Challenges and Opportunities for Aerial Robotics

Date
Apr 5, 2017, 5:00 pm5:00 pm
Location
Bowen Hall Auditorium

Speaker

Details

Event Description

Abstract: The number of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones has grown exponentially over the last three decades. Yet we are only now seeing autonomous flying robots that can operate in three-dimensional indoor environments and in outdoor environments without GPS. I will discuss the need for small, safe and smart flying robots and the challenges in control, planning, and coordinating large teams of robots with applications to search and rescue, first response and precision farming. Finally, we will explore questions of safety, security, privacy, and socio-economic impact. Publications and videos are available at kumarrobotics.org.
 
Bio: Vijay Kumar is the Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering with appointments in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Computer and Information Science, and Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Since joining the faculty in 1987 he has served Penn Engineering in many capacities, including Deputy Dean for Research, Deputy Dean for Education, Chairman of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics and Director of the GRASP Laboratory, a multidisciplinary robotics and perception laboratory. Dr. Kumar has served as the assistant director of robotics and cyber physical systems at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (2012 – 2013). He received his Bachelor of Technology degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 1987.
 
Reception to follow seminar in the Bowen Hall Atrium. 
 
The Colloquium Series is sponsored by the Korhammaer Lecture Fund.