Event Location: NSH 1305
Bio: Vladimir Ermakov has a diverse industry background, having worked on projects ranging from web-based application design for Netscape and WebMetrics, to working on various embedded systems such as an in-flight entertainment system and an electronic trainer for boxing at X-Digital Systems. For the last five years Vladimir was the principal engineer at Neato Robotics responsible for high level intelligence of their first product, a robotic vacuum cleaner capable of full SLAM using a laser range finder that is sold at a price point affordable to an average consumer. Vladimir Ermakov received a B.S. in Computer Science from University of California, San Diego, and is planning on starting the Masters in Robotics program at Carnegie Mellon this Fall.

Abstract: Neato Robotics will soon be releasing their robotic vacuum cleaner, XV-11, nominated by Popular Science as the product of the future and voted as one of the top-ten products shown at CES. The principal software engineer responsible for the product’s high level intelligence will be giving a technical presentation on the inner workings of this system. He will discuss the revolutionary low-cost laser range finder developed by the company that makes this product possible. He will also share some insights about the algorithms involved in making the first consumer product capable of laser based simultaneous localization and mapping, path planning, and obstacle avoidance. Several demos will be shown.