January 2024 - Robotics-seminar - Engineering Mailing Lists

No Robotics Seminar this week
by Smart, William 31 Jan '24

31 Jan '24

Roboticists, Title says it all. No seminar this week. Join us next week for a talk by Nadia Figueroa from UPenn, and then again the following week for a talk by Devin Roach from OSU. -- Bill

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Robotics Seminar 1/26: Sonia Chernova (GaTech)
by Smart, William 25 Jan '24

25 Jan '24

Roboticists, Just a reminder about the robotics seminar tomorrow, with Sonia Chernova from Georgia Tech. Details as usual: 10am, Rogers 230, coffee and cake. cheers -- Bill Autonomy in the Human World: Developing Robots that Handle the Diversity of Human Lives Sonia Chernova (Georgia Institute of Technology) Abstract: Reliable operation in everyday human environments – homes, offices, and businesses – remains elusive for today’s robotic systems. A key challenge is diversity, as no two homes or businesses are exactly alike. However, despite the innumerable unique aspects of any home, there are many commonalities as well, particularly about how objects are placed and used. These commonalities can be captured in semantic representations, and then used to improve the autonomy of robotic systems by, for example, enabling robots to infer missing information in human instructions, efficiently search for objects, or manipulate objects more effectively. In this talk, I will discuss recent advances in semantic reasoning, particularly focusing on semantics of everyday objects, household environments, and the development of robotic systems that intelligently interact with their world. Bio: Sonia Chernova is an Associate Professor in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. She directs the Robot Autonomy and Interactive Learning lab, where her research focuses on the development of intelligent and interactive autonomous systems. Chernova’s contributions span robotics and artificial intelligence, including semantic reasoning, adaptive autonomy, human-robot interaction, and explainable AI. She also leads the NSF AI Institute for Collaborative Assistance and Responsive Interaction for Networked Groups (AI-CARING), whose mission is to develop collaborative AI partners-in-care that help support a growing population of older adults, helping them sustain independence, improve quality of life, and increase effectiveness of care coordination across their care network.

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Re: [Robotics-seminar] Robotics Seminar 1/26: Sonia Chernova (GaTech)
by Smart, William 22 Jan '24

22 Jan '24

[this time with the correct name in the header] Roboticists, Join us for the next Robotics Seminar this week, where Prof. Sonia Chernova from Georgia Tech will be talking about her work in the area of real-world autonomy. There will be real coffee and real cake, as usual. 10am, Rogers 230, Friday 1/26. cheers -- Bill Autonomy in the Human World: Developing Robots that Handle the Diversity of Human Lives Sonia Chernova (Georgia Institute of Technology) Abstract: Reliable operation in everyday human environments – homes, offices, and businesses – remains elusive for today’s robotic systems. A key challenge is diversity, as no two homes or businesses are exactly alike. However, despite the innumerable unique aspects of any home, there are many commonalities as well, particularly about how objects are placed and used. These commonalities can be captured in semantic representations, and then used to improve the autonomy of robotic systems by, for example, enabling robots to infer missing information in human instructions, efficiently search for objects, or manipulate objects more effectively. In this talk, I will discuss recent advances in semantic reasoning, particularly focusing on semantics of everyday objects, household environments, and the development of robotic systems that intelligently interact with their world. Bio: Sonia Chernova is an Associate Professor in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. She directs the Robot Autonomy and Interactive Learning lab, where her research focuses on the development of intelligent and interactive autonomous systems. Chernova’s contributions span robotics and artificial intelligence, including semantic reasoning, adaptive autonomy, human-robot interaction, and explainable AI. She also leads the NSF AI Institute for Collaborative Assistance and Responsive Interaction for Networked Groups (AI-CARING), whose mission is to develop collaborative AI partners-in-care that help support a growing population of older adults, helping them sustain independence, improve quality of life, and increase effectiveness of care coordination across their care network.

