November 2016

2016 UCI Energy Invitational Video

November 29, 2016/by Prof. McCarthy

Here at UCI we are hard at work on three different race cars for 2017 competitions. It is a tough time, as it seems things move too slowly. I offer this video of highlights from the May 21, 2016 UCI Energy Invitational on UCI’s campus to inspire all of our race teams as they work to prepare their cars for the 2017 Energy Invitational. Many thanks to Vital Link and UCI Anteater Racing for their support of a terrific event.

For our colleagues in China, here is a youku.com version: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTg0MzI5ODY3Mg==.html

2016 UCI Energy Invitational

Design Research in China: Tianjin

November 24, 2016/by Prof. McCarthy

Design Research Tianjin

Chris McCarthy filmed and edited this video of our visit to Tianjin, which showcases the design research in mechanisms and robotics at Tianjin University and captures the energy and beauty of the city and its people.

For our colleagues in China this video is available on youku.com: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTgzMTIyMTg1Ng==.html

Youku Design Tianjin

Manufacturing Prototype for the Butterfly Linkage

November 23, 2016/by Prof. McCarthy

Prototype Butterfly Linkage

This animation is taken from Yang Liu’s detailed design drawings for the manufacturing prototype of the Butterfly Linkage. The component parts are to be constructed by additive manufacturing.

This animation includes the music of Explosions in the Sky:

For our colleagues in China this animation is available through youku.com: http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTgzMzA5ODQyOA==.html

Youku Prototype Butterfly

Bezier Linkages

November 23, 2016/by Prof. McCarthy

Whale Linkage

Recent research on the design of linkages by Yang Liu has resulted in “Bezier linkages” that can be used to draw arbitrary Bezier curves. The trick is to use trigonometric Bezier curves. This whale consists of four Bezier segments and is drawn by four Bezier linkage elements.

This youtube version includes music by Explosions in the Sky:

A youku.com version for colleagues in China can be seen here:
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTgzMjU4NTQwMA==.html

Whale on Youku

Three seconds

November 19, 2016/by Prof. McCarthy

Three seconds

This second collaboration between Prince EA and Change for Balance won 1st Place at the Film4Climate competition. The winners were announced at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP22). This Film 4 Climate Global Video Competition is organized by Connect 4 Climate.

Love and Bananas

November 19, 2016/by Prof. McCarthy

Love and bananas

Beautiful scenes of Cambodia and Thailand and a road trip with an Asian elephant in this featurette make this a much anticipated documentary.

Robot Ethics

November 5, 2016/by Prof. McCarthy

Springer Handbook of Robotics

I found this excerpt of the TEDx talk by Bruno Siciliano describing the growing research area of Roboethics to be fascinating and important. Prof. Siciliano is the Director of the ICAROS Center at the Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II. He is co-editor with Oussama Khatib of the first and second editions of the Springer Handbook of Robotics. The entire talk is available at the link Robotics and Napoli.