Leapin Robots

Leapin Robots Leapin Robots Leapin RobotsThe galago is a critter of astonishing bounceablity. Weighing in at less than five pounds, the wide-eyed mammal can easily clear six feet. And its not left panting on the ground, sapped of energy, after such a leap. It can immediately leap again and again.But the animals muscles are too puny to account for all that power. The explanation is that during its crouch motion the animal is actually able to store additional energy in the muscle-tendon complex of its leg, says Mark Plecnik, a researcher at University of California at Berkeleys Biomimetic Millisystems Lab. Its the rapid un-tensioning of the muscle/tendon complex that is allowing the animal to bridge this power gap.To show just how such a power modulation might be used to obtain the vertical jumping agility of a galago, Plecnik and his co-researchers decided to build a robot. The result is Salto, a single-footed, quarter-pound automaton capable of repeated leaps that approach the height s of the flesh and blood original. It can bound off the ground then bound again off a wall or tree with the dexterity of YouTubes greatest parkour stars. The speed and height of its jumps (roughly five and a half feet every second), make it the most vertically agile robot on the planet.Galagos have remarkable jumping abilities.This is very different from the extreme vertical jumping ability of fleas and other insects. They essentially wind themselves up and then spring into the air willy nilly. They land willy nilly too, and have to right themselves before they can jump again. Salto stays oriented throughout its jump and is capable of making another just as soon as it hits a second surface. Vertical jumping agility is the multiplication of how high your robot or animal jumps multiplied by how frequently it jumps. This is the major metric we were trying to obtain, explains Plecnik. There are higher jumping robots, and higher jumping animals, and ours is not the most frequent jumper. But it is the best combination of the two.To hit this high note, Salto puts energy into the elasticity of its spring as it crouches. Then, when it extends its leg for the jump, that energy is rapidly dumped back into the system.Though eyeless, unipedal, and considerably less furry, Salto does bear a physical resemblance to the animal. But this welches never the plan Salto was designed computationally using an algorithm we wrote that finds locomotive linkages by solving very large sets of equations, says Plecnik. Thats why it was surprising that Saltos leg looked like the galagos leg, because the algorithm found the design rather than us mimicking the animals dimensions. As the design was refined over time mother nature and the mother of invention proved to be of like minds.When youre solving a design problem, you often have to formulate requirements, and most people focus on these design requirements how do we do it, says Plecnik. But really characteristic of all design problems is figuring out the right set of requirements. Plecnik and his team were pretty far along with their design, having created a powerful leg, when they realized they had left out an essential ingredient. The one requirement that sort of got us, was having the robot jump in the air without spinning uncontrollably, he says.The robots gyro-like swinging bar lets it jump up to one meter. ruf University of California at BerkeleyAt that time Salto had six link inertias, which, the researchers thought, were light enough to be of no consequence. It also had a small tail mechanism meant to keep the bot oriented in the air. But at the rate it was spinning, it was totally out of the question that the tail was going to function, says Plecnik. The solution was balancing angular momentum so that the grounds force pointed through the robots center of mass as the leg extended. That process ended up requiring us to add two more links to the mechanism, which is a high cost to ask for because we were tryin g to make as simple and lightweight a robot as possible.Those extra links also had the effect of making the robot look even more like a galagos leg.The curious similarity of beast and bot may fuel future research. How important is this dynamic balancing of the animals leg? How well balanced is the animals mechanism? We dont really know the answer to that. Maybe its not well balanced at all because the animal has many redundant muscles. Maybe it just leans forward or backward to compensate. Or maybe thats too much neural effort to make in a rapid jump thats happening in milliseconds, says Plecnik. Saltos agility and abilities mean it could someday be used to hop over rough, irregular terrain, maybe after an earthquake or some other disaster. But while others pursue applications, Plecnik will be tinkering with his linkage design algorithms, he says, to create more robots with novel locomotive capabilities.Michael Abrams is an independent writer. For Further Discussion Its interesting how much our leg looks like a galagos leg without it having ever been a design criteria.Prof. Mark Plecnik, University of California at Berkeley