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Robotics Seminar 1/26: Sonie Chernova (GaTech)
by Smart, William 22 Jan '24

22 Jan '24

Roboticists, Join us for the next Robotics Seminar this week, where Prof. Sonia Chernova from Georgia Tech will be talking about her work in the area of real-world autonomy. There will be real coffee and real cake, as usual. 10am, Rogers 230, Friday 1/26. cheers -- Bill Autonomy in the Human World: Developing Robots that Handle the Diversity of Human Lives Sonia Chernova (Georgia Institute of Technology) Abstract: Reliable operation in everyday human environments – homes, offices, and businesses – remains elusive for today’s robotic systems. A key challenge is diversity, as no two homes or businesses are exactly alike. However, despite the innumerable unique aspects of any home, there are many commonalities as well, particularly about how objects are placed and used. These commonalities can be captured in semantic representations, and then used to improve the autonomy of robotic systems by, for example, enabling robots to infer missing information in human instructions, efficiently search for objects, or manipulate objects more effectively. In this talk, I will discuss recent advances in semantic reasoning, particularly focusing on semantics of everyday objects, household environments, and the development of robotic systems that intelligently interact with their world. Bio: Sonia Chernova is an Associate Professor in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech. She directs the Robot Autonomy and Interactive Learning lab, where her research focuses on the development of intelligent and interactive autonomous systems. Chernova’s contributions span robotics and artificial intelligence, including semantic reasoning, adaptive autonomy, human-robot interaction, and explainable AI. She also leads the NSF AI Institute for Collaborative Assistance and Responsive Interaction for Networked Groups (AI-CARING), whose mission is to develop collaborative AI partners-in-care that help support a growing population of older adults, helping them sustain independence, improve quality of life, and increase effectiveness of care coordination across their care network.

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Nils Wilde seminar delayed to Wednesday Jan 17 1pm-2pm Rogers 226 (student meeting afterwards)
by Hollinger, Geoffrey 18 Jan '24

18 Jan '24

Hi All, Due to the icy conditions, Nils Wilde’s seminar will be delayed one day until Wednesday Jan 17. The updated information is below: Dr. Nils Wilde will be presenting his work on Preference Learning and Multi-Objective Planning for Autonomous Systems on Wednesday (Jan 17th) at 1:00 - 2:00 pm in Rogers 226 and via Zoom. Afterward, from 2:15-3:00 pm, there will be a student-postdoc Q&A session with Dr. Wilde in Rogers 226 (note updated location of Rogers 226). See below for Dr. Wilde's abstract and bio. Hope that you can make it! Geoff --- Oregon State University, College of Engineering Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CoRIS) Institute<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fengineeri…> Research Associate Candidate Seminar Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Time: 1 pm Pacific Time In-person location: Rogers 226 Zoom link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/95307742594?pwd=cWdmUS91dU9VeDQ0SnVZMWJMcFhtZ…<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foregonsta…> Seminar Title: Preference Learning and Multi-Objective Planning for Autonomous Systems Speaker: Dr. Nils Wilde, https://sites.google.com/view/nwilde/home<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.goo…> Seminar information provided by the speaker: Abstract: The deployment of autonomous robots in real-world settings often requires planning and decision making under multiple competing objectives. Which trade-off between objectives is the most adequate often depends on the respective end-user. Thus, a central problem is how inexperienced users can adapt autonomous systems to their preferences. In this talk we focus on two parts of the problem. First, we study human-in-the-loop learning frameworks that allow users to customize robot behaviour to their preferences through a sequence of simple interactions. One such interaction mode is choice feedback where users choose between two presented options, allowing for effectively learning user preference within few iterations. In the second part, we study the challenge of exploring optimal trade-offs for multi-objective robot planning problems. We establish fundamental theoretical properties that allow for efficient algorithm design. Applications of the presented work include high-level motion planning in human-centered environments, manipulation in servicing tasks, environmental monitoring, vehicle routing, and multi-robot pickup and delivery. Speaker Bio: Nils Wilde is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Autonomous Multi-Robots Lab at TU Delft, working with Javier Alonso-Mora. Until 2021 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Autonomous Systems Lab at the University of Waterloo where he also did his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering under the co-supervision of Dana Kulić and Stephen L. Smith from 2016 to 2020. Before that he completed his BSc. and MSc. degrees at the Technical University Berlin in 2012 and 2016, respectively. Nils' research combines robot motion planning, multi-robot coordination, and human-robot interaction (HRI), developing algorithmic frameworks on the intersection of control, learning and optimization. -- Geoffrey A. Hollinger Associate Professor, Robotics & Mechanical Engineering College of Engineering Oregon State University https://research.engr.oregonstate.edu/rdml/home<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fresearch.…> https://engineering.oregonstate.edu/CoRIS<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fengineeri…>

