Automatic programming makes swarm robots safer and more reliable
Researchers from Sheffield Robotics have applied a novel method of automatically programming and controlling a swarm of up to 600 robots to complete a specified set of tasks simultaneously.
This reduces human error and therefore many of the bugs that can occur in programming, making it more user-friendly and reliable than previous techniques. This could be particularly advantageous in areas where safety of using robotics is a concern, for example, indriverless cars.
The team of researchers from the University of Sheffield applied an automated programming method previously used in manufacturingto experiments using up to 600 of their 900-strong robot swarm, one of the largest in the World, in research published in the March issue of Swarm Intelligence journal .
Swarm robotics studies how large groups of robots can interact with each other in simple ways to solve relatively complex tasks cooperatively.
Previous research has used 'trial and error' methods to automatically program groups of robots, which can result in unpredictable, and undesirable,behaviour . Moreover, the resulting source code is time-consuming to maintain, which makes it difficult to use in the real-world.
The supervisory control theory used for the first time with a swarm of robots in Sheffield reduces the need for human input and therefore, error. The researchers used a graphical tool to define the tasks they wanted the robots to achieve, amachine then automatically programmed and translated this to the robots.
This reduces human error and therefore many of the bugs that can occur in programming, making it more user-friendly and reliable than previous techniques. This could be particularly advantageous in areas where safety of using robotics is a concern, for example, in
The team of researchers from the University of Sheffield applied an automated programming method previously used in manufacturing
Swarm robotics studies how large groups of robots can interact with each other in simple ways to solve relatively complex tasks cooperatively.
Previous research has used 'trial and error' methods to automatically program groups of robots, which can result in unpredictable, and undesirable,
The supervisory control theory used for the first time with a swarm of robots in Sheffield reduces the need for human input and therefore, error. The researchers used a graphical tool to define the tasks they wanted the robots to achieve, a
10 SOFTWARE TESTING TRENDS FOR 2016
2015 witnessed tremendous increase in adoption of digital transformation, and digital assurance will now play a key role in 2016.
Pradeep Govindasamy, CTO & President – Americas atCigniti Technologies, predicts the following key software testing trends for this year:
1. Digital Assurance: It ensures successful digital transformation by executing comprehensive testing across the digital value chain from content creation to content distribution covering the entire digital ecosystem – Social Media, Mobility, Big Data & Analytics, and Cloud.
2. Security Testing: Enormous data is accessed and shared via web-based, mobile and cloud-based applications. Security testing will become a strategic business priority for many organizations to curb data breach.
3. Test Data Management (TDM): To create, manage and maintain complex data sets is achallenge especially while testing in Agile and DevOps environments. This ensures a growing need for TDM services.
4. Client Centric TCoEs: Organizations today seek to set up AgileTCoEs to be more flexible and collaborative with SDLC. Setting up customized, client-centric TCoEs is one of the key trends to watch out for this year.
5. Test Automation: It will grow enormously with robust automated testing tools delivering bug-free, high-quality software. Test automation will drive the future of software testing and help avoid routine testing, enabling test engineers to focus on complex test scenarios.
6. Testing in Agile &DevOps Environments: Organizations gradually embracing Agile and DevOps practices to reduce time to market, will gain the competitive edge.
7. Wearable and IoT testing: As enormous datais collected and exchanged across multiple channels and platforms, wearable and IoT testing is becoming unavoidable.
8. Telematics Testing: With the growing demand for smarter automobiles, software testing and validation of automotive infotainment and telematics technologies is becoming crucial.
9. Quality Engineering: Organizations are seeking comprehensive, collaborative and robust Quality Engineering (QE) Services beyond the traditional QA.
10. Service Virtualization: Service Virtualization will continue to play a significant role by the increasing adoption of Agile & DevOps practices.
SOURCE: PTI
Pradeep Govindasamy, CTO & President – Americas at
1. Digital Assurance: It ensures successful digital transformation by executing comprehensive testing across the digital value chain from content creation to content distribution covering the entire digital ecosystem – Social Media, Mobility, Big Data & Analytics, and Cloud.
2. Security Testing: Enormous data is accessed and shared via web-based, mobile and cloud-based applications. Security testing will become a strategic business priority for many organizations to curb data breach.
3. Test Data Management (TDM): To create, manage and maintain complex data sets is a
4. Client Centric TCoEs: Organizations today seek to set up Agile
5. Test Automation: It will grow enormously with robust automated testing tools delivering bug-free, high-quality software. Test automation will drive the future of software testing and help avoid routine testing, enabling test engineers to focus on complex test scenarios.
6. Testing in Agile &
7. Wearable and IoT testing: As enormous data
8. Telematics Testing: With the growing demand for smarter automobiles, software testing and validation of automotive infotainment and telematics technologies is becoming crucial.
9. Quality Engineering: Organizations are seeking comprehensive, collaborative and robust Quality Engineering (QE) Services beyond the traditional QA.
10. Service Virtualization: Service Virtualization will continue to play a significant role by the increasing adoption of Agile & DevOps practices.
SOURCE: PTI
The next generation of Windows: Windows 10
Windows 10 is the first step to an era of more personal computing. This vision framed our work on Windows 10, where we are moving Windows from its heritage of enabling a single device – the PC – to a world that is more mobile, natural and grounded in trust. We believe your experiences should be mobile – not just your devices. Technology should be out of the way and your apps, services and content should move with you across devices, seamlessly and easily. In our connected and transparent world, we know that people care deeply about privacy – and so do we. That’s why everything we do puts you in control – because you are our customer, not our product. We also believe that interacting with technology should be as natural as interacting with people – using voice, pen, gestures and even gaze for the right interaction, in the right way, at the right time. These concepts led our development and you saw them come to life today.
TRANSFORMERS 4: AGE OF EXTINCTION SYNOPSIS
Transformers: Age Of Extinction is the fourth film in director Michael Bay’s global blockbuster franchise. Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Li Bingbing , Kelsey Grammer, Sophia Myles, T. J. Miller, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor and Titus Welliver star. The film begins after an epic battle that left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.

