. It is our intention to recruit a new independent director who can actively contribute as we address the challenges faced with a growing business. We wish Rick the best of success in these new endeavors and thank him for his services to Braintech.”
About Braintech (OTCBB: BRHI) – For more information, visit www.braintech.com.
Statements in this document that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and reflect the current views of management with respect to future events and are subject certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as technical difficulties in developing the products; competition from other suppliers of similar products; pricing that may not be acceptable to potential markets; and many other known and unknown factors. Readers should also refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company’s 10-KSB and 10-QSB Forms filed from time to time with the SEC.
Contact:
Jennifer Summers
Braintech Inc.
#102 – 930 W 1st Street
Vancouver BC V7P 3N4
604-988-6440 x 202
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Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:41 AM | Comments (0)
Robo-rodent Gets 'Touchy-Feely'
Robots that 'feel' objects and their texture could soon become a reality thanks to the innovative and interdisciplinary research of the AMouse, or artificial mouse, project.
(PRWEB) November 17, 2005 -- Robots that 'feel' objects and their texture could soon become a reality thanks to the innovative and interdisciplinary research of the AMouse, or artificial mouse, project.
But even more important, perhaps, are the lessons researchers learned about robot design and artificial intelligence. The project funded by the Future and Emerging Technologies initiative of the IST programme even developed new insights into biological brain function.
Researchers from Italy, Germany and Switzerland developed a 'feeling' robot by developing a new sensor modelled on hypersensitive mouse whiskers. These AMouse researchers developed a large series of different sensors based on a wide variety of 'whisker' types. These new sensors were then added to mainly standard Khepera research robots.
This not only gave the researchers insight into how mouse whiskers do their job, it also enabled them to develop prototypes that can be used to distinguish between different textures or an object.
The team demonstrated a real zest for innovation in their whisker design. One team from the University of Zurich used a variety of materials, from plastic to human hair. This was attached to the condenser plate of a microphone.
As the whisker encountered an object or surface, the whisker deformed the microphone diaphragm in a measurable way, allowing researchers to track characteristic signals from particular surfaces. The researchers then experimented with various whisker arrays and designs, to discover the optimal profile.
Even more exciting, however, were the results from 'multimodal' sensor experiments. These use a combination of vision and touch through whisker and light or camera sensors. The mix of sensory inputs revealed how different data sources affect each other and how they combine to provide a clearer perception of any particular object. Some robots even manifested emergent behaviour.
Emergent behaviour is a primary characteristic of life. In biological systems the combination of various data, like touch and sight, reinforces specific neural pathways. These pathways come to dominate and can cause an entity to 'behave' in a specific way.
In one startling outcome an AMouse robot demonstrated what appeared to be emergent behaviour: it developed a homing instinct without any pre-programming of any kind.
"Essentially we put in the sensors and then wire them up through the robots 'brain', its CPU. We just switch it on without giving it instructions of any kind," says Simon Bovet, a Ph.D. student at the University of Zurich. When he threw the switch his robot started moving about the room but always returned to the spot where it began.
"I think emergent behaviour like this will be a major area in neuroscience and robotics research in the future," says Dr Andreas K. Engel, professor at the University Medical Centre Hamburg and coordinator of the AMouse project.
It will help develop robots that can evolve and it will also teach us much about human cognition. "We can study neural pathways and neural coding in a machine, in a way that's currently impossible in humans. In a robot we can isolate a particular neural pathway to see what happens to other neurons when we trigger a specific one. In humans, if we stimulate one neuron it will influence changes a large number of other neurons, so it's impossible to track what's going on." Engel believes robotic models will offer many exciting insights into human cognition in the future.
"In terms of Neuroscience and Robotics, the US and Japan are the world leaders. But in terms of the combination of the two, Europe is leading, because they fall through a funding gap, just as this research does in Germany."
Engel believes that the study and understanding of emergent behaviour will have an enormous influence in the future.
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Contact: Tara Morris, +32-2-2861985, tmorris at gopa-cartermill.com
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:40 AM | Comments (0)
Optical Alchemy Strengthens Management Team, Names Jennifer Richardson Vice President of Engineering to Address Military Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Market
Ms. Richardson will leverage her experience in systems engineering and product development to drive the company’s strong track record as a manufacturer and provider of products to address the unmet needs in the 5-50 lb. UAV payload market.
