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Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Events for September
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CS Colloquium: Chris Heckman (University of Colorado at Boulder) - Failure is Not an Option: Our Techniques at the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps
Tue, Sep 13, 2022 @ 03:30 PM - 04:50 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Chris Heckman, University of Colorado at Boulder
Talk Title: Failure is Not an Option: Our Techniques at the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, Lessons Learned, and Next Steps
Series: Computer Science Colloquium
Abstract: When we in the robotics research community think of what we'd like autonomous agents to tackle in the future, we often target "dull, dirty, and dangerous" tasks. However, despite a sustained boom in robotics research over the last decade, the number of places we've seen robotics in use for these tasks has been uninspiring. Successful commercialization of autonomous robots have required significant human scaffolding through teleoperation, and incredible amounts of capital, to achieve, and despite this are still limited by brittle systems and hand-engineered components. The reality seems to be that these tasks are not nearly as dull as they might seem on the surface, and instead require ingenuity for success some small but critical fraction of the time. In this talk, I focus on my recent investigation into where the limits of autonomy are for the highly sought-after application to subterranean emergency response operations. This application was motivated by the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, which just last year concluded with the CU Boulder team "MARBLE" taking third place and winning a $500,000 prize. In this talk, I will give an overview into the genesis of our solution over three years of effort, especially with respect to mobility, autonomy, perception, and communications. I'll also discuss the implications for present-day robotic autonomy and where we go from here.
Prof. Heckman will give his talk in person at RTH 115 and we will also host the talk over Zoom.
Register in advance for this webinar at:
https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2KFODX4RQ6WMU12J6IsIHg
After registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium.
Biography: Chris Heckman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Jacques I. Pankove Faculty Fellow in the College of Engineering & Applied Science. He is also a Visiting Academic with Amazon Scout, where he is addressing last-mile delivery by developing autonomous robots on sidewalks. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley in 2008 and his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University in 2012, where he was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. He had postdoctoral appointments at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC as an NRC Research Associate, and at CU Boulder as a Research Scientist, before joining the faculty there in 2016.
Heckman's research focuses on autonomy, perception, field robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence. He directs the Autonomous Robotics and Perception Group, a dynamic and close-knit research team aiming to develop practical and explainable techniques in probabilistic artificial intelligence. His work in computer vision, machine learning and sensor fusion has applications to intelligence, defense, and environmental monitoring. His robotics work is used by both government and industry partners in the development of autonomous vehicles, agricultural platforms and other mobile robots including for medicine, search & rescue, and automation. https://www.colorado.edu/cs/christoffer-heckman
Host: Stefanos Nikolaidis
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2KFODX4RQ6WMU12J6IsIHgLocation: Ronald Tutor Hall of Engineering (RTH) - 115
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2KFODX4RQ6WMU12J6IsIHg
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Department of Computer Science
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CAIS Seminar: Carl Castro (USC) - Challenges of Military Veterans Transitioning Back to Their Civilian Communities
Wed, Sep 21, 2022 @ 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Thomas Lord Department of Computer Science
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Carl Castro, University of Southern California
Talk Title: Challenges of Military Veterans Transitioning Back to Their Civilian Communities
Series: USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society (CAIS) Seminar Series
Abstract: Military service involves integrating into a unique military culture that may involve experiencing a number of life-threatening traumas, including combat, sexual assault and suicide. These traumas may result in unresolved or ongoing mental and physical health issues that can significantly impact a successful transition of service members back to their civilian communities. In this presentation, how communities can assist military veterans in rejoining their communities will be discussed.
Register in advance for this webinar at:
https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MentgCmBRLWPxLoJ3LbFKw
After registering, attendees will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
This lecture satisfies requirements for CSCI 591: Research Colloquium.
Biography: Dr. Carl Castro is currently Professor and Director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California. Before joining the University of Southern California, Professor Castro served in the U.S. Army for over 30 years, retiring at the rank of colonel. Dr. Castro participated in the Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo Campaigns, Operation Northern Watch, and the Iraq War. Dr. Castro has chaired numerous NATO and international research groups and he is currently Chair of a NATO research group on Military Veteran Transitions and Co-Chair of a NATO group exploring Military and Veteran Radicalization. His current research efforts are broad and include: (a) the exploration of the military culture that leads to acceptance and integration of diverse groups; (b) understanding and ameliorating the effects of military trauma and stress, especially combat and deployment, on service members and their family; (c) the prevention of suicides and violence such as sexual assault and bullying; and (d) evaluating the process of transitioning into the military and transitioning from military service back to civilian life.
Host: USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society (CAIS)
Webcast: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MentgCmBRLWPxLoJ3LbFKwLocation: Online - Zoom Webinar
WebCast Link: https://usc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MentgCmBRLWPxLoJ3LbFKw
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Computer Science Department
