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Off Topic => Engineering => Topic started by: Nemesis on December 06, 2005, 10:05:55 pm

Title: University of Florida building a Fluffbot.
Post by: Nemesis on December 06, 2005, 10:05:55 pm
Link to full article (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/12/06/1102182227308.html)

Quote
It sounds like science fiction: a brain nurtured in a Petri dish learns to pilot a fighter plane as scientists develop a new breed of "living" computer. But in groundbreaking experiments in a Florida laboratory that is exactly what is happening.

The "brain", grown from 25,000 neural cells extracted from a single rat embryo, has been taught to fly an F-22 jet simulator by scientists at the University of Florida.

They hope their research into neural computation will help them develop sophisticated hybrid computers, with a thinking biological component.

One target is to install living computers in unmanned aircraft so they can be deployed on missions too dangerous for humans. It is also hoped that the research will provide the basis for developing new drugs to treat brain diseases such as epilepsy.
Title: Re: University of Florida building a Fluffbot.
Post by: Sirgod on December 07, 2005, 08:16:43 am
I read this earlear this morning. wow just wow.

Stephen
Title: Re: University of Florida building a Fluffbot.
Post by: Commander Maxillius on December 07, 2005, 09:27:20 am
So what happens when the computer thinks, "Screw this!!" and lands the plane once its orders are transmitted?
Title: Re: University of Florida building a Fluffbot.
Post by: The Bar-Abbas Anomaly on December 07, 2005, 12:20:02 pm
So what happens when the computer thinks, "Screw this!!" and lands the plane once its orders are transmitted?



I suggest we hire Blade Runners to hunt down and 'retire' them, but we could lessen the problem by limiting them to a 4-year lifespan....


This article is from last year, incidently (12-7-2004).  I wonder if they've made any progress since then.  Like hooked it up to play Civ or SFC.

Also, how does the brain know that level flight is desirable to crashing?  What sort of feedback were they using?

Title: Re: University of Florida building a Fluffbot.
Post by: Sarek on December 14, 2005, 08:14:48 pm
Piloting jets is cool but from the subject title I thought this would have applications in the porn industry.  Now that would be exciting.  ;D
Title: Re: University of Florida building a Fluffbot.
Post by: Just plain old Punisher on December 14, 2005, 09:13:20 pm
I wonder how many settings fluffbot will have...hummm...