Research shows being a mom is like working 2.5 full-time jobs

Research shows being a mom is like working 2.5 full-time jobsResearch shows being a mom is like working 2.5 full-time jobsIt turns out moms work 2.5 full-time jobs by just being mom, according to new research.A surveyreported on by The New York Post that was commissioned by Campbells Well Yes Sipping Soups and OnePoll vis SWNS focused on 2,000 American moms with children between ages 5-18, where researchers wanted to find out the different types of roles moms play during the day.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreBetween cooking meals, cleaning the dirty laundry, and after-school study lessons, moms spend 97 hours a week doing these jobs through parenting, according to researchers.No work-life balanceThose sacrifices come with a price 53% of moms reported they do not get enough sleep while nearly half (47%) said they have to bail on date night due to parenting obligations. In addit ion, 47% said they were not able to go out and enjoy their own hobbies, let alone hang out with friends.As for the day-to-day parenting duties, moms reported spending 46 minutes cooking different meals for their children, 44 minutes doing the laundry and almost a half-hour doing arts-and-crafts with their kids.All those parenting duties revealed moms would make $100,460 per year if they were paid for their parenting, according to the survey.With the number of time moms spend taking care of their children, its no surprise that theyre giving up time for themselves, said Diego Palmieri, Chief Marketing Officer, Meals Beverages at Campbell Soup Company.Taking time to eat nutritious foods is something we all know is important, but for on-the-go parents - moms in particular - it can feel impossible.If youre a mother looking for a break on Mothers Day, Kraft wants to pay for your babysitters bill. The company pledge to cover up to $100 on your babysitter bill if you submit proof of rece ipt.Below are the top jobs moms perform on a day-to-day basis, according to the survey.Meal planner 65%Chef/cook 65%Cleaner 61%Launderer 59%Teacher 59%Nurse 55%Life coach 53%Personal assistant 53%Therapist 50%Event planner 49%You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will ersatzdarsteller your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

