Topic: University of Florida building a Fluffbot.

[Nemesis]

Link to full article

It sounds like science fiction: a brain nurtured in a Petri dish learns to pilot a fighter plane as scientists develop a new breed of "living" computer. But in groundbreaking experiments in a Florida laboratory that is exactly what is happening.

The "brain", grown from 25,000 neural cells extracted from a single rat embryo, has been taught to fly an F-22 jet simulator by scientists at the University of Florida.

They hope their research into neural computation will help them develop sophisticated hybrid computers, with a thinking biological component.

One target is to install living computers in unmanned aircraft so they can be deployed on missions too dangerous for humans. It is also hoped that the research will provide the basis for developing new drugs to treat brain diseases such as epilepsy.

[Sirgod]

I read this earlear this morning. wow just wow.

Stephen

[Commander Maxillius]

So what happens when the computer thinks, "Screw this!!" and lands the plane once its orders are transmitted?

[The Bar-Abbas Anomaly]

So what happens when the computer thinks, "Screw this!!" and lands the plane once its orders are transmitted?

I suggest we hire Blade Runners to hunt down and 'retire' them, but we could lessen the problem by limiting them to a 4-year lifespan....


This article is from last year, incidently (12-7-2004).  I wonder if they've made any progress since then.  Like hooked it up to play Civ or SFC.

Also, how does the brain know that level flight is desirable to crashing?  What sort of feedback were they using?

[Sarek]

Piloting jets is cool but from the subject title I thought this would have applications in the porn industry.  Now that would be exciting. 

[Just plain old Punisher]

I wonder how many settings fluffbot will have...hummm...