www.martinpeniak.com

Aquila 1.9a released and major changes planned for the version 2.0

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:26:09 +0000

I would like to announce that we have just released a new version of Aquila, which has several new features such as new vision filters and transforms, GPU face and template tracking integrated with The Gaze Interface, new object recognition system for the MTRNN module, ERA (Epigenetic Robotic Architecture) module and more.

This is the last release of Aquila as a standalone toolkit encapsulating all modules. We are starting to work on a completely new design for Aquila 2.0. Please see this presentation and send me any feedback you might have.

Aquila can be downloaded from iCub and the SourceForge repository that we use for the development. The latest updates are always on Aquila's FaceBook page, click here to explore it.

Rytmus - Fenomen (UNOFFICIAL CLIP)

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:48:51 +0000

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1onmHkIleno 660 500]

Dream Big in 2012

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:58:03 +0000

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q74KRZENAB4 660 500]

Merry Christmas

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 16:48:12 +0000

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-tRNchAdgY 660 500]

Response to the recent publicity regarding NVIDIA Tegra 3 and The Synergy Moon Project

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:35:41 +0000

Over the last couple of weeks I have read many news articles covering The Synergy Moon and its plans to use NVIDIA's Tegra 3 system for its rovers, The Tesla Prospector and The Tesla Survivor. The articles were also referring to my previous collaboration (ESA version) with the European Space Agency and my PhD research for the for the ITALK Project supported by FP7 Programme of European Union and coordinated by my supervisor Angelo Cangelosi.

I can confirm that the rumours regarding our use of NVIDIA's Tegra 3 system were correct, however, I noticed that publishers often confused CUDA with Tegra 3. We are proud to work with Tegra 3 next-generation systems featuring quadcore processors, 12 GPU processors and one additional companion core. We are of course aware of the harsh conditions in space and on the lunar surface and I can assure you that we have got specific plans how to tackle this and protect Tegra 3 system in our rovers. Tegra 3 combines all the benefits we would hoped for such as low power consumption, small size and low weight and fantastic processing speeds. Tegra 3 also includes 12 GPU (graphics processing unit), which are great for processing parallel problems. My whole PhD research has been very positively influenced by NVIDIA's technology and also by NVIDIA's staff who encouraged me to carry on with my efforts.

Couple of years ago I read an article that used NVIDIA's CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) to implement neural networks running on GPU processors as opposed to standard CPU processors. The article inspired me a lot because it helped me to realise that GPUs are ideal for cognitive robotics research where we develop complex bio-inspired systems that are by nature parallel. I have started development of CUDA-based software named after constellation Aquila. Aquila has been very successful and helped me to demonstrate the power of NVIDIA's GPUs when used for cognitive robotics research. This led to couple of articles featured on NVIDIA's website and later to my visit to NVIDIA's headquarters where I did a presentation about my PhD research and involvement with The Google Lunar X PRIZE Synergy Moon team. Later, we received the Tegra 3 system and we are going to use it to develop state of the art AI system for the rovers.

NVIDIA has been a great inspiration and I have even started my own business (ProIS Group) that utilize the power of GPUs in the industrial sector. If everything goes well, The Synergy Moon team will launch two rovers controlled by Tegra 3 systems, which will be the first time ever when NVIDIA's products reached other celestial body.

Press Coverage:

Google Lunar X Contest Produces a Tegra Based Moon Rover

NVIDIA Goes to the Moon with CUDA and Tegra 3

Moon Rover will be powered by NVIDIA Tegra

Nvidia's Tegra 3 chip to be used in experimental moon rover

Google lunar X PRIZE: Tegra 3 CPU is used into moon vehicle

CUDA Goes to the Moon and Gets Greener

NVIDIA Tegra Powers Rover That Will Land on the Moon

Nvidia Tegra Systems May Get A Ticket To The Moon

Tegra 3 to be used in moon rover

Burst of Media Coverage Concerning nVidia Technology

Tegra 3 Heading for the Skies?

Tegra 3 será o cérebro do veículo lunar do desafio Google Lunar X-Prize

NVIDIA Tegra 3 protagonista di una missione sulla Luna!

l chip NVIDIA Tegra 3 va sulla Luna

Nvidia Tegra 3 poderá ir para Lua a bordo de uma sonda em 2012

Nvidias Tegra 3 soll auf dem Mond fahren

Nvidia: Tegra 3 und CUDA sollen Mondfahrzeug steuern

Google sulla Luna con il Tegra 3 di Nvidia

The NVIDIA Tegra Chip 3 go to the moon!