The Most Common Myths About Leadership

The Most Common Myths About LeadershipThe Most Common Myths About LeadershipExisting businesses are facing disruption at all levels. Younger employees are not satisfied with just a job, but rather, want work that allows them to be involved and included in decisions. Traditional command and control leadership models are floundering, unable to adapt to the need for more collaboration and inclusion. Flattening organizational structure is all the rage unterstellung days, but until we move beyond some of our long-cherished myths about what it means to be a leader, it will be difficult to generate change truly. Here are seven of the most common myths about leadership that keeps us stuck. Leaders Are Only at the Top ur current view of leadership tends to be one-dimensional, with responsibility for leadership belonging to one or two people at the top of a pyramid of power and control. In reality, leadership is multidimensional. In any given day, each of us moves through a range of differ ent expressions of leadership. We are all leaders in one way or another, and when we hold a wider view of leadership, we can work together in a way that utilizes the unique talents of everyone. Leaders Are Designated From Birth or by Title Theyre a born leader. We hear that all the time. But what does that really mean? We are all capable of becoming powerful leaders by taking full responsibility for however we might contribute to any endeavor, whether our contribution comes from in front or from behind. A title does not make someone a leader. We have plenty of examples of people with fancy titles who are not able to connect, inspire, empower and develop others. Great Leaders Work Alone It is the lone wolf theory of leadership. Keep yourself isolated and separate from the pack. Otherwise, you will be unable to retain the alpha position and lead effectively. It might have been a useful notion when the strongest did survive because we had to hunt for food or run from predators, but we have far outgrown this basic biological functioning. Effective leaders of today are skillful at evoking leadership in others. In todays inclusive work environments, coaching is considered a core competency of great leadership. Leaders Have All of the Answers In the past, we tended to characterize leaders as heroic, bright problem solvers who provide solutions to difficult problems in an instant. It is the antithesis of collaboration and inclusion and produces solutions that are often shallow or one-dimensional because they have not undergone rigorous, committed examination and debate. Curiosity and powerful questions are a critical part of effective leadership. Leadership Is About Results, Not People As the pace of modern day life has quickened, we have become increasingly action-oriented and results driven. It seems expedient to just dispense with all the soft stuff and drive hard for outcomes. Unfortunately, when we are disconnected from the beings of ourselves and others, this incessant doing leads to actions that are not grounded and leaves us feeling disconnected and desperate for meaning and belonging. Leadership that is nourishing and balances being and doing is called Co-Active Leadership - with the co- (being) and the -active, (doing) working together harmoniously. Everything in our natural world teaches us that these two energies of co-and active-weave together in every moment. Like the yin and the yang of ancient Chinese Taoist philosophy, co- and active- work together to generate connection, balance, and wholeness. Leadership Is Static We tend to believe that once leadership has been assigned by role or title, things stay that way until the designated leader resigns, is fired, or dies. In reality, leadership is the most effective, dynamic and alive when it moves rapidly throughout the system. In this way, everyone is a leader - sometimes leading in front and pointing the way, sometimes leading from behind and supporting the in itiative, sometimes leading from beside in partnership and sometimes leading from the energetic field, using instinct and intuition to sense into what is not being spoken. In Successful Leadership, Failure Is Not an Option It is such a deadly myth. Failure is an essential part of exploration, new discovery, and encouraging innovation. If we cannot afford to fail, then we must stay with proven approaches from the past. Our actions lack curiosity and exploration because we are so afraid of failure that we arent willing to try something new. It is only by failing repeatedly that we can learn, evolve and grow. It is important for leaders to embrace and celebrate failure as an important aspect of development and discovery. Consider this new simple definition of leadershipLeaders are those who are responsible for their world.When we have the capacity to respond creatively rather than in a patterned and reactive way, when we understand that we are the authors of our own lives, we are, in fact, leaders. This definition of leadership allows people to contribute from their individual strengths and generates leadership that is dynamic and inclusive. We are all valuable, and we each hold a piece of the solution to the challenges that face us. It is only when we release these outdated myths about what leadership means and seek new definitions that we will be able to work and live together in a world that utilizes the best of everyone. - Karen Kimsey-House is a co-founder of CTI, an in-person coaching and leadership development company. She continues to lead CTI workshops and is a dynamic keynote speaker. She is also the co-author of Co-Active Coaching.

