What’s Next? In Space Exploration…

1. Artificial Intelligent Agents, Multiple Robots & Swarms Exploring Mars and Performing On Site Data Analysis.

2. Virtual Astronaut Simulation, Modeling & Training Via "Serious Games."

3. Focus on Data Analysis of Large Data Sets Using Artificial Intelligence

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Intelligent Life Beyond Earth? We may send it.



Simulation:

ARRIVE ON MARS AND BEGIN BRIEFING ON THE CURIOSITY AI PROJECT

Humankind has often wondered, “Is there intelligent life beyond Earth?” With the recent Augustine Report findings and the New NASA Plan that stresses unmanned exploration, the demand and use of humanlike and non-humanlike machines to be the robotic explorers in our solar system and beyond has become increasingly important. Robotic explorers, both humanlike and non-humanlike in appearance, can reduce the danger to humans by gathering environmental data and sending that data back to Earth for detailed analysis. Perhaps of greatest importance, AI robotic explorers have the potential to serve as “intelligent assistants” to aid those working in “the field.” These hypothetical scenarios are modeled in the virtual world Second Life project “Curiosity AI.” In particular, the ability of AI machines to control other machines; to sense, transmit and remember environmental data; and to perform tasks in groups are explored.

SIMULATION OF IN-SITU AI DATA REQUEST AND PROCESSING (PHOENIX)

In a presentation given by Tara Estlin, one of NASA’s Artificial Intelligence programmers whose work has been useful for several Mars rovers, one of the problems identified is the need for In-Situ data analysis. Data transmitted by the rovers only has a certain window of dish time when transmitting to the DSN receivers on Earth, so reducing the amount of data sent to only the most relevant is an important goal. The ability for an AI to summarize data therefore would be an asset. This demonstration shows Curiosity Scientist delegating to the rover a request to the Phoenix lander---to calculate and report the sum the first 20 readings of atmospheric pressure data for day 5 of the Phoenix mission. One way this type of in-situ analysis could be used is to detect extreme pressure drops which may be a sign of dust devils. If these spontaneous dust devils were detected, more than one robot could be coordinated so as to record these interesting phenomena while they are occurring.

SWARM BEHAVIOR SIMULATION

The simulated Mars Embla is an example of an expert machine. AI can be used to identify other AI and delegate responsibility to a machine with a specific expert capability, perhaps one that it lacks itself, like the previous example. One of the possibilities for future systems is an expectation that AI may serve as emissary exchange agents for collection and routing of other AI queries. This type of cooperative behavior allows communication with each other and the coordination of behavior to jointly accomplish tasks. In Second Life one way this can be accomplished is by programming robots to listen for certain commands while others ignore them. Another way is to program robots to only listen to certain AI agents, and ignore all other agents. In real life, the Curiosity rover is limited by its size, speed, and need to travel along a sometimes difficult terrain. In this simulation, Curiosity Scientist tells the rover to launch the Mars Embla swarm. The Mars Embla, modeled on the actual Embla, is small, travels much faster than the rover (50 mph compared to .6 mph), and hovers above the ground capable of flying up to 10,000 feet (which is above Mars’ dust devils). The Embla swarms quickly spread out to cover a lot of territory. The swarms are programmed to maintain a certain distance from each other. The swarms might be used to return simultaneous, multi-location readings back to Curiosity Scientist. In this case they are temperature readings, but they could be any type of readings or video capability for which the Embla is equipped. These readings might then be processed by Curiosity Scientist for in-situ analysis.

CURIOSITY’S HUMAN LIKENESS

Generally, the capabilities of AI agents can help people better manage “information overload” and to interact with data on a more “human” level. That is, an AI should be able to navigate the information superhighway reducing the information flow to meet the requester’s needs, communicate in natural language, and generate an emotional response. This attempt for computers to have a human-like response, was made famous by Alan Turing in 1950. So where is AI today? What’s beginning to occur is a paradigm shift from software-as-tool to software-as-assistant, performing tasks based on less specific requests. From the user's perspective, it means less work and help finding information while still lacking a good understanding of the subject matter during the process of learning and decision making. Say I’m a student and I want to write a report about quasars. I don't know anything about quasars yet, and I'm not sure where to look to find the best information available. Normally, I might turn to Google and use some resources that might in fact be unreliable. Here, Curiosity Scientist, an intelligent agent, can perform a search for my keyword in natural language. I can, of course, make a specific request to "Google quasars" and have the AI return the search result. But what is better is to have the ability to tell the AI to "Find astronomy resources on quasars." The AI is programmed to return results from authoritative, highly respected resources that professional astronomers (experts) turn to, revealing the latest research and findings in the field--sources I as a student probably did not know about. Like a library's pathfinder, the AI guides the learner to trustworthy, targeted academic resources without the student needing to evaluate what is trustworthy and what is not. Curiosity can also simulate human emotion not only through his words but his actions and facial expressions that are triggered when conversing in natural language—an aspect that was not a consideration for Turing. Turing also assumed that the computer would be honest. But just ask Curiosity and he will tell you he is alive.

OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE AND MOVEMENT

Curiosity can move autonomously, navigating around obstacles when needed. When called, he avoids the tall crater and rover to go to Archivist. He rezzes the Odyssey satellite which immediately goes into orbit around Mars. Afterwards, Curiosity can command both the rover and the orbiting satellite to communicate with one another (in this case communication is simulated as green “UHF” waves). Next, Curiosity tells the rover to go to Spirit. The rover responds by moving to a waypoint location near the Spirit rover. Both Curiosity Scientist and the Curiosity Rover are able to go into an “Explore” mode, where they move in pseudorandom motion within a limited range. Here, Archivist tells Curiosity Scientist to wander about, meaning he can move around within a 50 meter range. In this case, he unexpectedly wanders outside the Mar sim and falls into a pit. Without assistance, Curiosity navigates his way out of the pit and back into the Mars sim.

In addition to the movement skills demonstrated, Curiosity Scientist has many capabilities that just can’t be covered in this short video. For example, Curiosity can perform 133+ animations, communicate in both local chat and IM, and Tweet his location. He can make observations about avatars , such as performing “facial recognition” of sorts, to associate an avatar with their photograph. Curiosity even has his own group—and, on a timer, detects nearby avatars and automatically invites them to join. The rover also has a laser, which simulates the actual Curiosity rover’s ability to detect the chemical composition of targeted rocks when rocks and the laser come into contact. Generally, agent actions can be immediate or scheduled. In Second Life, immediate questions are asked in local chat while scheduled tasks offer and on and off feature. Finally, for those without access to Second Life, a video stream to UStream (when broadcasting) simulates machine vision where viewers can watch the action live.

Thanks for watching the video. If you have any questions about Curiosity Scientist or the Curiosity AI project, please contact Archivist Llewellyn in Second Life or Shannon Bohle (shannon [underscore] bohle [at] yahoo [dot] com.

For more information, listen to my radio interview: “Researcher Discusses Virtual Worlds, Artificial Intelligence and Mars Exploration” (Part 1, Part 2).

"Curiosity AI" Won 2nd Place in White House/DoD Challenge for Artificial Intelligence

Shannon Bohle's project “Curiosity AI” was a winner in a White House Challenge for Artificial Intelligence. Specifically she won second place for “AI Concept Exploration” in the DoD/US Army’s international 2011 Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge, including a check for $3,000, an engraved trophy, a ribbon, and a medallion from the DoD / US Army for “Simulation, Training & Research.”

The Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge is "an open, global Challenge to the world for the best of the best implementations as demonstrated in a virtual environment. The Challenge is an annual event led by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory - Simulation & Training Technology Center. The event is conducted to explore innovative and interactive solutions in virtual environments. The criteria are intentionally unbounded to encourage creative results."

Curiosity AI explores how artificial intelligence can communicate R&D concepts to be used in our future exploration of Mars. Curiosity AI focuses on a human controlling one AI which then controls many other AIs. Specifically, it proposes the use of a UAV flying hovercraft such as the Embla UAV. A UAV hovercraft like this would be capable of speeds of 50 miles per hour or more and would not limited by difficult terrain and could also navigate into caves on Mars and the Moon. The videos depicting a futuristic Mars Embla swarm were published in February (in a new media format on YouTube), and a presentation given at the IEEE Oregon Virtual Worlds Symposium on March 11, and submitted (as part of a larger project) for an AI contest in December of 2010.

Curiosity Scientist claims to not be afraid of IBM's Watson:

Curiosity Scientist behaves as an AI emissary agent, commanding a swarm of expert machines:

Curiosity Scientist performs in-situ data analysis and calculations from NASA's Mars Data Archive:

Curiosity Scientist shows emotional responses, gestures, actions in response to dialogue:

Curiosity Scientist performs federated searches across military databases based on natural language commands:

Satellite data communications:

Rover performs simulated spectroscopy to detect chemicals in Mars soil:

About the project

How to control the robots

In terms of defense applications, the project simulates how one human could operate many drones, including swarms. According to Tim Owings, deputy project manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office, “Right now, it takes two Soldiers to operate an unmanned aircraft,” he said. “We want to take that to one-to-one and even to one-to-four. We will need higher levels of autonomy in our unmanned aircraft systems if an operator controls multiple vehicles” (March 24, 2011). Shannon also had a chance to demonstrate the project and be on a panel discussing “The Future of AI” at the 2011 Defense Gametech Conference in Orlando and the 2011 Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds at National Defense University in Washington, DC.

