Student Talks
Perceptually Valid Dynamics for Smiles and Blinks
Event Location: GHC 8102Abstract: Human observers are adept at detecting anomalies in realistic computer-generated (CG) facial animations. With an increased demand for CG characters in education and entertainment applications, it is important to animate accurate, realistic facial expressions. In this thesis, we develop a framework to explore representations of two key facial expressions: blinks and [...]
Design and Control of a Flapping Flight Micro Aerial Vehicle
Event Location: NSH 3305Abstract: Miniature flapping flight systems hold great promise in matching the agility of their natural counterparts, bees, flies, and hummingbirds. Characterized by reciprocating wing motion, unsteady aerodynamics, and the ability to hover, insect-like flapping flight presents an interesting locomotion strategy capable of functioning at small size scales and is still a current [...]
Spatial, Temporal and Spatio-temporal Correspondence for Computer Vision Problems
Event Location: GHC 2109Abstract: Many computer vision problems, such as object classification, motion estimation or shape registration rely on solving the correspondence problem. Existing algorithms to solve spatial or temporal correspondence problems are usually NP-hard, difficult to approximate, lack flexible models and mechanism for feature weighting. This proposal addresses the correspondence problem in computer vision, [...]
State Estimation for Humanoid Robots
Event Location: GHC 8102Abstract: This proposal focuses on dynamic model based state estimation for hydraulic humanoid robots. The goal is to produce state estimates that are robust and achieve good performance when combined with the controller. Three issues are addressed in this proposal. 1. How to handle modelling error using state estimation? 2. How to [...]
Dynamic Model Formulation and Calibration for Wheeled Mobile Robots
Event Location: NSH 1507Abstract: Advances in hardware design have made wheeled mobile robot(WMRs) exceptionally mobile. To fully exploit this mobility, WMR planning, control,and estimation systems require motion models that are fast and accurate. Much of the published theory on WMR modeling is limited to 2D or kinematics, but 3D dynamic (or force-driven) models are required [...]
Bayesian Aggregation of Evidence for Detection and Characterization of Patterns in Multiple Noisy Observations
Event Location: NSH 3305Abstract: Effective use of Machine Learning to support extracting maximal information from limited sensor data is one of the important research challenges in robotic sensing. This thesis develops techniques for detecting and characterizing patterns in noisy sensor data. Our Bayesian Aggregation (BA) algorithmic framework can leverage data fusion from multiple low Signal-To-Noise [...]
Factoring Scenes into 3D Structure an Style
Event Location: GHC 4405Abstract: Given a single image of a scene, humans have few issues answering questions about the 3D structure like “is this facing upwards?” even though mathematically speaking this should be impossible. We have similarly have few issues accounting for this 3D structure in answering viewpoint independent questions like “is this the same [...]
Vector Map-Based, Non-Markov Localization for Long-Term Deployment of Autonomous Mobile Robots
Event Location: GHC 4405Abstract: As robots become increasingly available and capable, there has been an increased interest in having robots continue to perform autonomously over time despite changes in their environment. This thesis recognizes the wide variations in the applications and constraints of mobile robot localization in human environments, and proposes a number of localization [...]
Evaluation of Decentralized Reactive Swing-Leg Controllers on Powered Robotic Legs
Event Location: NSH 1507Abstract: We present work to transfer decentralized neuromuscular control strategies of human locomotion to powered segmented robotic legs. State-of-the-art robotic locomotion control approaches, like centralized planning and tracking in fully robotic systems and predefined motion pattern replay in prosthetic systems, do not enable the dynamism and reactiveness of able-bodied humans. Animals largely [...]