We started translating information about system demonstration scenarios provided to us into functional and performance requirements for the three technology components -- map building, target finding, and target tracking -- on which our research focuses.

As planned, this has led us to work on defining realistic models/data structures for representing a the map of a building being scouted, for describing the perception and mobility capabilities in parametric form usable by our future software modules, and for expressing the motion plans to be computed by these modules. We are also defining a parametric model of a target's behavior.

We also have had a series of preliminary meetings to specify precisely the experimental equipment we will acquire: robots. sensors, computers, miscalleneous.

Finally, we have selected most of the members of the team who will do the research under Leo Guibas and Jean-Claude Latombe. Dr. Murali and Dr. Murrietta will work with us as postdoctoral students. Dr. Murali will join on Sept. 20, and Dr. Murrietta on Nov. 1. In addition, several PhD students, will contribute to the project, including David Lin, Henry Cheng-yu, and Hector Gonzalez.