PhD Thesis Defense
Robotics Institute,
Carnegie Mellon University

Learning with Clusters

GHC 8102

Abstract: Clustering, the problem of grouping similar data, has been extensively studied since at least the 1950's. As machine learning becomes more prominent, clustering has evolved from primarily a data analysis tool into an integrated component of complex robotic and machine learning systems, including those involving dimensionality reduction, anomaly detection, network analysis, image segmentation and [...]

PhD Thesis Proposal
Robotics Institute,
Carnegie Mellon University

Spatiotemporal Understanding of People Using Scenes, Objects, and Poses

NSH 1305

Abstract: Humans are arguably one of the most important entities that AI systems would need to understand to be useful and ubiquitous. From autonomous cars observing pedestrians to assistive robots helping the elderly, a large part of this understanding is focused on recognizing human actions, and potentially, their intentions. Humans themselves are quite good at [...]

Faculty Candidate
Systems Scientist
Robotics Institute,
Carnegie Mellon University

Faster, Safer, Smaller: The future of autonomy needs all three

Gates-Hillman Center 8102

Abstract In this talk I will start with state estimation as my PhD work. Very often, state estimation plays a crucial role in a robotic system serving as a building block for autonomy. Challenges are to carry out state estimation in 6-DOF, in real-time at high frequencies, with high precision, robust to aggressive motion and [...]

PhD Thesis Defense
Robotics Institute,
Carnegie Mellon University

Sensing, Measuring, and Modeling Social Signals in Nonverbal Communication

GHC 4405

Abstract: Humans convey their thoughts, emotions, and intentions through a concert of social displays: voice, facial expressions, hand gestures, and body posture, collectively referred to as social signals. Despite advances in machine perception, machines are unable to discern the subtle and momentary nuances that carry so much of the information and context of human communication. [...]

RI Seminar
Dave Rollinson
Co-Founder
HEBI Robotics

Building a Force-Controlled Actuator (Company)

1305 Newell Simon Hall

Abstract: In 2014, I was lucky enough to be one of 5 people to start HEBI Robotics, with the dream of eventually making the task of building custom robots as easy as building with Lego.  A few years later we are now 10 people, and our first product, a series of modular force-controlled actuators, is [...]

RI Seminar
Shaojie Shen
Assistant Professor
Director, HKUST-DJI Joint Innovation Lab, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

Minimalist Visual Perception and Navigation for Consumer Drones

1305 Newell Simon Hall

Abstract: Consumer drone developers often face the challenge of achieving safe autonomous navigation under very tight size, weight, power, and cost constraints. In this talk, I will present our recent results towards a minimalist, but complete perception and navigation solution utilizing only a low-cost monocular visual-inertial sensor suite. I will start with an introduction of [...]