Robots Form Surveillance Teams

Robots Form Surveillance Teams Robots Form Surveillance Teams Robots Form Surveillance TeamsA robot that can perform a task better and more accurately is valuable indeed. But what if a group of robots could work together to accomplish goals and tasks better than they ever could individually? A team of researchers recently put their minds to just that concept.Working TogetherWe formed an interdisciplinary team in response to an ONR Office of Naval Research project on distributed perception, says Prof. Silvia Ferrari, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Cornell University and the principal investigator for this ONR-funded project. We decided to collaborate across computer science and mechanical engineering to develop ordnungsprinzips that would take advantage of both the latest developments in computer vision and robotics.The result was a computer system that can combine information and data from multiple robots to track people or objects. The philosophy behind the sys tem is partly based on the robots not always being able to communicate with each other. The communications are wireless and, as such, can be unreliable due to the environment or to jammed communication channels, she says. Similarly, the robots may at times be in a GPS-denied environment. So the question is Can the robots learn how to cope with these circumstances and reconfigure accordingly to develop, together, a perception of the scene.Engineers teach computers to combine many possible views of the same area from fixed and mobile cameras. Image J.P. Oleson / Cornell UniversityWhat are the parts involved in this system? There are multiple Segway-type robots equipped with onboard sensors and communication devices, she says. Sensors include simple cameras, stereo vision cameras, and range finders. The robots will be collaborating with stationary pan-tilt-zoom cameras as well as interacting with the cloud and the World Wide Web.She says one thing they didnt anticipate was how difficul t it is to interpret the scene for a robot despite all the advancements in sensor technologies and processing algorithms. Ferarri also learned just how different the perspectives of various team members can be. Generally, I am surprised at the different perspectives on common problems, such as tracking and classification, on which we think we know so much, but, when we get right down to it, they mean different things to different people, she says.She says applications of this technology include security and surveillance, along with enhancing perception for autonomous systems, in order to help them understand their environment. This could spill over into areas ranging from medical robotics to self-driving vehicles, she says.But the work is not without its challenges. A major one is to provide performance guarantees on the perception, tracking, and mapping algorithms when communication is changing, she says. Fusion allows better perception and mapping, but it is difficult to perform w ith intermittent communications, she says. Another big challenge is to develop a broad understanding of the scene that goes beyond simple classification and detection and mapping. Namely, what does it mean to understand what is happening to the scene? How can we extract context and detect unusual behaviors and actions?Eric Butterman is an independent writer. For Further Discussion We decided to collaborate across computer science and mechanical engineering to develop systems that would take advantage of both the latest developments in computer vision and robotics.Prof. Silvia Ferrari, Cornell University

