Sebastian Thrun (born May 14, 1967) is an educator, programmer, robotics developer and computer scientist from Germany. He is CEO and cofounder of Udacity, an institution he cofounded with David Stavens and Mike Sokolsky. He was a Google VP and Fellow, and a Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University. He is currently also an Adjunct Professor at Georgia Tech.
Thrun led development of the robotic vehicle Stanley which won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, and which has since been placed on exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. His team also developed a vehicle called Junior, which placed second at the DARPA Grand Challenge (2007). Thrun led the development of the Google self-driving car.
Thrun is also known for his work on probabilistic algorithms for robotics with applications including robotic mapping. In recognition of his contributions, and at age 39, Thrun was elected into the National Academy of Engineering and also into the Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 2007. In 2011, Thrun received the Max-Planck-Research Award. and the inaugural AAAI Ed Feigenbaum Prize. Fast Company selected Thrun as the fifth most creative person in business in the world.The Guardian recognized Thrun as one of 20 "fighters for internet freedom".
Helheim
[Den dimholjda]
[Hel, the goddess of death is also the goddess of fulfilment. Her name means both "hole" and "whole" and she governs not only death but also the process of birth and rebirth. Hel was hurled down to the world of ice in the beginning of time and there she created nine dark worlds. The bright god Balder and the power of the sun descend into her misty realm, but in the future Balder will be reborn and rise from the womb of Hel like the sun in the springtime.]
Heldrasil, O Heldrasil
Den dimhöljda gudinnan Hel
i nio världar styr.
På Gjallarbron, i älven Gjöll
de döda söker Dig.
Allt för många inför Dig förtvivla,
O stora gudinna i Hel,
Ditt sköte är moder till tiden
hos Dig tager döden sin del.
Se nornorna spinna vår tråd,
vårt öde styra de
Till Gnipahålan går vår färd
likt Balder då vi dö.
Vi till Helheim likt Hermod ska resa
hos Döden vi finna vårt guld,
när Balder en gång kommer ålter
från Utrid, Verdandi och Skuld.
När Helgrinden ska öppna sig
då stiger solen upp
nu återfödd ur vinterns djup
tillsammans med Höder.
Som en skugga fanns Loke hos Höder
när Balder blev dödad med list.
och alla försvann ner till Helheim
med Misteltens magiska kvist.
Se Helgrinden som öppnar sig
och guden stiger upp
nu återfödd ur vinterns djup
med solen som sitt svärd.
Den fördolda gudinnan i Helheim
bedriver med livet sitt spel.
Ditt sköte är moder till tiden
O stora gudinna i Hel!
[English translation:]
In Nine Worlds to reign
O magnific Godess Hel
On Gjallarbron, Above the (river) Gjoll
They want you.
To fast You fall into despair
O magnific Godess Hel
With Your Womb you'r the Mother of times
and the death is part of you
To Gnipahalan we will follow our jorney
we'll see the norns making our line
our destiny their guide
(and) just like Balder we will die
Like Hermod we'll ride to Helheim
and dead, we'll find our Gold,
When come back again
From Urtid, Verdandi and Skuld
When is open the gates of hel
the sun rise
Reborning from the deep winter,
With Höder
When Balder was killed on the trap
of loki, like a shadow, guiding Höder,
he vanished like everyone in Helheim
by the Mistletoe's magic spear
The God Rises
Behold the opening gates of hel,
Reborning from the deep winter
Hiden Godness of Helheim
He posses the Sun as a Sword,
Play Your game With the life
With Your Womb you'r the Mother of times