Event Location: GHC 6115
Bio: Sarjoun graduated from the RI PhD program in 2007 and went on to found Bossa Nova Robotics, with a mission to put robots in people’s lives. Bossa Nova designed, built and commercialized half a million robot toys, and is currently developing service applications for CMU’s Ballbot.Sarjoun leads the development of Bossa Nova’s technology and products. He has over 15 years of hands-on experience in robotics, including two years spent at the factory in China building products on small budget, high quality, and at scale. Sarjoun holds a PhD and a Masters in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut. He is the recipient of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Western Pennsylvania (2011), the FEA Distinguished Young Alumni (2011) and the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Top 50 in Tech (2009).

Abstract: Robots are finding their way to war theaters, agricultural fields, construction zones, medical centers, news scenes, and living rooms, to name a few applications. With growing capabilities, robots are increasingly called upon to live and work among people, operating in complete autonomy over extended periods of time, all while solving complex problems. Enough concerns about safety, reliability, liability and performance to give even the best among us roboticists cold sweats and sleepless nights! This talk provides insights from Bossa Nova Robotics’ efforts at putting robots at work in public spaces, and offers a sneak peek at a fascinating robot application under development.