NVIDIA Tegra 3 to the moon a-NVIDIA, Tegra 3, the moon, Synergy Moon, Martin Peniak

NVIDIA - Polish article

NVIDIA - Russian article

NVIDIA - Italian Article

NVIDIA - Chinese Article

NVIDIA - Hungarian Article

Quarter of million visits today

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:32:17 +0000

Today, this site will hit a quarter of million visits. Thanks for popping over and if you have any feedback/suggestions please visit my guestbook and leave your comments.

Internet Rising

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 13:09:01 +0000

Released on 11.29.11, Internet Rising is a digi-documentary investigating the evolving relationships between the Internet and collective consciousness of humanity. It provokes many questions about ancient and modern paradoxes of life, its pleasures and pains... and the gray area contrasts in between - but most of all it is meant to be an inspiring conversation starter.

Internet Rising is a labour of love comprising a rapid fire mashup stream of live webcam interviews all conducted within the web sphere. The film's participants include many profound personalities and key internet influencers ranging from professors, corporate academics, futurists, researchers, writers, bloggers, media creators, activists, gamers, educators, scientists, artists, innovators - real humans, all of whom provide amazing insights into how our state of the world is changing and transforming via various forces of economic, social, geographic, political, philosophical development... all centred around technology's transformative and generative power.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMh8oBdKkK4 660 500]

FreeFly Astronaut Project

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:30:28 +0000

Olav Zipser, the pioneer of the freeflying, has recently returned from Moscow where he met with world-leading manufacturers of space suits. I have previously written article about Olav's aspirations to exceed the supersonic speed and his last visit to Russia was an important step towards reaching this goal because jumping from 40km altitude needs not only the mastery of the freeflying but also a space suit that will be custom made for Olav's body. The video below is a great summary of his new FreeFly Astronaut Project.

The goal of the FreeFly Astronaut Program is to improve the lives of mankind?s first space pioneers. The FreeFly Astronaut Program FFAP will help to create the capability to safely decent from the edge of space in case of an emergency.

Zipser will forego the previous balloon-lift method used by the current record-holder, and instead will jump from an IOS SR 145 rocket. The launcher will propel Olav to an altitude of over 40 kilometers (about 25 miles)—higher than any manned balloon can possibly go—where he will eject from the launch vehicle and FreeFly back towards earth.

“This initial record attempt will be the first of a whole program, culminating with a dive from above the Karman line (100km), from a real space altitude. This is not a stunt. This is a research mission.

“We believe that the data and scientific information you will gather in this planned series of increasingly higher altitude jumps will prove to have intrinsic value and will enhance the safety of future space pilots and tourists. It is our privilege and pleasure to work with you in this fascinating and most important project.” ~ Randa Milliron, CEO Co/Founder, Interorbital Systems

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aymNdmF3cfo 660 500]

Aquila 1.8alpha released

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:26:09 +0000

I would like to announce that we have just released a new version of Aquila. This is the first alpha version (v1.8a), which is much more stable that the previous versions. Apart from several bug fixes, this version has two major additions. The first improvement is in terms of stability where we replaced the previous rendering implementation causing occasional segmentation faults with a new one that is reliable and equally fast. The second addition is a new ERA (Epigenetic Robotics Architecture) module, which adds the functionality of the ERA architecture in a fully configurable manner rather than hard wired as in the MODI experiment tab. More advanced visual filters and free speech via yarp ports are also included.

There are few new developers working on the extension of the Kinect module to improve the precision of the control, make the interaction more fluid and add iCub legs control. Other developers are looking into developing an EEG interface to control objects in the simulator.

Aquila can be downloaded from iCub and ITALK repositories as well as from the main SourceForge repository that we use for the development. New developers are welcome to join the project via SourceForge and have their own branch in the repository. Aquila 1.7b manual is in the root directory and provides basic instructions on how to use different modules and also guidelines on how to compile the software. The 1.8a version of the manual is not yet finished but if you have any problems installing the latest version let us know.

The latest updates are always on Aquila's FaceBook page, click here to explore it.

iCub's Upgrade

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:33:23 +0000

Our humanoid robot iCub is going to be upgraded with new touch sensors and artificial skin. First, the robot's hands will be sent to IIT where skilled technicians will install new fingertips and the skin on each forearm. Later, we will send the whole robot for a complete upgrade.

I have met today with our technician Bill, who also attended iCub technical training at IIT back in 2008. We have carefully disconnected all the wires and removed iCub's arms, which will be sent to Italy this Friday. In the meanwhile, we can keep using the remaining parts of the robot and carry on doing our research.

The video below shows how will our iCub look once the upgrade is completed. The video is also interesting because it shows the force control system utilising the new skin, which is a big advantage because one can apply force anywhere on the skin and the arm will move correctly. In contrast, the force control system that does not use skin assumes that one only applies forces at the end effectors, which are the hands/wrists.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQGXYGS0Ojo 660 500]