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Re: F6 post# 70554

Sunday, 10/04/2009 11:56:11 PM

Sunday, October 04, 2009 11:56:11 PM

Post# of 482622
Nissan's robot cars mimic fish to avoid crashing


(Credit: Nissan)

Tim Hornyak
October 2, 2009 4:38 PM PDT

Nissan has developed a mini robotic car that can move autonomously in groups while avoiding crashing into obstacles (including other cars).

The Eporo [ http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/NEWS/2009/_STORY/091001-01-e.html ], Nissan says, is the first robot car designed to move in a group by sharing its position and other information. The aim is to incorporate the technology into passenger cars to reduce accidents and traffic jams.

Although a group of Eporos may look like a gang of cybernetic Jawa [ http://www.starwars.com/databank/species/jawa/ ], Nissan says the cars' design was inspired by the way fish move in schools.

An evolution of the bumblebee-inspired BR23C robot car [ http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10054104-48.html ] unveiled last year, the Eporo uses Nissan's collision avoidance technology to travel in groups. Check out BR23C trying to get away from a Japanese lady in this video [
]
.


Eporo can dodge obstacles just like fish.
(Credit: Nissan


The automaker studied how large schools of fish can move without colliding. It says Eporo imitates three rules of fish movement: avoiding crashes, traveling side by side, and keeping close to other members of the school.

The robots use laser range finders and ultra-wideband radio to determine distance to obstacles. They also communicate with each other to form the most efficient group formation to maneuver through tight spots.

Eporo stands for "Episode O (Zero) Robot." That zinger of a mouthful means zero episodes, as in zero accidents and zero emissions.

Nissan intends to show off Eporo at the Ceatec [ http://www.ceatec.com/2009/en/index.html ] trade show next week in Tokyo.

©2009 CBS Interactive Inc.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10366477-1.html [with comments]

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Greensburg, KS - 5/4/07

"Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty."
from John Philpot Curran, Speech
upon the Right of Election, 1790


F6

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