Learn How to Punctuate Dialogue in Fiction Writing

Learn How to Punctuate Dialogue in Fiction WritingLearn How to Punctuate Dialogue in Fiction WritingNothing marks a beginning fiction writer faster than improperly punctuated dialogue. Because most academic papers do not use dialogue, many students would benefit from a fiction writing class if they intend to write in this genre. Before taking on a fiction writing project, be sure to review punctuation and grammar rules to ensure your writing is clearly understood and well-received. DosInclude commas and periods within quotationsAdd a period at the end of a quote before the next quoteConsistently italicize words within interior dialogueDontsInclude commas and periods outside of quotationsSeparate two quotes with a commaUse end quotes at the end of the first paragraph if the next paragraph is also parte of the quote Punctuation Rules for Dialogue Get ahead of the game Learn these rules to avoid obvious mistakes Use a comma between the dialogue and the tagline (the words used to ide ntify the speaker, or he said/she said) I would like to go to the beach this weekend, she told him as they left the apartment.Periods and commas go inside the quotation marks in American writing (the Brits have slightly different rules) other punctuations- semicolons, question marks, dashes, and exclamation points- belong outside unless it directly pertains to the material within the quotes, as in this example from Raymond Carvers short story Where Im Calling From I dont want any stupid cake, says the guy who goes to Europe and the Middle East. Wheres the champagne? he says, and laughs. In the next example, the question mark goes outside the quotation marks because it is not part of the material being quoted Did he say, We should all go to the movies? Also note that the sentence ends with only one mark of punctuation the question mark. In general, dont use double punctuation marks, but go with the stronger punctuation. (Question marks and exclamation points are stronger than commas and periods. Think of it as a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, if it helps.) When a tagline interrupts a sentence, it should be set off by commas. Note that the first letter of the second half of the sentence is in lower case as in this example from Flannery OConnors story Greenleaf That is, Wesley said, that neither you nor me is her boy.To signal a quotation within a quotation, use single quotes Have you read Hills Like White Elephants yet? he asked her.For interior dialogue, italics are appropriate, just be consistent. Do I really love her? he thought.If a quotation extends to more than one paragraph, do not use end quotes at the close of the first paragraph. Use them only when a character is finished speakingand in the end, I didnt even love her.I did think of marrying her, though. Common Mistakes in Dialogue Punctuation Incorrect dialogue punctuation and formatting is common among beginning fiction writers. The most common mistake is the use of quotations outside of the spok en word. Remember Only the words that the person says should be inside the quotation. Here are two more common dialogue mistakes to avoid. Punctuation and Spacing In this example, the exclamation mark should be inside the quotation, as its part of the dialogue IncorrectSurely she has gone mad she said.Correct Surely she has gone mad she said. Commas Between Two Sentences of Dialogue Another way that people incorrectly write dialogue is by putting a comma between two sentences instead of a period. IncorrectI have made up my mind, she said nodding, I do not want to marry him.Correct I have made up my mind, she said, nodding. I do not want to marry him. Remember that two spoken sentences are still two separate sentences and should be separated by a period. More Tips on Using Dialogue Helpful sources to guide you as a fiction writer include Writing Dialogue in Action ScenesHow to Write Realistic DialogueHow Do People Talk in Fiction? Also, review theediting checklistto make sure you have covered other aspects of grammar.