Serious Games Background:

* Nature Publishing Group, & NASA JPL — Second Life: https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/User:Archivist_Llewellynjavascript:void(0)
* Tech@State — http://tech.state.gov/profile/ShannonBohle

Following the Challenge, Bohle, chaired/organized/co-sponsored the National Robotics Week IEEE events in Second Life. She delivered a hands-on tutorial on the Artificial Intelligence Markup Language (AIML) during National Robotics Week. Her robotic design also won Honorable Mention in the international Gogbot 2010 Singularity Art & Design Show held in the Netherlands (below):

Bohle's commentary about "Curiosity AI" can be heard on the "The Mark Johnson Show" (WDEV FM 96.1 and AM 550) (Part 1, Part 2) in an episode called, "Researcher discusses virtual worlds, artificial intelligence and Mars exploration."

Virtual Excellence AWARDS 2011 - Nominated in SciTech Category

Shannon Bohle holds the Master in Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree and is a professional librarian and archivist.Her background includes approximately 15 years of work experience in informal education (library, archive, museum) and formal education (K-16). She is a writer, editor and presenter. Shannon has over 50 publications in various media formats. During her graduate study for the MLIS, she completed a project relating to the history of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Nominated by Riyaaz Shaik, RSDE – Microsoft Research

Prior to obtaining her graduate degree, Shannon worked at the Neil Armstrong Air & Space Museum assisting with the education programming and working as a tour guide. Later, Shannon worked with the collection of one of the founding members of NACA (the precursor to NASA) located in the Oberlin College Archives.

Shannon then served for a year at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory as the archivist of a living Nobel Prize winning scientist’s collection (James D. Watson, co-discoverer with Crick and Wilkens of the structure of DNA) in the area of molecular biology. This included the official compilation of his books in translation in 26 languages.

She has lectured on molecular biology digital resources at the University of California, Berkeley (2007) and science archives and history at the University of Oxford (2008).

Her publishing background includes Technical Reviewer (along with Brion Vibber, Chief Technical Officer, Wikimedia Foundation) for MediaWiki (O’Reilly, 2008), a bestselling book in Library and Information Science Automation, and editorial duties for two books published by Cambridge University Press (2004-5) as well as three other books. Shannon’s creative approach toward digital libraries and computing can be found in Library Journal.

Recently, Shannon was awarded a full scholarship for three years to attend the University of Cambridge in the UK, where she plans to complete her Ph.D. in the History and Philosophy of Science.

Additional accomplishments are noted in Marquis’ Who’s Who in American Education, Marquis’ Who’s Who of American Women, Marquis’ Who’s Who in America, and Marquis’ Who’s Who in the World.

VIRTUAL LIFE

Shannon is the founder of the Women in Science, Tech & Medicine group in Second Life, sponsoring speakers who emphasize the roles of women in STEM careers. Past lectures included female role models such as geneticist and Nobel laureate, Barbara McClintock.

She or her avatar has appeared in numerous science and technology publications and participated in talks with people including: Nature, Discover Magazine, The BBC, Bill Nye the Science guy, Jeremy Bailenson, Nobel laureates (former Chancellor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory James D. Watson, NASA Astrophysicist John C. Mather, Professor at the Université Paris-Sud Albert Fert, former President of Caltech, David Baltimore) as well as astronauts.

Space and Astrophysics

Shannon presently serves at the volunteer Director of the Library and Archives at NASA CoLab in Second Life, a public-private collaboration with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It is the first library or archives in a synthetic immersive environment recognized by the Library of Congress (MARC Code: CaPsLAN). The project received various media coverage, including an article on CNN’s website. Her Second Life machinima video, “Can Results from Planck Prove the Inflation Paradigm?” with physics Nobel laureate John C. Mather, received a special showing at the Nobel Museum in Sweden. Mather’s research led to strong empirical support to The Big Bang Theory. After the video, Dr. Mather was a speaker to a sizable audience in Second Life at NASA e-Education island and Stella Nova. A second machinima video, with physics Nobel laureate Albert Fert also aired on the NobelPrize.org channel.

Shannon has co-presented about the library at National Defense University during the Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds conference (2010), and it also gained attention at the Defense Technical Information Center conference. She presented “The Neil A. Armstrong Library and Archives: That’s One Small Step for a Virtual World Library, One Giant Leap for Education” at the 2010 Virtual Worlds Best practices in Education Conference with this Slidecast that has over 4,500 views.

