Colloquia
Interactive Robots and Systems
Professor François Michaud
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering
Université de Sherbrooke
Wednesday March 20th, 2013
Abstract: Mobile robotics is one of the best examples of systems engineering: it requires the integration of sensors, actuators, energy sources, embedded computing, decision algorithms in a common structure, working in the real world. Only technologies and methodologies that work with the constraints of such integration can be useful, and so integration directly influences scientific considerations associated with the intelligent behavior of such systems. It is therefore important to address such challenges by developing innovative solutions and validating them in real world field experiences. This presentation addresses an overview of interactive robots and systems developed at IntRoLab, Université de Sherbrooke, ranging from compliant actuators, direct physical interfaces, artificial audition, augmented reality telepresence interfaces, vision-based SLAM, natural human-robot interaction, telerehabilitation and telehealth applications.
François Michaud is a Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering of the Université de Sherbrooke. He is the Director of IntRoLab, a research laboratory on mobile robotics and intelligent systems working on mechatronics and developing AI methodologies for the design of intelligent autonomous systems that can assist humans in everyday uses. His research interests are architectural methodologies for intelligent decision-making, autonomous mobile robots, social robotics, robot learning and intelligent systems. He held the Canada Research Chair in Autonomous Mobile Robots and Intelligent Systems from 2001 to 2011. He is also the Director of the Interdisciplinary Institute for Technological Innovation (3IT), an interdisciplinary research center working on important application ranging from design to exploitation of information technology (integrating devices, telecommunications, and processing towards applications). In addition, he was involved in a major engineering educational reform based on problem-based and project-based learning, mainly by developing a mobile robotic platform for introducing EECE and design to freshmen students, a robotic module and senior design project activities. He received his bachelor’s degree (1992), Master’s degree (1993) and Ph.D. degree (1996) in Electrical Engineering from the Université de Sherbrooke. He then spent one year as a postdoctoral researcher at the Interaction Lab (Brandeis University, USA), before going back to Sherbrooke.
Coordinated Autonomy for Mobile Fulfillment: The Kiva Systems Solution
Andrew Tinka
Research Scientist
Kiva Systems
Tuesday March 12th, 2013
Abstract: Kiva Systems develops complete mobile robotics systems for material handling automation in warehouses and fulfillment centers. A fleet of mobile drive units moves modular shelving pods around the warehouse floor, allowing human operators to stand in place while the inventory they need comes to them. The Kiva solution offers improved productivity, quality, robustness, and flexibility over incumbent technologies. Customers using Kiva Systems' technology include Staples, Walgreens, and The Gap; more recently, Kiva Systems was acquired by Amazon. Andrew Tinka is a member of Kiva's Research and Advanced Development group. His presentation will give an overview of the Kiva solution, particularly from the perspective of the research group. The core planning challenges will be described as a set of coupled resource allocation problems. The role of research in a growing, disruptive company will be discussed.
Andrew Tinka received his Ph.D. in 2012 in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at U.C. Berkeley. His doctoral research focused on the development of a fleet of mobile floating robots for environmental sensing applications. His previous engineering experience includes building UAV fleets at UC Berkeley and developing embedded control systems at Powis Parker, Inc. He is currently a Research Scientist at Kiva Systems. His research interests include multivehicle control, decentralized planning, and robotics for unstructured environments.
Development of the MEMS Tactile Sensor for Haptic Interface in our Life
Haruo Noma
Senior Researcher
Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute, Kyoto, Japan
Tuesday February 26th, 2013
Abstract: We have fine mechanical sensing units in our skin. We can sense the material properties of objects by touching, and we can put a key into a lock without watching carefully. Without tactile sensation, it is very difficult to handle an object dexterously. Most robots developed until now do not have human-like tactile sensing on their hands or bodies. What is human-like tactile sensation? I think our tactile sensing consists of fine and micro mechanical sensing units and neural information processing. In this presentation, I will introduce our MEMS macro tactile sensor, and some applications using the sensor in our research development. We aim to place the sensor into many locations in our daily life in the future.
Haruo Noma was a Senior Researcher at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute (ATR) in Kyoto, Japan for the past 19 years. He recently accepted a position as Professor of Computer Science at Ritsumekan University in Shiga, Japan. His research is focused on virtual reality, especially haptic (touch) feedback, robotics, tactile sensing, wearable sensors, sensor networks, and applications using these technologies. He is a member of IEEE and Senior Member of ACM.
Robots Getting Better, Every Day and In Every Way
Dr. Dan Grollman
Vecna Technologies
Tuesday February 12th, 2013
Abstract: Robots are slowly becoming a commodity item. No longer restricted to heavily engineered, industrial settings, they are migrating into everyday locations, and interacting with everyday people. But as the amount of previous training that can be expected of the end-user decreases, it is vital that all aspects of the robot become easier to operate and adapt to new and unanticipated environments and uses. In this talk I will review some of my work in robot learning from demonstration, which aims at letting users implicitly program a robot to perform a desired task, even if they cannot explicitly describe the task, or even perform it perfectly themselves. Placed in a larger context, I will discuss ideas and needed research for incorporating these techniques into commercial robots, such that they can continually and autonomously improve themselves and their working relationships with humans during operation.
