This paper presents a novel data-driven approach to vehicle motion planning and control in off-road driving scenarios. For autonomous off-road driving, environmental conditions impact terrain traversability as a function of weather, surface composition, and slope. Geographical information system (GIS) and National Centers for Environmental Information datasets are processed to provide this information for interactive planning and control system elements. A top-level global route planner (GRP) defines optimal waypoints using dynamic programming (DP). A local path planner (LPP) computes a desired trajectory between waypoints such that infeasible control states and collisions with obstacles are avoided. The LPP also updates the GRP with real-time sensing and control data. A low-level feedback controller applies feedback linearization to asymptotically track the specified LPP trajectory. Autonomous driving simulation results are presented for traversal of terrains in Oregon and Indiana case studies.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Remember when Amazon mostly just sold books? Since its founding in 1994, the sprawling online marketplace has ballooned into one of the most powerful companies in the world. Now Amazon offers batteries, clothes, milk and eggs, hosting for your website, streaming movies--and now real-time facial recognition powers for police surveillance. In November 2016, Amazon released a new service called Rekognition, which can "process millions of photos a day" to identify people and objects in the images.

If someone were to provide you with an oracle to tell you the future, where would you use it first? A common answer is to predict moves in the stock market. The new revolution in artificial intelligence promises to hand everyone an oracle, whether for investing or another decision. No wonder that Wall Street is moving quickly to embrace AI and competing heavily for machine-learning talent that can produce the new oracles: There recently were 831 listings on LinkedIn for jobs at Goldman Sachs alone that required sophisticated computer-programming or data science skills. But just as Tesla's TSLA, 1.48% Elon Musk recently claimed that the use of robots in auto assembly had gone too far and that humans needed to be brought back, the same is likely true for AI on Wall Street and its disappearing trading jobs.

Will you and your coworkers be replaced by robots? The answer to this question and more can be found in Darrell West's new book, "The Future of Work: Robotics, AI, and Automation." As innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and other technology bring us virtual assistants, wearable health tech, autonomous vehicles, and more, many industries are transforming rapidly. While these new technologies have brought unimaginable benefits, they also are disrupting many industries and changing the structure of the workforce. To prepare for these changes, it is important that society rethink what constitutes work and begin to prepare people for a world of dislocation.

EA and DICE pulled the curtain off of Battlefield 5 today, bringing the large-scale shooter back to World War 2 after its successful foray into World War 1. It looks, from what we've seen so far, like classic Battlefield with some new twists and the promise of continuing stories told over the course of several months, something made possible by the fact that the game will have no paid maps/modes. Unlike most World War 2 games, the developer wants to place the focus on some of the less well-known battles of the conflict -- most of what we saw today looked European, but there would always be room for the Pacific theater later. The most interesting part of the reveal was probably the new Combined Arms mode, a cooperative mode that places the player in a squad of 4 and complete various tasks before extracting: from what it sounds like, there's a risk/reward mechanic about whether to press on or extract, something that sounds a little like The Division's Dark Zone. There was a rumor that Battlefield 5 would have a battle royale mode to match Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, not to mention Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. That rumor turns out to be true and not true. If players manage to fight to a stalemate in the Grand Operations mode, it will trigger a final, fourth round called Final Stand, where resources are running low and soldiers are left with one clip, fighting until "the last man standing," in the words of the developer.

Human biology is full of surprises -- especially for drug makers. Viagra wasn't designed for erectile dysfunction. Both drugs were meant to treat cardiovascular issues (as sildenafil and minoxidil, respectively), until patients reported their sexual and follicular side effects. When his son was diagnosed with an ultra-rare disease, computer scientist Matt Might, Ph.D., kicked off a search for answers. His quest led to partnerships with researchers across the country, a White House appointment, a faculty position at Harvard, and a profile in the New Yorker.

The Government has set out an ambition for data and artificial intelligence to help diagnose cancer at a much earlier stage for at least 50,000 people per year within the next 15 years. Prime Minister Theresa May (pictured) outlined this as a step in the AI and Data Grand Challenge – one of four in the Government's Industrial Strategy – in a speech yesterday on national ambitions in science and technology. It had already identified diagnosing medical conditions as the first challenge for the technology, and May's speech has now set the more specific target for cancer. She said that combined with treatment from the NHS it could mean that 22,000 fewer people will die within five years of their diagnosis compared to today. "We will work with industry and the medical research community to announce specific ambitions in a range of other disease areas over the coming weeks and months," she said.

Civil rights groups are demanding that Amazon stop selling the software tool, called Rekognition, to police and other government entities because they think it will unfairly target people. A link has been sent to your friend's email address. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Civil rights groups are demanding that Amazon stop selling the software tool, called Rekognition, to police and other government entities because they think it will unfairly target people.

"We've made the tough call to wind down operations in Phoenix," said Mr. Meyhofer in the email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. "This is the best path forward as we work to get back on the road as soon as possible." A spokesman confirmed the memo and said about 300 test drivers are affected in Arizona, which has grown to become Uber's largest testing ground. The company plans to continue with its autonomous-car programs in San Francisco, Toronto and Pittsburgh. Uber voluntarily suspended testing of its vehicles on public roads in all of these cities immediately after the Arizona crash.

The Royal College Hospital London (UCLH) plans to use artificial intelligence to support clinical decision-making, replacing doctors and nurses in certain situations. The hospital will work alongside The Alan Turing Institute, a government-funded data science research hub, to look at ways to make NHS services quicker, safer and more efficient, announcing a three-year partnership. One area they will focus on is A&E, which is seen as a barometer of how the rest of the hospital and the wider system is working. It is hoped the technology can help the hospital achieve the national average waiting times of four hours, which it is currently not meeting. "Imagine a scenario where patients present to A&E with abdominal pain. Our standard response is to check bloods, order X-rays or scans and in probably about 80% of cases, discharge for home management," said Professor Marcel Levi, UCLH chief executive.