To boldly go where no man can go, but your friendly robot can ?.
"Optics, robotics and wireless are rapidly expanding technologies
which are competing with, not just augmenting, the human species. Vehicles and devices for air, land, and water, are evolving into high efficiency, low energy items - with greater effect than merely providing short term profit potentials. Examples are given, but the main point is only derived by considering the consequences." - Dr. Paul MacCready, AeroVironment, Inc.
At the same time robots have also become ubiquitous tools in the manufacturing of almost anything that we use in our homes or at work -- welding robots on car assembly lines, pick and place machines that adapt to small changes, or even a vacuum cleaner for your home. With each generation of hardware and software, the combination of robotic motion, wireless technology and artificial simulation of the five senses is leading to devices that are capable of operating with less and less direct human control.
Our April 22nd the Caltech/MIT Enterprise Forum program will focus on the convergence of optics, robotics and wireless technology, and how they combine to provide us with amazing tools to conduct activities in places too remote or dangerous for man. Man may not go there, but robots now can.
Our keynote speaker is Dr. Paul MacCready who, in 1977, became internationally known as the "father of human-powered flight" when his Gossamer Condor made the first sustained, controlled flight by a heavier-than-air craft powered solely by its pilot's muscles. He will talk about his current work on autonomous remote vehicles and other systems that apply his personal motto ?Do More with Less?. Dr. MacCready has accomplished these things with a commercial enterprise that combines government and industrial customers. He can talk not only about the science, but also of the financial obstacles and opportunities.
Also on our program is Richard Satava, MD., a pioneer surgeon in the field of remote surgery and telemedicine, who will share with us his highly acclaimed insights on where that field is heading, where unmet needs exist, and where there will be business opportunities. Our panel will include other entrepreneurs and experts in the financing of these ventures who, together, will converse about the business of making semi-autonomous devices:
- What are the attributes for a commercially successful, remotely operated mechanism?
- How will MEMS and other novel technologies enable more successful and economical applications?
- What are the commercial and technical obstacles that must be overcome before the full potential of these technologies can be realized?
- Who will finance the development of commercially viable autonomous systems?
Don?t miss this meeting and learn more about these robots and how to control them remotely!
