Windsor Star: Robotic racing car to be featured at U of W

(Date Added: 2008-05-22 16:28:46. Local cache.)

Summary

A robotic racing car, designed and built by students at the University of Windsor, will be one of the featured innovations on display next week.

Dave Hall, Windsor Star

A robotic racing car, designed and built by students at the University of Windsor, will be one of the featured innovations on display next week when the 18th annual Canadian Conference on Intelligent Systems is held at the University of Windsor.

The vehicle, which won the National Autonomous Racing Challenge in Waterloo last month, races on a track without human guidance or control. It's as effective on straight-line drag racing courses as on road racing circuits.

It was designed and built by engineering students for an annual competition hosted by the SAE.

Other new technologies on display during the May 27-30 conference at the St. Denis Centre will include a rehab robot, which helps stroke patients undergo limb rehabilitation; a tactile belt that helps vision-impaired users navigate with the aid of GPS software; an emergency response system which helps dispatchers respond to emergencies faster and more efficiently; a non-invasive glucose monitor for diabetes patients; and a tracking system to enable unmanned spacecraft capture satellites orbiting in space.

"Our mission is to increase the global competitiveness of Canadian companies through increased use of intelligent systems technologies," said Paul Johnston, president and CEO of Precarn Inc., which is organizing the event.

"Through our unique research-based model, we help researchers and businesses reach their endpoint -- commercialization of technology-based solutions -- faster, with less risk."

In addition to demonstrations and displays of the latest technology, there will also be keynote speeches by MPP Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's minister of economic development and trade.

Others slated to speak are Nortel chief architect Peter Carbone, vice-president of investments for Sustainable Development Technology Canada Rick Whittaker and head of the information technology research centre in Greensville, S.C., Joachim Taiber.