In a darkened,
hangar-like space inside MIT's Building 41, a small, Roomba-like robot is
trying to make up its mind. Standing in its path is an obstacle -- a human
pedestrian who's pacing back and forth. To get to the other side of the room,
the robot has to first determine where the pedestrian is, then choose the
optimal route to avoid a close encounter. As the robot considers its options,
its thoughts are projected on the ground: A large pink dot appears to follow
the pedestrian -- a symbol of the robot's perception of the pedestrian's
position in space.
Lines, each
representing a possible route for the robot to take, radiate across the room in
meandering patterns and colors, with a green line signifying the optimal route.
The lines and dots shift and adjust as the pedestrian and the robot move. This
new visualization system combines ceiling-mounted projectors with
motion-capture technology and animation software to project a robot's
intentions in real time. The researchers have dubbed the system measurable VR
(MVR) - a spin on conventional VR that's designed to visualize a robot's perceptions
and understanding of the world.
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