Daily Press from Newport News, Virginia • Page 18

effort Daily PressThe Times-Herald, Saturday, June 7, 1986 Rob ot development to space SPACE CENTER. Houston (AP) Engineers are developing talking, thinking robots that eventually may work as astronaut assistants aboard a U.S. space station. Computer scientists already have developed much of the fundamental technology for such machines, "but we have not mastered the fine art of utilizing all of the abilities of the hardware and software," said NASA engineer Robert T. Savely, chairman of a Johnson Space Center conference on robotics.

In an interview at the conference, which ended Friday, Savely said perfecting the tech niques to create an independently operating robot are critical to space exploration and to American industry. "Automate, immigrate or evaporate are the options that face our country today," he said. "We must automate to be competitive with the rest of the world in manufacturing and to accomplish our goals in space utilization." The key to automation, said Savely, is perfecting the technology of artificial intelligence, or machines that think, see and do. Engineers, he said, have now learned to cluster computer functions together to perform complex tasks through a technique called parallel processing. "The evolution of parallel processing technology may well be the most important technology in the history of mankind," said Savely.

"It will make possible the intelligent robot which will be able to perform complicated tasks without human supervision." Most computer uses in the past, he said, have been for single tasks, such as processing numbers, that could be done more rapidly and flawlessly than by the human mind. Savely said that simple human tasks, such as walking," are beyond the single-task cessing of computers. But parallel processing techniques can be used to control each element required to effect a walking The same techniques can be applied to permit a robot to see, speak and perform specific tasks. Boeing Computer Services Co. already is building what Claire Meier of Boeing said is the first step toward an astronaut assistant.

The device, called the flying eye, would be about the size of a football and be powered by six jets that would permit it to fly around the outside an orbiting shuttle or space station. Ms. Meier said the flying eye receives instructions by radioed voice and has a 35-word vocabulary. "We want to expand the language so that the robot could actually answer the astronaut." She said Boeing is developing a computer program that would enable the flying eye to return to specific positions it had "learned" from previous trips. The flying eye, she said, would be able to evaluate instructions and determine immediately, "Hey, I've got enough gas to do that," or to decline the instruction, Ms.

Meier said the flying eye B6 crucial Long necks stretch cash for farmer could be used to inspect the exterior of the craft and thereby save astronauts from risky space walks. Allan C. Holt, a Johnson Space Center engineer, said that mobile robot, perhaps even "humanoids" similar to those featured in movie fantasies, will be essential to the exploration of the moon and of Mars. Mobile robots, said Holt, will be developed to help build and maintain lunar bases and to operate automatic stations on Mars. Holt said engineers believe that it will be technically possible to develop robots that perceive and react.

Give items to Marcos, court rules HONOLULU (AP) A federal judge Friday ordered the U.S. Customs Service to release to former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos $7 million in money, jewelry and other belongings he brought with him to Hawaii. U.S. District! Judge Harold Fong ruled that the Customs Service had no authority to hold the items from the exiled Marcos. Court documents field by the Customs Service in March said Marcos and members of his entourage brought the equivalent of $1.45 million in Philippine pesos into exile with them.

The agency hot seized the goods pursuant to any investigation into potential violations of United States law," the judge said. Still pending is a decision in a separate suit filed against Marcos by the Central Bank of the Philippines on Feb. 28, two days after his arrival here, seeking return of the, money. Fong's ruling concerned the suit seeking release of the property, filed by two Marcos aides who fled with him into exile. Marcos has said the Customs seizure left him and his family virtually penniless and dependent on gifts from friends and supporters.

The former president was "very, very happy" with Fong's ruling, said Arturo Aruiza, a Marcos "He said the decision underscores what he has been saying all along that he believes in American justice," Aruiza said. The decision's impact on Marcos' financial situation remained unclear, however. "We cannot answer that right away. Mr. Marcos is a very cautious lawyer and will want to see the record from the clerk of the court," Aruiza said, referring to Marcos' background as a lawyer.

Horacio Paredes, information officer for the Philippines Con- sulate in Honolulu, refused comment on Fong's decision. 1 DENVER, Iowa (AP) Llamas and ostriches won't be Ithe alternative crop to bail out Jmost of Iowa's troubled farmers, 'but they are helping Bill Rector Iget by on his 1,700 acres. "People ask, 'What are they Jgood Rector said as he gazed out over the pens on his Jfarm about 15 miles north of Waterloo. "They're just my hobby. But now they are making money." Rector paid $1,000 for his Jfirst llama 18 years ago.