How I became a paid public speaker ... and how you can, too

How I became a paid public speaker ... and how you can, tooHow I became a paid public speaker ... and how you can, tooPublic speaking is big business. And its a business that doesnt have a formal on-ramp for breaking into. In the past three years, corporate training and public speaking has become the biggest revenue generator in my entire business model. And, I have to admit, I love this kind of work more than anything I do.I get such a bhne high from feeding off of the energy of a room full of people with whom Im creating an electric environment of learning and growth for both of us. I learn something new every time, and make it my mission to hone my craft and clarify my message with each opportunity Im given to take the stage.Heres what Ive learned about breaking into the industry and becoming a paid public speaker1. Develop your voiceBefore anyones going to think about booking you for a speaking gig, they need think of you as a thought leader or expert. What kind ofscholarare you ? What issue areas have you made it your mission to master?Whether these subjects are directly related to your work and career or more of a hobby, it can take a while to prove that youve got a unique perspective to share.For me, blogging and writing became my first avenue to develop my voice and my unique perspective on issues relating to gender in the workplace. Creatingonline courses, developing curriculum for in-person workshops for individuals likeBossed Up Bootcamp and even developingthe Bossed Up podcastall helped me showcase my unique perspective while providing value to readers and listeners for free.If I didnt show that I had something to say first, it would have been unlikely that anyone would give me a chance and just put me on stage in front of their employees or their conference attendees without having an idea of what I was about to share.2. Tailor your messageIts one thing to come up with a message that speaks to workers, but its a totally different thing to consider how your message will be of value to the people whoactuallypay for public speakers.For example, one of my favorite ways to help individual women get bossed up is to provide training and coaching on salary negotiation. Its an art form Im obsessed with and I absolutely love helping more women talk positively about their strengths and get paid for all theyre worth. But what company is going to PAY for me to come in and train their employees on how to negotiate? Ill tell you NONE.So I had to think about which components of my message really speak to what companies and conference organizers care about. My most popular training is on Assertive Communication. The reality is, my assertive communication workshop helps women make their voices heard in a world thats not always listening to women, but the other reality is, it also helps with leadership development, employee retention, and cutting down on passive-aggressive behavior in the office. Thats the kind of framing that makes managers and HR directors alike binnenbinnensee the value in what I can bring to the table.My second most popular talk is all about burnout prevention. Ive opened conferences with my Beat Burnout keynote across the tech industry, legal field, and even medical industry. Why does that one work so well? Because its not just about helping the individual, its about a collective consciousness-raising for an entire industry to do better.So for anyone thinking about entering the ring of public speaking, know that your message needs to resonate not only with members of the audience, but with their bosses and their conference-organizers, too.3. Start for freeSpeaking is a weird business. Figuring out your pricing for workshops and keynotes can feel like venturing into the wild, wild west. But in order for me to get my speaking sea legs, so to speak, I was more than happy to speak for free.Id show up for any nonprofit or association or womens empowerment group that could fill a room. Id barter to make sure that everyone who attended could sign up for my email list, at the very least, and saw these engagements as opportunities for me to try out new material and see what landed.Stand-up comedians are known to do the saatkorn thing, and lets face it theyre superhuman public speakers and total masters of the craft.Whenever I speak for free, my goal is the room with a handful of leads for future speaking opportunities, too. Right after you wow an audience is the best possible time to focus on new business development. If youve done your job and people are feeling fired up and impressed, its time to ask them who else they know who needs to hear your message and ask for their help to make that happen.4. Rock those referralsOnce I come down from my stage buzz and re-enter earths stratosphere, the real work begins. Leads are just that a potential for potential business. Those leads take serious nurturing and further networking to actually turn into business. But over the past year especi ally, Ive actually really come to love that process.100% of my speaking business comes in from referrals. Good old fashioned word of mouth people whove seen me speak or seen my stuff online and want to see if I might be a good fit for their team of their upcoming event. I also get business from picking up the phone and just catching up with my friends in the industry or past clients whove brought me in before. What are they up to this year? How is gender playing a role in their workplace these days? Is there any way I can support them or their colleagues this year? I find that when Im genuinely interested in staying friends and keeping up with people, more business comes my way from spending lots of time simply reconnecting with people and seeing whats up.Plus, even when those phones calls dont necessarily lead to paid gigs, theyre still a great opportunity to hear more about whats happening in their industry and keep up with workplace trends.5. Hone Your CraftI view public speaking as something of an art form a performative practice all about inspiring and informing others with your message. To that end, every artist needs years of practice to go from good to great.Thats how I view my public speaking practice these days especially as a craft I want to hone to really take it to that next professional level. As such, last year I joined the National Speakers Association to rub elbows with other folks who can make me better. I joined at the strong recommendation of a terrific speaker,Linda Swindling, with whom I shared the stage at a recent conference. Linda completely blew me away with her delivery, style, humor, and content and was kind enough to mentor me a bit over the past year as she shared some secrets with me about how to build a career in public speaking.Im all about lifting as I climbAnd thats why Im thrilled to share everything Ive learned about making a career out of public speaking. For folks who want to go deeper with me on this topic, I just re-ope ned applications to join theBossed Up Trainer Team,a cohort of business-owners, public speakers, and coaches who join me for an intensive, 8-hour Certification Program all about developing your public speaking and then afterwards join me for ongoing quarterly mastermind calls. unterstellung are the trainers I then feature on Bossed Up webinars, guest blog posts, and even Bossed Up Bootcamp, too.Learn more and apply nowto join me at upcoming Certification Programs Im hosting in Denver and DC in February and March.This article first appeared on Bossed Up.

