So for those who haven’t seen Dave Lavery’s facebook status, Dave has written a new book! It actually sounds from the description like this would be a great book for our group to read. From the description, it sounds like the book is an analysis of how robotics is changing the way the world works.
Here’s the link! http://www.icpress.co.uk/compsci/p542.html
I’d love to read it… but $58 for 150 pages is pretty expensive. I’ll wait till it’s available used from Amazon 
Actually, there is one listed as used already on Amazon! (not sure how since it just printed today…), listed at $91
time to order one for those long plane rides.:rolleyes:
You can order the book here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ROBOTICS-STATE-ART-FUTURE-CHALLENGES/dp/1848160062
for 42 new or 33 used. I ordered a CD that was only released in the UK (a few weeks later, one of my favorite labels pick it up and did a US release), and it took about a week or two longer but shipping was under $5.
Alright! Something that is cheaper over here! 
This is great. I know a few libraries and book shelves that are going to have an awesome new resource to add to their collection soon. Holiday shopping is coming up.
From the abstract:
“This important study identifies a number of areas where the traditional lead of the United States is being overtaken by developments in other countries.”
Did Dave contribute a chapter about 1114? 
Jason
Thanks for the link. I have ordered a copy and am looking forward to a good read.
Overtaken by Canada! What’s the world coming to, eh?
Seriously, if enterprising Canadian (or Japanese, or French, or Brazilian, etc.) firms apply smarts to gain a technological edge and then use that edge to earn [strike]a pile of loot[/strike] an honest profit, its a good thing. It will drive people in other countries to push that technology further still.
That’s the best use of the striketrough text feature, ever!
Oh, yeah, um, congrats, Dave 
Wow, this sounds like a great read. I may try and see if our school library will order a few copies. Im sure that our robotics kids will want to read it!
Thank you for the positive comments. The book was put together as an off-shoot of a study we did for the National Science Foundation and NASA. The purpose of the study was to conduct a comparative assessment of the state-of-the-art in robotics technology in Europe, North America, and Asia. We visited over 50 advanced robotics technology labs around the world and assessed the research areas of each. As the study was completed we were asked to re-write it in book form. The book examines robotic technology in several application areas, including space robotics, field robotic systems, robot networks, humanoids, medical applications, and service robots. The book is intended to provide many examples of different robot system morphologies, applications, and challenges, how they are being addressed by major robotics research labs around the world, and where the leadership is in each area.
The book was interesting to work on, and everyone on the study team learned a lot doing it. But it may be a long time before we all recover from the process and are willing to do another one of these.
-dave
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I don’t know… while I quoted the last sentence of the abstract in my previous post, I did notice the first sentence was:
“This book presents the results of an assessment of the state of robotics in Japan, South Korea, Western Europe and Australia and a comparison of robotics R&D programs in these countries with those in the United States.”
I’ll just assume that Canada was left off the list because we work so closely and co-operatively with our southern friends that we aren’t seen as a competitive threat, but more as collaborators.
Or I’ll just assume that Australia has built something cooler than this.
Jason
Just one question… will you sign it?
My copy arrived today. I’ll start reading as soon as I can pry it away from Jabba, Yoda, and California Raisin Man. 