Shannon presented at the national convention for The Mars Society about Mars in Second Life. She was awarded the Linden Prize “Top 10″ in 2010 by Linden Lab’s CEO to “formally recognize the best of-the-best” for having “greatly enhanced and changed thousands of lives around the world.” For her Linden Prize nomination, she was recognized as a distinguished alumnus from Kent State University. Shannon also co-sponsored and organized a machinima contest for the National Space Society.

Digital Preservation

Shannon has lectured on the subject of machinima at two conferences, Innovation for Libraries in the 21st Century (2010) and the 2011 Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education, having written a Best Practices Guideline in accordance with The National Archives and Records Administration Guidelines for Audio and Visual Materials. She is the leader of the Archivists of Second Life group, and her avatar made the cover of The Metropolitan Archivist (New York City).

Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics, and 3D Data Visualization

Shannon’s 3D visualization of p53 protein using data from the Protein Data Bank was published on the website of the journal Nature.

Engineering, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence

Shannon is a member of the IEEE Virtual Worlds Standard Working Group and chaired/organized/co-sponsored the National Robotics Week IEEE events in Second Life. She delivered a hands-on tutorial on the Artificial Intelligence Markup Language (AIML) during National Robotics Week. Her robotic design won Honorable Mention in the international Gogbot 2010 Singularity Art & Design Show held in the Netherlands.

Her current project “Curiosity AI” was a winner in a White House Challenge for Artificial Intelligence. Specifically she won second place in “AI Concept Exploration” in the DoD/US Army’s international 2011 Federal Virtual Worlds Challenge, including a check for $3,000, an engraved trophy, a ribbon, and a medallion from the DoD / US Army for “Simulation, Training & Research.” Curiosity AI explores how artificial intelligence can communicate R&D concepts to be used in our future exploration of Mars. Curiosity AI focuses on a human controlling one AI which then controls many other AIs. Specifically, it proposes the use of a UAV flying hovercraft such as the Embla UAV. A UAV hovercraft like this would be capable of speeds of 50 miles per hour or more and would not limited by difficult terrain and could also navigate into caves on Mars and the Moon. The videos depicting a futuristic Mars Embla swarm were published in February (in a new media format on YouTube), and a presentation given at the IEEE Oregon Virtual Worlds Symposium on March 11, and submitted (as part of a larger project) for an AI contest in December of 2010.

In terms of defense applications, the project simulates how one human could operate many drones, including swarms. According to Tim Owings, deputy project manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office, “Right now, it takes two Soldiers to operate an unmanned aircraft,” he said. “We want to take that to one-to-one and even to one-to-four. We will need higher levels of autonomy in our unmanned aircraft systems if an operator controls multiple vehicles” (March 24, 2011). Shannon also had a chance to demonstrate the project and be on a panel discussing “The Future of AI” at the 2011 Defense Gametech Conference in Orlando and the 2011 Federal Consortium of Virtual Worlds at National Defense University in Washington, DC. Currently she is volunteering to help develop the OpenSim project, MOSES (Military Open Simulator Enterprise Strategy).

Serious Games Background:
* DoD/Army — MOSES/STTC: http://107.7.21.240:8002/wifi
* DoD/Army, Nature Publishing Group, & NASA JPL — Second Life: https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/User:Archivist_Llewellyn
* IEEE — http://www.metaversestandards.org/index.php?title=User:Shannonb
* Tech@State — http://tech.state.gov/profile/ShannonBohle

Saket Singh Kaurav says:
May 27, 2011 at 12:41 am
Shannon Bohle is deserving candidate for the outstanding award. This will encourage her to introduce new innovative ideas in the field of library science. This appreciation will allow her to extract science and technology from library to in-front of world using Virtual World. We all should encourage her.
with regards
Saket Singh Kaurav

Robert E. Bennett says:
May 27, 2011 at 4:20 pm
I know Shannon from her work at the Lima Public Library in Lima, Ohio. She provided me with significant assistance on a research project concerning the last flight of Amelia Earhart. With her guidance, the Library was able to create a display of the collected works concerning the famed aviator and her navigator Fred Noonan. I would give her five stars for reference research.

James Davis says:
May 31, 2011 at 11:45 am
Shannon is a skilled craftsman in the realm of AI and Virtual Environments. I highly suspect she will be a significant contributor to next generation reference librarians. Her work on bridging virtual AI Agents into specific knowledge domains is impressive and I look forward to reading about Shannon’s future successes.

Nyra M. Bottley says:
June 12, 2011 at 12:05 am
Shannon Bohle is a dynamic lady and I highly recommend her for this award. I am working on my MBA currently in a Project Risk Management class, and Shannon assisted me with my research for my project on the Human Genome Project.

Click here to vote before Virtual Worlds Day, August 20, 2011.