This project initiates a collaboration between two labs at Carnegie Mellon University (the Manipulation Lab and the Personal Robotics Lab), and the Intelligent Autonomous Systems Laboratory at the Technische Universitat Munchen. (The German participant costs are supported by their own funds.) By sharing ideas and technology, and by exchange of visits between PIs and students, the project is accelerating progress in autonomous mobile manipulation in human environments. The labs have complementary strengths and the project is expected to benefit both sides.
This project aims to expand the applications of robotics to include autonomous manipulation in human environments. As this technology is refined and ultimately commercialized, it will expand the impact of robots, as well as transform the robotics industry. Likely applications include eldercare, assisting the disabled, and rehabilitation, which are of great significance both economically and in the quality of our lives.
The project directly supports the education of graduate students, and scientific communication and collaboration across the Atlantic. Recruiting and outreach associated with the project will continue the PIs' tradition of inclusion of underrepresented groups. When appropriate, results will be incorporated into course curricula and in the PIs' ongoing outreach efforts. Code will be distributed open-source.
Overview This project initiated a collaboration between two labs at Carnegie Mellon University (the Manipulation Lab and the Personal Robotics Lab), and the Intelligent Autonomous Systems Laboratory at the Technische Universitat Munchen. (The German participant costs are supportedby their own funds.) The funds supported research work by Carnegie Mellon undergraduates on the Home Exploring Robot Butler (HERB), which explores not only homes, but also the cross-cutting principles and techniques for assisting humans in the home. The funds also supported travel to Germany by faculty and graduate students to confer with their colleagues and attend the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation. Intellectual Merit By sharing ideas and technology, and by exchange of visits between PIs and students, the project accelerated progress in autonomous mobile manipulation in human environments. The labs have complementary strengths in robotic manipula tion, motion planning, perception, and artificial intelligence, and both sides benefitted from the project. Broader Impacts The project funds primary goal was to promote collaboration and communication. The ultimate technological goals of the projects are to assist humans, with eventual applications in socially important areas such as assistive care, and promises to open new markets. The funds also directly supported undergraduate students and graduate students, including an underrepresented minority.