Dan Grollman is a Robot Doctor at Vecna technologies. He completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at Brown University in 2009, and did his postdoctoral work at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne until 2011. Recognized as a "Young Pioneer" in Human-Robot Interaction in 2007/2008, Dan's work in learning from failure won him and his advisor Aude Billard a "Best Cognitive Robotics" paper at ICRA 2011. At Vecna, Dan leads the Robotics Usability group, focused on improving the ease with which humans and robots can work together.
Perception R&D for Unmanned Systems at iRobot
Dr. Christopher Geyer
Senior Principal Research Scientist
iRobot Corporation
Tuesday January 15th, 2013
Abstract: The ability to effectively perceive the world is key to virtually all robots. Perception enables autonomy, and can be used to make interaction between robot and people more natural. For some time, however, a lack of effective and embeddable perception algorithms has been an obstacle to autonomous, people-friendly robots. Recently, though, there has been a convergence of both increased computational performance and more reliable algorithms that are enabling “smarter” robotic behaviors and more natural modes of interaction. In this presentation, I will talk research at iRobot in computer vision and perception, and their applications to problems in unmanned systems. I will discuss joint work with UC Berkeley and Brown University to develop a real-time object recognition capability, as well as work in activity recognition with Colorado State University.
Dr. Geyer is a Senior Principal Research Scientist at iRobot Corporation. He joined iRobot in 2008, coming from Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, where he participated in the DARPA Urban Challenge and conducted research in perception for unmanned systems. Dr. Geyer started his career in robotics in the GRASP Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, where he received his B.S.E. and Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1999 and 2002, respectively, and was a post-doc at U.C. Berkeley, where he lead the development of an autonomous landing capability for an unmanned helicopter.
Why Is Dynamic Robotic Simulation So Bad, And When Will It Get Better?
Dr. Evan Drumwright, PhD. Assistant Professor,
Computer Science Department
The George Washington University
Wednesday December 5th, 2012
Abstract: Dynamic robotic simulation will eventually accelerate robotics research dramatically through effective validation, super-fast learning, and lowered barriers to research participation. However, the difficulty of effectively simulating robots performing tasks that entail physical interaction is currently on par with programming robots situated in real environments. Participants in DARPA's Robotics Challenge are in fact now experiencing significant simulation-related problems. I'll describe why the vision described above has been so hard to achieve, and I'll show recent research from the GWU Positronics Lab toward meeting it.
Evan Drumwright is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at George Washington University. He has been a visiting researcher at Honda Research Institute USA and visiting faculty at the University of Memphis.
His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation and Willow Garage.
Robotics in Minimally Invasive Surgery: Planning, Training and Intervention
Dr. Andrew H. Gosline
Post Doctoral Research Fellow,
Pediatric Cardiac Bioengineering, Children's Hospital Boston
Harvard Medical School
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Abstract: Robotic technology in medical practice has experienced vast progress in recent years. The move to minimally invasive procedures that offer faster recovery times, minimized infection risk, and smaller incisions means that clinicians interact with tissues and deliver therapies using long, slender tools that both reduce the available visual information and interfere with accurate tactile perception at the surgical site. Robotic technology has helped clinicians overcome these limitations in training and intervention scenarios.
In this talk he will provide examples of how straightforward technological advances can have a positive effect in medical practice. For example, the use of eddy current brakes in conjunction with DC motors can provide a hybrid haptic interface that is ideal for surgical simulation and training of physicians.
Dr. Gosline received his B.Sc from Queen's University in Mechanical Engineering, his M.A.Sc from the University of British Columbia in Electrical Engineering, and his Ph.D in Electrical Engineering from McGill University. Prior to joining Children's Hospital Boston, he was a member of Immersion Corporation's research team, in Montreal, QC. His research interests include medical robotics, haptics, applied control, simulation, virtual reality, and mechatronics.
A New Class of Industrial Robot (Introduction to Baxter)
Rethink Robotics
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Abstract and Agenda:
- Overview of Baxter's hardware including sensors and Series Elastic Actuators.
- Our use of ROS for production Robot and development (Robot Operating System).
- Perception which includes vision services.
- UX/UI Development process overview.
- Business Model and keeping Baxter's costs low.
Rethink Robotics was founded in 2008 by robotics pioneer Rodney Brooks. Rod was a co-founder of iRobot © (Nasdaq: IRBT) and held positions there including CTO, Chairman and board member from 1990 through 2011.
From 1984 through 2010, Rod was on the faculty of MIT as the Panasonic Professor of Robotics, and was the director of MIT CSAIL, the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. While at MIT, Rod developed the behavior-based approach to robotics that underlies the robots of both iRobot and Rethink Robotics.
Now, as Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Rethink Robotics, Rod is devoted to his mission of creating smarter, more adaptable, low-cost robotic solutions that can help manufacturers to improve efficiency, increase productivity and reduce their need for offshoring.