Now, a mother and baby with the right Imarkings and hair growth could Jbring $30,000 to $35,000, he said. "If there isn't any of a certain thing and you get into it, you've 'got it made," he said. "Llamas are probably as great an invest-ment as there is." He recently bought four year-Ming males for $1,000 each, planning to hold them for a year and sell them for $8,000 apiece. His buyers are generally people who want the animals for pets. Llamas sales have financed expansion into other animals, he said.

Last summer, Rector sold 'the grand champion female llama at the national llama show in Tecumseh, for $15,000. "These llamas were what got me all the rest of the exotic ani-Jmals. Paid for my fence, my ponds," Rector said. Llama profits helped pay for 5 five red-necked African Messiah ostriches. His ostrich flock is one of only three he knows of in the United States, and the birds can no longer be imported, said.

As if on cue one day, the os- triches waded into a pond for baths. They were joined by an emu, a bird similar to but smaller than the ostriches. They Rector's Canadian snow geese and wild turkeys from the water's edge. Four to five school groups tour his farm each year, and people passing by often stop to look at the animals. "Sometimes, if I have time, I go out and tell them about the llamas," Rector said.

"Sometimes I do even if I don't have the time." Rector, 56, his sons and son-in-law grow corn and soybeans on about 1,000 acres and milk about 300 cows near Denver. He has sold seed for 22 years and sells fertilizer. With a four-wheel-drive truck, he does custom spraying for 50 to 60 farmers. He and the younger men also do combining in the fall. While Rector's farm was not about to close, the exotic animals help him make it through a difficult time for farmers.

Even so, he said, money is not the biggest profit from them. "This is how I get away from the other world," he said. He takes walks among the animals, tending to their needs and checking on their offspring. Rector rides his four-wheeler along the fence, and the ostriches race him. "I like to see them get their wings up and run," he said.

"But my favorites are the llamas." Also in the menagerie are Japanese emperor ducks, white and black swans, a flock of pigeons, which roll over backward in mid-air, Angora goats, pygmy goats, blue geese, wood ducks, canvasback ducks and a dog that is "just a German shepherd." "My wife says I'm an addict," Rector said. "But there a lot worse things." .1 AP photo Rector plays with three of his ostriches his hobby on his farm near Denver, Iowa flapped and splashed, running Area dleaitlhis smol ffmiimepafls Funerals today Funerals will be held today for: ALEXANDER, William T. Sr. 11 a.m. at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Chesapeake.

ATKINS, Albert F. 2 m. at Purviance Funeral Chapel, Wakefield: burial in Tucker Swamp Baptist Church Cemetery, Zuni. Gravel Hill Baptist Church, Cabin Point. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs.

Marion Peterson and Mrs. Marie Harvey both of Brad-dock; three sons, William Jones, Edwin Jones and Olander Jones of Braddock; and fourteen grandchildren. A funeral will be conducted at 5 p.m. Sunday at Gravel Hill Baptist Church by the Rev. John R.

Davis, pastor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be placed in John Elliott Funeral Home, Claremont, from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight. DEATHS ALEXANDER, William T.

Sr. ATKINS, Albert F. CHANDLER, Earl F. COLANDER, Hersey CRUMP, John A. GAGE, Mrs.

Mabel C. GAUTREAUX, Paul D. Jr JOHNSON, Clifton JOHNSON, Zavan Sr. JONES, Danzel L. JONES, Mrs.

Florence KELLY, Mrs. Susan E. LEWIS, Mrs. Eunice J. LONG, Mrs.

Gloria M. McQUADE, John P. MUSSELWHITE, Claude V. POWELL, Mrs. Cora M.

WASHINGTON, Mrs. Elizabeth WEST, John A. WHITE, Russell D. dens Chapel, Highland, burial in Elmwood Cemetery, Hammond, Ind. McQUADE, John P.

11 a.m. at Parklawn' Memorial Park. MUSSELWHITE, Claude V. 2 p.m. at Peninsula Memorial Park.

