Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/54910
Covered with sensors, UCF's creation "Knight Rider" drives on autopilot. In addition, a second Corridor grant supported Highsmith's research into the alpha-testing of a new socket liner system that could provide more freedom of movement for transfemoral (or above-knee) amputees. "Finding an effective interface to join artificial limbs to the body without irritation and other problems is still a major issue in the prosthetics field," said Highsmith, "but we're getting closer." Highsmith's continued success garnered attention from the Department of Defense, which recently issued USF's School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences a $715,000 grant to evaluate the best prosthetic foot that would accommodate soldiers and veterans with below-the-knee amputations who wish to return to active duty. Are we close to providing full mobility to wounded Jedi Knights? Maybe not. But potentially providing injured veterans with the ability to continue serving with their fellow soldiers in arms is one step closer. cOmPUTERS BEHiND THE WHEEL When you're battling rush hour traffic, it's easy to dream of cars that can drive themselves and let you, the "driver," sit back and enjoy your morning coffee, talk on your cell phone and even legally send a text message on your way to the office. But building and operating an autonomous vehicle is not as easy as movies and TV shows like "Minority Report" and "Knight Rider" would lead us to believe. Researchers in the Florida High Tech Corridor, however, have developed an autonomous vehicle and, though it's not ready for commercial use, it represents a significant advancement beyond traditional automobiles. Remo Pillat, a Ph.D. student in the University of Central Florida's (UCF) Computational Imaging Lab, is part of a team that created Knight Rider, a sensor-clad vehicle that can navigate through city streets and obey the full extent of traffic rules. florida.HIGH.TECH 2012 41