Fwd: Robotics Seminar Series - Amorphous Materials for Robotic Construction by Dr. Nils Napp, Harvard University

[M. Ani Hsieh]

All, FYI.

Speaker: Dr. Nils Napp, Harvard University

Date& Time: Mon, Dec 2nd, 2-3pm
Location: Randell 329

Talk Title: Amorphous Materials for Robotic Construction

Abstract:
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Designing robots that reliably operate in unstructured environments is notoriously difficult. This talk is about biologically inspired models and algorithms that allow robots to take advantage of mechanically compliant building materials to reliably build structures in cluttered irregular terrain. By exploiting the low-level mechanical feedback of the building materials, the high level plans can be relatively simple and only require minimal sensing. The presentment methods focus on local reactive robot behaviors, which can accommodate multiple robots working concurrently, to achieve speedup, and also gracefully recover from disturbances.  This approach is particularly well suited for reliable autonomous robotic construction of simple, but functional, structures in cluttered irregular terrain like disaster areas, for example, ramps, levees, or support structures.
 

Bio:
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Nils got his PhD in 2011 at the University of Washington working on models and control strategies for large groups of robots with random failures and limited actuation.  He is currently a post-doc at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard and is investigating biologically inspired approaches to engineering with uncertainty. In this talk he will present methods to managing the shape uncertainty of amorphous building materials during robotic construction.

For more information on the Robotics Seminars and Events please visit: http://drexelsaslab.appspot.com/seminars.html