Hired! Size Matters for Medical Marketing Manager

Hired Size Matters for Medical Marketing ManagerHired Size Matters for Medical Marketing ManagerNo industry is recession-proof, but a bigger company might be a better option.No industry is recession-proof, but marketing manager James Kasprzyk reasons that healthcare and medicine are somewhat insulated from the valleys of the overall market.His assumption was shaken in May when he was laid off from a Flagstaff, Ariz., company that manufactures process and testing equipment for medical-device companies. Kasprzyk said was comfortable taking a breather before launching a concerted job search in September.But his job search leads him to believe the size and market position of the employer will affect a companys ability to weather the valleys of a recession mora than the industry and his drehort in Arizona proved to be a boomtown for biotechnology and medical jobs. Kasprzyk is now a senior marketing manager at Ventana Medical Systems a division of healthcare and pharmaceuticals giant Roche Pharmaceuticals.In the current environment, to have that sort of corporate backing, at whatever company, he said, is going to make you feel like you have a much stronger position than at other companies in the industry, where there are a lot of unknowns with layoffs and so on.Since Kasprzyk took the job at Ventana, Roche announced it would add another 350 to 400 positions to the Tucson facility where Kasprzyk works.Seeking securityFrom the beginning, job security guided Kasprzyks career. Kasprzyk graduated from a masters program in International Business at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1995, as the U.S. was coming out of a recession, and layoffs were on his mind. He sought out industries, he said, that could endure tough times.His interest in marketing medical devices combined chance and strategy. While pursuing an internship, Kasprzyk looked for a field that would apply his degree but in industries he identified as secure. He chose medical devices and wound up at the U .S. Export Assistance Center in Chicago. There he worked under a trade associate who focused on the medical-device industry in the upper Midwest and found it rewarding work.Everybody had a passion, he said. The work they were doing was actually making a difference in peoples lives.Arizonas biotech and medical boomKasprzyk was not alone in his search for a protected industry. Arizona, burned in the 1990s by several industries, notably telecom companies, that downsized staff or fled the state, has been pushing industries it considers more stable to sprout roots in Arizona.Through tax incentives, site development and initiatives with local schools, Arizona has built a corridor of biotechnology and medical device businesses in Flagstaff, Phoenix and the Oro Valley, northwest of Tucson.(Arizona has) been consciously trying to attract high-paying jobs that are going to be around for a while, he said. Much of Arizona relies on tourism and retail. So they are really looking to develop a cou ple of different biotech corridors.Kasprzykwas willing to relocate for the right job, but Arizonas campaign to attract a base of biotechnology and medical device businesses and high-paying jobs meant he didnt have to. Arizona was a hot spot for a medical marketing manager to find a job.Kasprzyk began his job search in September. After reviewing job-search sites, he settled on MktgLadder. Kasprzyk received three job offers over a two-week period, but it was the position at Ventana, in Oro Valley, that was most attractive. By the third week of November he had a firm job offer from Ventana, a division of Roche, and a leading maker of machines that automate the process of preparing tissue samples to be tested for krebs and other infectious diseases.Safety in numbersKasprzyk finds comfort in Roches size as an employer, but other factors, including Ventanas niche market and Roches global reach, add to his belief that the company can weather the economic storm better than others.As senior marketing manager, Kasprzyks primary focus is strategic, to define the market for his company, but he also must determine what needs are not being met in hospitals and healthcare facilities in order to help identify requirements for the next generation of products.Right now, he observed, it is by and large very much a slide-and-microscope type of rechenschritt in the pathology lab. The next generation of equipment, he said, will digitize many processes currently handled by these mechanical devices, enhancing long-term tracking in healthcare and making it more efficient.The diagnostic testing market may also prove to be more insulated than other healthcare sectors from the changes in federal regulatory agencies and reimbursement policies that will come with the Obama administration and a new Federal Drug Administration.Roches international presence also adds to Kasprzyks confidence.With Roche in the mix, there is going to be a much greater focus on international markets, he said. I b elieve only about 35 percent to 45 percent of (Ventanas) business is outside of the U.S. currently With Roche backing as well as the Roche network of subsidiary companies around the world, both on the pharma side and the diagnostic side, I think that is going to be a great focus in growing the business, short-term. I think there is a lot of the developed world that has great qualifikation for growth on the diagnostic-equipment side.Kasprzyk said he believes his search for size has served him well but can not work for everyone, especially those hoping to segue into the medical-device industry from a marketing position in another industry.My experience was that the larger companies have such a large pool of applicants that they draw people with very specific experience and education.But the transition can be made. Kasprzyk suggests applicants should focus on mid-tier and start-up companies that can appreciate how such skills can transfer into the medical-device industry.

