Sramana Majumdar

"Violence, Identity and Self-determination: Narratives of conflict from the Kashmir Valley" 4:15 PM, Monday 18 Nov Room 239, BYC Bryn Mawr College

Exposure Index

Tired of paper and pencil questionnaires about integration and intergroup contact? Try the new and improved EXPOSURE INDEX (click tab above on this page).

Almost orbital, solar-powered drone offered as “atmospheric satellite”

Anyone who uses GPS devices or online mapping tools is dependent on satellites. Unfortunately, satellites move in mostly predictable orbits, can be destroyed by several large powers, and are expensive to place and use. High altitude UAVs have promised to provide the communication, navigation, and photographic services of satellites at a fraction of the cost. […]

Drones Take Off in Silicon Valley

The company featured in this article compares its product to an operating system, providing a level of abstraction and ease of use for users of unmanned vehicles. This is a popular idea right now, though it remains to be seen which version, if any, take off.

Paul finds drone he likes

Even Rand Paul can appreciate a drone if it does something for him and isn’t invading his privacy. This example underscores how truly necessary it is for unmanned vehicles to not be restricted to military/police uses.

Robotic pruning

Pruning, fruit picking, and tree management are time consuming tasks heavily dependent on human pattern detection and visual processing. Even though computer systems are notoriously bad at those skills, it has not stopped scientists and engineers from trying to produce a fully automated pruning system.

Driverless tractors till German high-tech farm

Germany’s manufacturing industry – already known for high-tech heavy machinery – is well placed to supply this transition to automated agriculture.

FAA Certifies First 2 Types Of Drones For Civilian Use

While civilians have long had access to remote control aircraft and other hobby-level drones, these tended to be small and operated in unrestricted Class G airspace. This FAA certification opens the door for larger, longer range civilian UAVs capable of surveying and mapping inaccessible areas.

New robot helping keep Puget Sound seafood safe to eat

If nothing else, this proves just how flexible unmanned systems are – and just how widespread they might become.

Daddy, What Was a Truck Driver?

This article starts with Caterpillar’s work on autonomous mining trucks, and considers the future of driving jobs as the technology becomes more reliable and less expensive.

Colbert Report: Domino’s Pizza Drone

The subject is barely introduced before missile-carrying military drones are referenced, again showing the extent to which the Air Force has defined UAVs in popular culture.

Engineers designing robots to revolutionize farming, ease labor woes