Computers, Artificial Intelligence, & Robotics Erin Harris, Graduate Researcher Jerry B. Weinberg, Associate Professor Department of Computer Science

What is a Computer? Takes input –Keyboard, mouse, camera, microphones Transforms it through a set of instructions –Computer Program Creates output –Monitor, speakers

What is a Computer? ALL programs are made up of only 3 kinds of instructions! 1.Sequential Instructions Program to make chocolate mild First put milk in a glass next add two tablespoons of Nestle Quick stir drink 2.Conditional Instruction If (you are out of milk) then go to the store and buy a gallon of milk 3.Repetition While you are still thirst Make chocolate milk

A Computer Program

Computers are Powerful! Storing and Retrieving Information –Banks accounts, school grades, phone numbers

Computers are Powerful! Tools for Creativity –Writing papers, drawing pictures, composing music

Computers are Powerful! Controlling Complex Systems –Space Shuttle, Cruise Ships, Your Car

Computers are Powerful! –Computer Games, Special Effects in Movies

Artificial Intelligence Getting computers to do things that humans do Our Brains are information processing machines –Input: eyes, ears –Transformation: brain is our cpu –Output: hands, feet, mouth ?

What is Intelligence? Expert Tasks –Medical Diagnosis –Airplane Mechanic Formal Tasks –Mathematics –Game Playing Creative Tasks –Painting –Music Composition Everyday Tasks –Visual recognition –Language understanding

Reasoning: State Space Search State Space –The space of all possible states of a problem –The actions that can be applied to a state Solving a problem: State Space Search –From a starting state search for a solution by applying possible actions –Test for solution Example: –How could you find where you parked your car at the mall? –States: locations where you are –Actions: moving from one point to the next –Goal test: Being in the same location as your car

Exhaustive Search vs. Intelligent Search

Solve These Problems What is the name of this shape? 23 X 11 = How many windows are in your house?

Knowledge Representation Knowledge representation stores information in a program in a way that it can be applied to a problem Different Kinds of Knowledge are used to solve different kinds of problem.

Where is the AI? Microsoft Office Helpers Amazon.com NBA Scout Furby Wal-Mart Stocker Batman the Movie The Sims

And Robots A robot is a computer with a body A mobile robot is a computer with wheels (or legs or treads or other)

What is An Intelligent Robot? A machine able to extract information from its environment and use knowledge about its world to move safely in a meaningful manner

Humans vs. Robots PeopleRobots BonesMetal/Plastic MusclesMotors SensesSensors Digestion/RespirationAC/DC Power BrainComputer KnowledgeProgram

Mobile Robots have to Solve Difficult Problems Where am I? –Localization Problem How do I get there? –Path Finding Problem How do I find the door? –Object Recognition Problem What are you asking me to do? –Language Understanding Problem How can I tell you the answer to your question? –Speech Generation Problem

roboti.cs.siue.edu

Meet Taz The Tour Guide Robot

How does Taz figure out where it is? Has an internal map in its memory. Measures how far it travels to get a rough idea of where it is at on the map. Uses matches its laser and sonar readings to walls the map to get an exact location

The Internal Map

Matching laser and sonar readings to map

Control Java Applet Runs on user’s computer Browses Robot Page Middle Man Stores Java Applet Stores Website Runs on Web Server The Client Runs on Robot’s Onboard PC P2OS Runs on Robot’s Microcomputer Directly Controls Robot Hardware Download Java Applet Send movement commands to Middle Man Download Web Material Middle Man sends commands on to client Client sends camera feed to Middle Man Client sends robot state info to Middle Man Client sends safe commands to robot P2OS sends state and location info to Client Middle Man sends camera feed to Applet Observe Java Applet Runs on user’s computer Browses Robot Page How you Control Taz

Interesting Robots

Anyone can be a robot scientist LEGO Robot Kits