PhD Thesis Defense
Hatem Alismail
Carnegie Mellon University

Direct Pose Estimation and Refinement

Event Location: NSH 1305Abstract: We study a fundamental question in pose estimation from vision-only video data: should the pose of a camera be determined from fixed and known correspondences? Or should correspondences be simultaneously estimated alongside the pose? Determining pose from fixed correspondences is known as feature-based, where well-established tools from projective geometry are utilized [...]

PhD Thesis Proposal
Vishnu R. Desaraju
Carnegie Mellon University

Safe, Efficient, and Robust Predictive Control of Constrained Nonlinear Systems

Event Location: NSH 1305Abstract: As autonomous systems are deployed in increasingly complex and uncertain environments, safe, accurate, and robust feedback control techniques are required to ensure reliable operation. Accurate trajectory tracking is essential to complete a variety of tasks, but this may be difficult if the system’s dynamics change online, e.g., due to environmental effects [...]

PhD Thesis Defense
Samantha Horvath
Carnegie Mellon University

The Optical Coherence Tomography Microsurgical Augmented Reality System (OCT-MARS): a novel device for microsurgeries

Event Location: NSH 3305Abstract: We describe the development and testing of the Optical Coherence Tomography Microsurgical Augmented Reality System (OCT-MARS). This system allows surgeons to view real-time medical image data as an in-situ overlay within the surgical field. There are a number of clinical applications for which real time, in situ visualization of otherwise transparent [...]

PhD Thesis Defense
Heather Knight
Carnegie Mellon University

Expressive Motion for Low Degree-of-Freedom Robots


Event Location: GHC 4405Abstract: As social and collaborative robots move into everyday life, the need for algorithms enabling their acceptance becomes critical. People parse non-verbal communications intuitively, even from machines that do not look like people, thus, expressive motion is a natural and efficient way to communicate with people. This work presents a computational Expressive [...]

VASC Seminar
Hyun Soo Park
Assistant Professor, the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota

Understanding Social and Physical Interactions from First Person Cameras

Event Location: Newell Simon Hall 1507Bio: Hyun Soo Park is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the University of Minnesota. He is interested in understanding human visual sensorimotor behaviors from first person cameras. Prior to the UMN, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow working with Jianbo Shi at University of Pennsylvania. [...]

VASC Seminar
Tovi Grossman
Distinguished Research Scientist
Autodesk

Instrumented and Connected: Designing Next-Generation Learning Experiences

Event Location: Newell Simon Hall 1507Bio: Tovi Grossman is a Distinguished Research Scientist at Autodesk Research, located in downtown Toronto. Dr. Grossman’s research is in HCI, focusing on input and interaction with new technologies. In particular, he has been exploring how emerging technologies, such as wearables, the Internet of Things, and gamification can be leveraged [...]

PhD Thesis Proposal
Laura Herlant
Carnegie Mellon University

Algorithms, Implementation, and Studies on Eating with a Shared Control Robot Arm

Event Location: NSH 1305Abstract: People with upper extremity disabilities are gaining increased independence through the use of assisted devices such as wheelchair-mounted robotic arms. However, the increased capability and dexterity of these robotic arms also makes them challenging to control through accessible interfaces like joysticks, sip-and-puff, and buttons that are lower-dimensional than the control space [...]

PhD Thesis Defense
Christopher M. Dellin
Carnegie Mellon University

Completing Manipulation Tasks Efficiently in Complex Environments

Event Location: NSH 3305Abstract: An effective autonomous robot performing dangerous or menial tasks will need to act under significant time and energy constraints. At task time, the amount of effort a robot spends planning its motion directly detracts from its total performance. Manipulation tasks, however, present challenges to efficient motion planning. Tightly coupled steps (e.g. [...]

RI Seminar
Boris Sofman
Co-Founder, CEO
Anki

The Journey to Consumer Robotics

Event Location: GHC 6115Bio: Boris is co-founder and CEO of Anki, an artificial intelligence and robotics company focused on using these technologies to reinvent everyday consumer experiences. With an initial focus on entertainment, Anki's first product line, Overdrive, is a battle-racing game that allowed a level of physical gameplay and interaction previously not possible outside [...]