Adaptive Sampling and Prediction (ASAP), a three-year program funded by the Office of Naval Research, may lead to the development of undersea robotic glider fleets that forecast ocean conditions, protect endangered marine animals, track oil spills, and guide military operations at sea. A mathematical system developed at Princeton allows the robots to self-choreograph their movements in response to their environment. The technique might one day power other robotic teams that -- without human supervision -- could explore not just oceans, but deserts, rain forests and even other planets. Inspired by the grace of bird flocks and fish schools, the effort also may give biologists greater insight into the highly efficient behaviors of animals.
- New Jersey News, August 16, 2006
Science News Report, P. Regan.
Video bandwidth: LOW | HIGH - TheKSBWChannel, August 23, 2006.
"Scientists Using Robots To Study Ocean" - New Scientist, August 2006, T. Simonite.
"Underwater 'gliders' monitor ocean health" - SIAM News, 38(9), November 2005, B. A. Cipra.
"Control Theorists Chart New Waters for Synchronized Swimmers" - IEEE Intelligent Systems, June 2005,
D. Voth.
"Naomi Ehrich Leonard's School of Collaboration" - The New York Times, November 9, 2004, C. Hedges. "Dancing to that Robotic Engineering Beat"
- Wired Magazine, October 2004,
K. L. Dean.
"Robotic Fish Gather Data, Prize"
VIDEO/ANIMATIONS
- Glider animation
Animation by Francois Lekien, Derek Paley, and Lance Herrington. - Glider time-lapse
Animation by Derek Paley. This time-lapse animation shows the Princeton Glider Coordinated Control System (GCCS) during the month of August 2006 using a fleet of six Slocum underwater gliders near Monterey Bay, Calif.
ASAP RELATED SITES
BEYOND ASAP
- Anita Borg Conference
Naomi Leonard and Margaret Martonosi, professor of electrical engineering, will be featured speakers at a daylong workshop on “Feedback and Dynamics in Nature” October 4 as part of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. Undergraduates are especially encouraged to attend. - Quark Park
Four members of Princeton’s School of Engineering faculty are collaborating with artists to generate unique sculptures for the new Quark Park in Princeton. - Castle Lab
Like Naomi Leonard, Warren Powell grapples with the movement of fleets. But instead of moving around underwater gliders, Powell’s Castle Lab specializes in moving jets, locomotives, people, trucks, information and money.