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LookAhead Decisions Applies Robotics Control Technology to Decision-Making in Video Games and AnimationDAVIS, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Sept. 6, 2005 -- LookAhead Decisions Incorporated (LDI), the provider of intelligent decision making software for robotics, logistics, manufacturing, and networks, today announced a new release of its breakthrough software product for video games and animation. The new product, Locust(TM), uses proprietary simulation-based look-ahead methods similar to those used by world-championship chess programs, except it handles in real-time aspects such as uncertainty, complex time/cost tradeoffs, and dozens of parallel decision-makers. Unlike standard rule-based approaches, which are expensive to develop and maintain and often result in poor performance and unstable code, Locust reduces the cost of adding Artificial Intelligence (AI) to a game 10-fold while resulting in completely stable code and behavior that is more intelligent. During actual game play, Locust rapidly responds to unexpected real-time events and anticipates and avoids future problems such as congestion and enemy threats and anticipates and exploits future opportunities such as energy recharging and weapons gathering. "For the end user, imagine multiple characters finding efficient paths to their destination without colliding with each other; imagine characters teaming together to efficiently search through a set of rooms; imagine intelligent assistants that can suggest which weapon to fire and what direction to move," said Dr Armand Prieditis, CEO and Founder of LookAhead Decisions and Locust Games. "Imagine being able to purchase a game add-on that can turbo-charge the intelligence of all game characters to increase enjoyment and immersion." "For the game developer, your AI development nightmares are over," Prieditis continued, "no more patching broken rules, no more spaghetti code, and no more late delivery of a buggy product with poor performance." "For the animator, imagine being able to instantly generate natural-looking motion across any terrain for any jointed character without expensive key-framing or motion capture." "Locust does all these in one package with an easy-to-use interface," concluded Prieditis. Previously, LDI received a grant award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Advanced Technology Program (ATP) and startup funding from Siemens Technology-to-Business (TTB) Center to develop a real-time intelligent decision making system for robotics, logistics, and manufacturing. Deployments in these areas have provided up to 83% performance gain while massively reducing development costs. According to Jack Boudreaux of NIST, "we expect that (LDI's software) will continue to help organizations in increasing their customer satisfaction while reducing their costs and delivery times." LDI has ported this award-winning robotics software to games and animation in the form of a new software package called Locust, which is described on their website www.locustpower.com. About LookAhead Decisions Founded in 2001, LookAhead Decisions (LDI) is a leading provider of intelligent decision making software for design as well as real-time applications. The U.S. Government has recognized LDI's revolutionary technology through a $2 Million advanced technology program award from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. LDI's patent-pending award-winning general-purpose technology, Oasys, has already been customized for applications in materials handling, manufacturing, project scheduling, electronic games, and health care. For more information about LDI, please visit the company website at www.LookAheadDecisions.com; for more information about Locust, please visit the company website at www.locustpower.com. About NIST's ATP The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) bridges the gap between the research lab and the marketplace, stimulating prosperity through innovation. Through partnerships with the private sector, ATP's early stage investment is accelerating the development of innovative technologies that promise significant commercial payoffs and widespread benefits for the nation. As part of the highly regarded National Institute of Standards and Technology, the ATP is changing the way industry approaches R&D, providing a mechanism for industry to extend its technological reach and push the envelope of what can be attempted. In sharing the relatively high development risks of promising early stage technologies, the ATP fosters projects with a high payoff for the nation as a whole -- in addition to a direct return to the innovators. ATP awards are selected through open, peer-reviewed, competitions. For further information, see NIST's ATP web site at http://www.atp.nist.gov. About Siemens Technology-To-Business Center Siemens Technology-To-Business Center LLC, a subsidiary of Siemens Corporate Research located in Berkeley, California, identifies and develops disruptive technologies through partnerships with universities and entrepreneurs, converting those enterprises into viable Siemens businesses or independent start-up companies. Siemens Technology to Business Center is part of a greater network at Siemens whose mission is to drive technological innovation by supporting start-up companies. In addition to Siemens Technology to Business, also Siemens Technology Accelerator, Siemens Acceleration in Communications and Siemens Venture Capital contribute to the innovation strategy of Siemens. Their individual mandates are defined according to financing stages and industry focus. More: www.ttb.siemens.com. About Siemens Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $91.5 billion in fiscal 2004. Founded more than 155 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas of Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City, Siemens in the USA has sales of $16.6 billion and employs 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Thirteen of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States. With its global headquarters in Munich, Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 440,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com. Siemens is a registered trademark. All other company, brand, product, and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. |