POWELL, Mrs. Cora M. at Peninsula Memorial Park. WASHINGTON, Mrs. Elizabeth 3 p.m.

at Antioch Baptist Church, Saluda; burial in the church cemetery. WEST, John A. 11 a.m. at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Norfolk. WHITE, Russell D.

2 p.m. in Lower United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hartfield. Miss Susan E. Kelly HAMPTON Miss Susan Elizabeth Kelly, 82, of Lafayette Villa Nursing Home, died Friday in DePaul Hospital, Norfolk. She was born in Hampton.

She was a member of St. Rose jof Lima Catholic Church, Hamp-ton. She attended Madison College and received her masters degree from Columbia University. She taught home economics at Newport News High School for forty years. She also was a volunteer with the American Cross for 20 years.

Survivors include a sister, Marion Malbry of Portsmouth; and a brother, John P. Kelly of Toano. i Funeral arrangements are incomplete. The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to the American Red Cross. R.

Hayden Smith Funeral Home is in charge Mrs. Florence Jones CHANDLER, Earl F. 2:30 p.m. at Colosse Baptist Church Cemetery, King William. COLANDER, Hersey 1 p.m.

at Carver Memorial Park cemetery. CRUMP, John A. noon at Mount Ararat Baptist Church; burial in St. John Baptist Church Cemetery, Penniman Road, York County. GAGE.

Mrs. Mabel C. 2 D.m. Church, Hampton. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs.

Marjorie G. Ballard of Hampton; a son, Robert C. Gage of Hampton; and three grandchildren. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today in R.

Hayden Smith Funeral Home by the Rev. Donald A. Baird, pastor. Burial in Clark Cemetery, Hampton. The family will receive friends at the home of Mrs.

Ballard, 919 Beach Road, Hampton. Zavan Johnson Sr. CHARLES CITY Zavan Johnson 76, of Rte. 3, died Thursday in Cambridge Manor Nursing Home, Richmond. He was born in Charles City.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Cassie B. Johnson; four daughters, Mrs. Jackie Tonsall of San Antonio, Texas, Mrs. Beverly E.

Davis of Charleston, S.C., and Mrs. Alice Waller and Ms. Susie Johnson, both of Richmond; 20 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A funeral will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Gilfield Baptist Church, Charles City, by the Rev.

Robert W. Burial will follow in the DLOODHCDILE COMIMG Monday, June 9 9:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Sponsored by: Chapter House 4915 W. Mercury Blvd.

Hampton Administered by the American Red Cross Hampton Roads Chapter Richmond. A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today in Lower United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hartfield. Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home, Saluda, is in charge. Mrs.

Mabel C. Gage HAMPTON Mrs. Mabel Copeland Gage, 80, of 915 Beach Road, died Thursday in Hampton General Hospital after a short illness. She was born in Fox Hill and had been a lifelong resident of the Fox Hill section. She was a member of Wallace Manorial United Methodist Kussell D.

White LACEY'S SPRING, Ala. Russell D. White 58, of Lacey's Spring, formerly of Hart-field, died Wednesday at his residence. 1 Survivors include a daughter, Miss Shannon White of Danville; two sons. John White of Canada and Joel White of Danville; his mother, Mrs.

Evelyn C. Maitland of Petersburg; four sisters, Mrs. Juanita Fisher of Petersburg and Mrs. Joan Tul-loh, Mrs. Shirley Higdon and Mrs.

Virginia Cocke, all of Richmond; and two brothers, Macey White and Virgil White, boih if at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home; burial in Clark Cemetery, Hampton. GAUTREAUX, Paul D. Jr. 2 m.

at Lynnhaven United Methodist Church, Virginia Beach. JOHNSON, Clifton 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Mathews; burial in the church cemetery. JONES, Danzel L. 2 p.m.

at St. John's Baptist Church cemetery, Toano. LEWIS, Mrs. Eunice J. 11 a.m.

at M. J. Blowe Memorial Chapel, Crocker Funeral Home. LONG, Mrs. Gloria M.

10 a m. at Fagan-Miller Funeral Gar i CLAREMONT Mrs. Flor-ence 'Nixie' Jones, 71, died Tuesday in Braddock, Pa. She was born in Prince George County. She was a former membeiof church cemetery.

The body will be placed in the church at 12:30 p.m. J. Leroy Charity Funeral Home, Charles City, is in charge. A Wiy Vemoe' Agency.