Event Location: Carnegie Mellon Main Campus

Abstract: The Robotics Institute will celebrate the fourth annual National Robotics Week on April 18 & 19 with lectures, project demonstrations, the annual Mobot (mobile robot) races and a reception for RI affiliated people.

April 18
12:00 p.m.: Teruko Yata Memorial Lecture in Robotics
Location: Rashid Auditorium, 4401 Gates and Hillman Centers
Author Booksigning to follow lecture!
Pre-registration is required.

Speaker: Daniel H. Wilson , New York Times Bestselling Author and Roboticist
Title: Sci-fi Destroys the Future, Science Builds It

Abstract: Science fiction has long had a strong influence on real-world research and development, shaping the look and behavior of new inventions. But, so too have new advances worked to shape authors’ sci-fi imaginings. From dystopia to utopia to boring old reality, how does the exchange of ideas between Hollywood and academia help prepare humankind for the disruptive changes that accompany brave new worlds of technology?

Bio: Daniel H. Wilson is the New York Times bestselling author of the techno-thriller Robopocalypse, as well as titles such as How to Survive a Robot Uprising, A Boy and His Bot, and Amped. Wilson earned a Ph.D. in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University. He has published over a dozen scientific papers, holds four patents, and has written eight books. Five of his books have been optioned for film, with Robopocalypse (Doubleday, 2011) in development to be the next film directed by Steven Spielberg. In 2008, Wilson hosted his own TV series, The Works, which aired on the History Channel in the United States and internationally. He lives and writes in Portland, Oregon.

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Teruko Yata was a postdoctoral fellow in the Robotics Institute from 2000 until her untimely death in 2002. After graduating from the University of Tsukuba, working under the guidance of Prof. Yuta, she came to the United States. At Carnegie Mellon, she served as a post-doctoral fellow in the Robotics Institute for three years, under Chuck Thorpe. Teruko’s accomplishments in the field of ultrasonic sensing were highly regarded and won her the Best Student Paper Award at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation in 1999. It was frequently noted, and we always remember, that “the quality of her work was exceeded only by her kindness and thoughtfulness as a friend.” Join us in paying tribute to our extraordinary colleague and friend through this most unique and exciting lecture.

A School of Computer Science Distinguished Lecture
in conjunction with CMU Pugwash

April 19
12:00 – 4:00 pm: ROBOTICS INSTITUTE LAB TOURS AND DEMONSTRATIONS
Pre-registration is required.

Lab Tours will include:
CoBots : The Collaborative Robots
CMDragons : Small Size Soccer Playing Robots
Autonomous Flight Demo

PRL Demos will include:
Romibo
Robotic Airboats
Riverine Aerial Vehicle
Snake Robots
and more!

12:00 noon – 2:00 pm: MOBOT RACES
Location: Walkway outside of Wean Hall
Open to the public

3:00 – 4:00 pm: THE 15th GATE: MOBOT AWARD CEREMONY and WRAP-UP
Location: Rashid Auditorium – Gates & Hillman 4401 – 3:00 pm

4:00 – 6:00 pm: 
ROBOT RECEPTION
Location: Planetary Robotics Lab Highbay – 1st floor, Gates and Hillman Centers
Pre-registration is required.

If you have any specific questions about the National Robotics Week open
house please email Debbie Tobin at dmz@cs.cmu.edu.