The Indisputable Reality About Psd Resume Template That Nobody Is Telling You

The Indisputable Reality About Psd Resume vorlage That Nobody Is Telling You Top Psd Resume schablone Secrets The issue with the majority of curriculum vitaes is they are tough to read due to tons of content. For some folks, obtaining a resume sample is simply like a schablone because it may be used as guide for both design and content. If you look at the templates weve listed below, you will discover that they all are similar in the manner your information is prioritized and structured. You might be interested in the following related articles also. You are able to easily include your social websites profile urls too. The Basic Facts of Psd Resume Template The resume template may also be used in case you have a presentation on career related themes. There are in fact a number of layout options which all comply with the exact clean, easy-to-customize style. The plan is still organized and simple to read a terrific instance of balancing creativity with readability. Inside m y mind, decent design gets from the method of the content. The freebie was made by Juskteez Vu. The freebie was made by Andreansyah Setiawan. 267 cover letter templates you may download and print at no cost. As a bonus, you will receive a cover letter template and a ready-to-print small business card. Its very simple and simple to edit or customize the template. Its possible to also seefree resume templates. The template is quite simple to use and editable. The resume template will be published in HTML version. Actually there are various strategies to present your resume to some other job opening. Get exploring and you might be spotting something which you feel is going to earn an effect on your job seeking process. That means you can quickly tailor-make your job resume for any chance and assist you to receive your job. Professionally, our resumes are often the very first impression a possible employer gets of us. The Psd Resume Template Game CV needs to be created t he way in which the recruiter wanted to purchase it. Job hunting can be quite challenging, particularly for creatives and artists just like you. Submit the same resume for each job. Job Resume permits you to create your very own personal brand logo in just a couple of minutes. What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Psd Resume Template By reading sample cover letters you may find a sense of the suitable tone of a cover letter and a template will show you the correct formatting. For instance, the following resume template is the perfect case of the way you can incorporate infographics into your resume on Photoshop. The template is simple to use and has lots of editing alternatives. It is very easy to use and not to mention hosts a wide array of editing options. Finding a work in a superb business is always a challenging job. Moreover, it features a help file that could lead you to create stunning personal identity. Education and skills qualifies an applicant for additional processing but doesnt necessarily mean immediate success. Folks utilize an assortment of resume templates using different sort of design approaches, but ultimately its always likely to come to the simple fact that your resume should convey a very clear message above your skills, your experience, and also why youd be the ideal candidate for the position. Life, Death, and Psd Resume Template In addition, the custom fonts add an extremely nice, original touch to the whole design. With 300dpi CMYK, its prepared to print. It is possible to revise the plan and layout should you want to The plan and layout are thoroughly professional and easy. Youll prevent the interfaces which you do not like. Sales is much like customer service as salespeople can be effective in a variety of industries. With thousands of applications with the employer, it gets really challenging to have a comprehensive view at every one of them and here comes the use of an attractive resume. The resume is des igned in various sections that showcase your private information and techniques. Facts, Fiction and Psd Resume Template Youre able to download the PSD free of charge and permitted to utilize it for your personal or business projects. Resume template psd is among the pictures within the class of Ideas and a lot more images in that category. The template is totally at no cost and prepared to print. Hexagon PSD portfolio template is ideal for personal or company portfolio site. The subsequent two PSD resume templates do precisely that. Even if Adobe Photoshop isnt the perfect tool for building a resume, it has all the tools and characteristics that you must create a resume that will allow you to land the huge job. Big graphic components are used precisely in a manner it doesnt distract the reader from the other important elements of the resume.

The Skills That Got You Here Wont Get You There

The Skills That Got You Here Wont Get You There Do you feel like yure struggling to take your career to the next level?If so, youre not alone. Many of the job seekers I speak to each day are struggling with similar feelings. They have not achieved the things they expected to achieve by now. Theyre making less money than they thought they would. They havent landed that plum promotion theyve had their eye on for years. These job seekers may see peers and friends who are making moraor climbing the corporate ladder faster, which only upsets them further.I recently had the opportunity to speak to Dr. Prasad Kaipa, author ofFrom Smart to Wise. Kaipafocuses on helping professionals ignite the genius within and connect with their noble purpose.One of the things tfhat resonated with me during my discussion with Kaipa was the notion that what got us here wont get us there. Your situation changes over time. Kaipa explained that we are promoted throughout out car eers because of our sets of core strengths. However, as you climb the ladder, different skills are needed to thrive on each rung.Kaipa explained, In time, we need to develop a second capability. We need to be able to develop a second core strength. Now that we are in the current position, even though the current set of skills helped us to get here now that you are a vice president, you need to learn how to become a president.The unfortunate part is, whenever we feel we are not reaching our potential, we use the same set of skills that got us here, harder and more often, Kaipa continued. We dont really reexamine whether the strength that we have that has become our signature strength has become the nail in our foot. I think that kind of a pausing, reexamining, and getting reflection both internally and from other people is what gets us to where we want to go.So, when you feel like you are failing at something, its possible that youve outgrown your old toolkit. Its possible that new strengths are needed and you may not even know what those strengths are yet.If you are struggling to reach your full potential, check out the full interview with Kaipa on the Copeland Coaching Podcast, which you candownload for free on Apple Podcasts.A version of this article originally appeared onCopeland Coaching.Angela Copeland is a career coach and CEO at her firm,Copeland Coaching.