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Robotics Seminar 1/19: Bill Smart (OSU)
by Smart, William 18 Jan '24

18 Jan '24

Roboticists, By popular request, this Friday I’ll be talking about the mystery that is technical conferences, and how to get the most out of them. We’ll talk about why conferences are important to your career, give some practical advice about how to get the most out of them, and offer some tips about how to navigate the social elements of these often overwhelming events. If you’ve never been to a conference, come and learn about what they are. If you’ve been to many conferences, come and share your tips and advice. This will be an interactive event, and there will be coffee and cake, to better simulate the conference experience.* 10am, Rogers 230, 1/19. -- Bill *Not really, because our coffee is good, unlike most conference coffee.

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Seminar 01/16 Dr. Nils Wilde (TU Delft)
by Rustagi, Pulkit Devinder 11 Jan '24

11 Jan '24

Hi All, Dr. Nils Wilde will be presenting his work on Preference Learning and Multi-Objective Planning for Autonomous Systems on Tuesday (Jan 16th) at 1:00 - 2:00 pm in Rogers 226 and via Zoom. Afterward, from 2:15-3:00 pm, there will be a student-postdoc Q&A session with Dr. Wilde in Rogers 237. See below for Dr. Wilde's abstract and bio. Hope that you can make it! Pulkit Rustagi --- Oregon State University, College of Engineering Collaborative Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CoRIS) Institute<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fengineeri…> Research Associate Candidate Seminar Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2024 Time: 1 pm Pacific Time In-person location: Rogers 226 Zoom link: https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/95307742594?pwd=cWdmUS91dU9VeDQ0SnVZMWJMcFhtZ…<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foregonsta…> Seminar Title: Preference Learning and Multi-Objective Planning for Autonomous Systems Speaker: Dr. Nils Wilde, https://sites.google.com/view/nwilde/home<https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.goo…> Seminar information provided by the speaker: Abstract: The deployment of autonomous robots in real-world settings often requires planning and decision making under multiple competing objectives. Which trade-off between objectives is the most adequate often depends on the respective end-user. Thus, a central problem is how inexperienced users can adapt autonomous systems to their preferences. In this talk we focus on two parts of the problem. First, we study human-in-the-loop learning frameworks that allow users to customize robot behaviour to their preferences through a sequence of simple interactions. One such interaction mode is choice feedback where users choose between two presented options, allowing for effectively learning user preference within few iterations. In the second part, we study the challenge of exploring optimal trade-offs for multi-objective robot planning problems. We establish fundamental theoretical properties that allow for efficient algorithm design. Applications of the presented work include high-level motion planning in human-centered environments, manipulation in servicing tasks, environmental monitoring, vehicle routing, and multi-robot pickup and delivery. Speaker Bio: Nils Wilde is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Autonomous Multi-Robots Lab at TU Delft, working with Javier Alonso-Mora. Until 2021 he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Autonomous Systems Lab at the University of Waterloo where he also did his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering under the co-supervision of Dana Kulić and Stephen L. Smith from 2016 to 2020. Before that he completed his BSc. and MSc. degrees at the Technical University Berlin in 2012 and 2016, respectively. Nils' research combines robot motion planning, multi-robot coordination, and human-robot interaction (HRI), developing algorithmic frameworks on the intersection of control, learning and optimization.

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Robotics Seminar 1/12: Peter Asaro (The New School)
by Smart, William 11 Jan '24

