Biorobotics experts to meet in Kirkland April 4; public invited to tune in to event

Following the release of the new book, “Darwin’s Devices,” Kirkland robot maker CoroWare will host a discussion with author John Long and other leaders in the field.

Following the release of the new book, “Darwin’s Devices,” Kirkland robot maker CoroWare will host a discussion with author John Long and other leaders in the field.

The live discussion will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 4 at CoroWare’s Kirkland headquarters at 1410 Market St., Suite 200, Kirkland. Coroware will video-cast a moderated round table discussion exploring biorobotics and the implications of the use of evolving robots.

CoroWare will host a discussion of biorobotics experts, moderated by Keith Seinfeld, Health and Science reporter for KPLU. The experts will include:

• Dr. John Long, author of “Darwin’s Devices: What Evolving Robots Can Teach Us About the History of Life and the Future of Technology” and member of the cognitive sciences faculty at Vassar College.

• Dan Kara, analyst-at-large for Robotics Business Review.

• Dr. James Tangorra, biorobotics engineer and professor at Drexel University.

Researchers around the world are using robots to automate transportation, improve operations and make us safer. However, the technology is just the tip of the iceberg.

In “Darwin’s Devices,” which was released on April 3, Dr. John Long discusses how he has found an ingenious way to study extinct life: he creates robots that look and behave like extinct animals, subjects them to evolutionary pressures, lets them compete for mates and resources, and mutates their “genes.” In short, he lets robots play the game of life.

Long, Kara, Tangorra and Keith Seinfeld will discuss their perspectives on biorobotics, the implications for research with evolving robots and the potential for this type of research in the future.

Those interested in “tuning in” to the event can register to receive the event URL at www.facebook.com/corowarerobotics. Registrants will be put into a drawing for a free iPad3.

For more information about CoroWare, visit www.coroware.com.