Maynard, MA (PRWEB) November 9, 2005 -- Optical Alchemy, Inc., the leading developer and manufacturer of ultra-light, inertial, stabilized sensor systems for unmanned vehicles, announced it appointed Jennifer Richardson as the Vice President of Engineering. In this position, Ms. Richardson will leverage her experience in systems engineering and product development to drive the company’s strong track record as a manufacturer and provider of products to address the unmet needs in the 5-50 lb. UAV payload market. Ms. Richardson brings over 20 years of R&D experience, and a history of doing business with military branches and associated research facilities, to Optical Alchemy, Inc. The news follows the company’s previous announcement regarding the availability of Optical Alchemy’s new, ultra-light, 2-Axis Sensor payload (i.e., gimbal / turret), the KJ-600, for field trials and deployment. KJ-600’s comprehensive and flexible payload includes an infrared camera (IR), visible zoom camera, laser marker, onboard IMU, GPS and digital compass. Options include a laser range finder (LRF). KJ-600 provides accurate longitude/latitude pointing, weighs only 4 lbs. with its enhanced integrated sensor payload, and allows for 50-60 lbs. of additional payloads, such as fuel, ammunition, or multiple sensors, in existing or new UAVs.
“Ms. Richardson’s addition will augment a seasoned team of engineering veterans as Optical Alchemy continues to experience unprecedented customer demand for the company’s products that serve our military clientele,” said Marc Daigle, President, Optical Alchemy, Inc. “Ms. Richardson will continue to drive our technology and product development strategy to provide the U.S. military with new capabilities to perform new missions in formerly denied areas on the battlefield,” Daigle added.
“I am extremely pleased to serve as Vice President of Engineering at Optical Alchemy, Inc.,” said Jennifer Richardson, Vice President of Engineering, Optical Alchemy, Inc. “I am honored to build and lead a diverse, world-class technology team that has achieved unprecedented initial success making products that fill the sensor void in the UAV market between the Dragon Eye and Shadow Class UAVs,” Richardson added.
Ms. Richardson previously served as Vice President of Engineering for Diversified Optical Products (DiOP), producing thermal imaging systems and optical products. Ms. Richardson has program management experience with large corporations such as Loral and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), as well as senior management experience with Alcatel (NYSE: ALA) and next generation communication equipment start-up organizations that grew through successful acquisition. Her technical expertise includes more than 20 years of experience in systems engineering and product development for infrared imaging systems, radiometers and missile seekers.
Optical Alchemy’s KJ-600 enables UAVs in the Shadow and smaller class to significantly improve their endurance and sensor payloads, thereby meeting the needs of many unmet missions. KJ-600 will follow open architecture standards such as STANAG 4568 and our IP based architecture supports future net-centric open communications requirements necessary for manned and unmanned vehicle communications needs.
About Optical Alchemy, Inc.
Optical Alchemy, Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of ultra-lightweight, high performance stabilized sensor systems for unmanned vehicles. The company’s products will create a new level of persistence, enabling UAVs to dramatically expand mission ranges, save fuel, remain in the air for longer periods of time to patrol vast areas and carry additional sensors and ordinance.
The company’s small, ultra-light high performance stabilized sensor systems offer the payload flexibility, inertial stabilization and high pointing accuracy required for sense and respond missions. Optical Alchemy’s system provides configurable payloads including high resolution IR and visible sensors, laser range finder (LRF), laser marker, laser designator or a user-defined custom sensor suite. Onboard IMU, GPS, digital compass and the inertial control system provide accurate latitude/longitude/elevation pointing and, combined with the LRF, target mapping. For more information, visit http://www.uavpayloads.com or contact Joe Romano, Partner, HighGround, Inc. at 781-279-1320 x 208.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:39 AM | Comments (0)
Honeywell Unveils New TruePoint™ Digital Compass Module with Dead Reckoning Technology
Honeywell announced the unveiling of their new high performance TruePoint™ 3-Axis digital Compass Module with Dead Reckoning Technology providing accurate navigation in today’s most challenging environment.
Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) October 26, 2005 -- Honeywell announced the unveiling of their new high performance TruePoint™ 3-Axis digital Compass Module with Dead Reckoning Technology providing accurate navigation in today’s most challenging environment. TruePoint™ can be mounted and used in any orientation making it ideal for applications like land and maritime navigation, laser rangefinders, robotic vehicles and antenna alignment. This compass module can automatically provide compass azimuth referenced to true north.
Distinct features of this new compass module product include:
• Azimuth angle, true or magnetic
• Pitch and roll (tilt) angle
• 1 degree accuracy
• Built-in magnetic compensation functions and
• Small footprint, low power, light weight.
Advanced dead reckoning technology for the TruePoint™ Compass Module combines data from three silicon magnetometers and three MEMS accelerometers to provide compass azimuth as well as pitch and roll angle. The World Magnetic Module is built-in so that the compass can automatically provide compass azimuth referenced to true north. Data collection is automatic and users can monitor their progress and effectiveness of corrections using a Honeywell software test program.
For more information regarding these products call 1-800-323-8295 or visit the Honeywell Web site at www.magneticsensors.com for detailed specifications and purchasing information.
Media Contact:
Dave Wick
763-954-2801
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Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:38 AM | Comments (0)