11 Jan '24

Roboticists, A quick reminder to join us tomorrow for the first robotics seminar of the new year. Peter Asaro will be talking about deceptive robots, and his work with the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. Rogers 230, 10am, coffee and cake. cheers -- Bill AI For Deception, Manipulation & Coercion: Towards a Theory and Regulation Peter Asaro, The New School Abstract: This talk will provide an overview of my recent work on deception, manipulation and coercion by AI and artificial agents. I start from a review of the literature in analytic philosophy on coercion, and its related concepts of manipulation and deception. I also consider mass media theories of propaganda, advertising and persuasion, and well as HRI and HCI theories of “nudging” and their relation to the ethics of artificial agents influencing the behavior of human agents. I then consider how these concepts are challenged by emerging AI and robotics technologies, including targeted marketing, Large Language Models, companion chatbots and social robots. From this I aim to develop a theoretical framework for how these concepts might apply to AI and artificial agents as they become increasingly sophisticated and capable. The goal of this framework is to inform policy and the regulation of these systems so as to assess and avoid the most the most harmful risks posed by these systems as they become further integrated into society. I will also leave time to discuss my work in advocacy around robotics and AI, including the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, and working with scientists and engineers to advance socially just and ethical technology. Bio: Professor Peter Asaro is a philosopher of science, technology and media. His work examines artificial intelligence and robotics as a form of digital media, the ethical dimensions of algorithms and data, and the ways in which technology mediates social relations and shapes our experience of the world. His current research focuses on the social, cultural, political, legal and ethical dimensions of automation and autonomous technologies, from a perspective that combines media theory with science and technology studies. He has written widely-cited papers on autonomous weapons from the perspective of just war theory and human rights, and the legal and moral issues raised by law enforcement robots and predictive policing. Prof. Asaro's research also examines agency and autonomy, liability and punishment, and privacy and surveillance as it applies to consumer robots, industrial automation, smart buildings, UAVs and drones, and autonomous vehicles. His research has been published in international peer reviewed journals and edited volumes, translated into French, German, Korean and Braille, and he is currently researching a book that interrogates the intersections between advanced robotics, and social and ethical issues. In 2009, Prof. Asaro co-founded the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC) which has been advocating for an international ban on autonomous weapon systems, and which in 2012 joined a coalition of NGOs to form the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. The Campaign has been successful in initiating discussions of autonomous weapons at the United Nations Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), and seeks to advance those talks to treaty negotiations.

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Robotics Seminar 1/12: Peter Asaro (The New School)
by Smart, William 08 Jan '24

08 Jan '24

Roboticists, Join us for the first robotics seminar of the new year. Peter Asaro, rescheduled from last term, will be talking about his work in deception, coercion, and nudging by artificial agents, including robots. He will also be talking about his policy work at the United Nations and leadership in the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. We’re back in Rogers 230 this term and, of course, there will be coffee and cake. cheers -- Bill AI For Deception, Manipulation & Coercion: Towards a Theory and Regulation Peter Asaro, The New School Abstract: This talk will provide an overview of my recent work on deception, manipulation and coercion by AI and artificial agents. I start from a review of the literature in analytic philosophy on coercion, and its related concepts of manipulation and deception. I also consider mass media theories of propaganda, advertising and persuasion, and well as HRI and HCI theories of “nudging” and their relation to the ethics of artificial agents influencing the behavior of human agents. I then consider how these concepts are challenged by emerging AI and robotics technologies, including targeted marketing, Large Language Models, companion chatbots and social robots. From this I aim to develop a theoretical framework for how these concepts might apply to AI and artificial agents as they become increasingly sophisticated and capable. The goal of this framework is to inform policy and the regulation of these systems so as to assess and avoid the most the most harmful risks posed by these systems as they become further integrated into society. I will also leave time to discuss my work in advocacy around robotics and AI, including the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, and working with scientists and engineers to advance socially just and ethical technology. Bio: Professor Peter Asaro is a philosopher of science, technology and media. His work examines artificial intelligence and robotics as a form of digital media, the ethical dimensions of algorithms and data, and the ways in which technology mediates social relations and shapes our experience of the world. His current research focuses on the social, cultural, political, legal and ethical dimensions of automation and autonomous technologies, from a perspective that combines media theory with science and technology studies. He has written widely-cited papers on autonomous weapons from the perspective of just war theory and human rights, and the legal and moral issues raised by law enforcement robots and predictive policing. Prof. Asaro's research also examines agency and autonomy, liability and punishment, and privacy and surveillance as it applies to consumer robots, industrial automation, smart buildings, UAVs and drones, and autonomous vehicles. His research has been published in international peer reviewed journals and edited volumes, translated into French, German, Korean and Braille, and he is currently researching a book that interrogates the intersections between advanced robotics, and social and ethical issues. In 2009, Prof. Asaro co-founded the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC) which has been advocating for an international ban on autonomous weapon systems, and which in 2012 joined a coalition of NGOs to form the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. The Campaign has been successful in initiating discussions of autonomous weapons at the United Nations Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), and seeks to advance those talks to treaty negotiations.

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