How to Find a Job That Fits Your Life

How to Find a Job That Fits Your LifeHow to Find a Job That Fits Your Life Finding a job that ideally suits you is a process of self-discovery. A fitting professional role should refine your strengths and give you room to grow and advance , while a suitable cultural fit should complement your lifestyle and resonate with your personality and your needs. As a job hunter, it can be difficult to recognize potential fit from the interview process alone. Although you may have the chance to meet with several leaders and team members on multiple occasions, an interview cant totally reveal what it might be like to work in a given environment. Thats why your prep is key. Conducting a reflective and thorough search - thinking through what you want in a role and researching and outlining what you need from an employer - can help you find a job that truly suits you. After all, youre not looking to punch a clock, youre looking for a job that fits your life. Heres how to pu rsue itBefore you can decide what youre looking for in a new role, clarify how you feel about your current punkt. Decide whats working for you and identify where you crave change. Professional Development Coach Hana Ayoub of Hana Ayoub Coaching recommends this exercise I like to look at an employees energy level to determine how aligned they are with their current role. Its a key indicator to evaluating job fit. I ask my clients to move through a typical workweek and consider when and how often their role takes them from a baseline level of energy to invigoration. This can potentially illuminate a lack of intellectual stimulation or motivation for their current role. It also isolates the areas of the role where they are aligned, and they can potentially use that as a compass to lead the way for the upcoming job search. The direction in which your compass points might invite risk, which can feel stressful. But if your job has been making you feel vapid, then the prospect of taki ng a risk can be a refreshing thrill. This may signal that you are ready for higher stakes. Ayoub writes If a big professional change crosses your mind, then it warrants exploration. Exploration simply means to tune into the dialogue with a sense of curiosity to understand it better and doesnt bind you to take action. But give it the airtime as soon as you can, otherwise, it will return with more intensity and possibly frustration. A trend I see often in my coaching practice is the volume of wanting a career change only increases over time it rarely reverses itself. Its more healthy and efficient to approach a job change when its an early-stage consideration, and not when it feels overdue. In other words, the time is now. Use this momentum to explore what position and what companies look like they could suit you, and give you the opportunity to move into your next professional phase. Benefits are not just add-ons or perks. They keep you healthy, comfortable and well-positioned to enact your best work. Interestingly, 57% of job seekers weigh benefits among their top considerations before accepting a new role. You can learn a lot about them using Glassdoor . Not only will you find lists of benefits companies offer such as PTO, family leave, health and dental insurance, 401K information, and details about flexible arrangements such as telecommuting, you can also read employees feedback about the coverage. Additionally, Glassdoor reviews offer a window into a professional culture the leadership vibe, the professional pace and, generally, how it feels to be on staff there. You may also get a glimpse into the position youre pursuing. Another helpful feature-you can see how staff rate their CEO , which tells you a lot about the management. Decide what benefits are most important to you, and weave those into you emerging professional goal.Every employer in the world wants to hire great people who stay productive and engaged. And every person wants to find a job they love. Unfortunately, great employees and a perfect job are difficult to find. However, being an informed candidate increases the likelihood of being hired.Once youve done some soul searching and you know what position seems a good next step, what companies appeal to you and which benefits matter to you most, you can launch a targeted search. Searching for a job is a multi-faceted project, and the end result has a significant impact on your life. So take your time, and do it right. Ayoub writes Instead of thinking of finding the right job fit as a series of trials and error, I like to think of it as an evolving work in progress. The distinction here is to get in motion, reflect, and make strategic decisions to continue moving forward. There is no such thing as a misstep all experience provides information to learn from in order to move forward. Its important to shed the expectation of having a clear linear professional path, or that its a one and done process. Instead, embrace the mindset of an evolving career as personal priorities and market needs within your industry change over time.