TALK: Wireless sensor networks and mobility: towards pervasive robotics
Speaker: Ankur Mehta, UC Berkeley
Date: Monday, September 24 2012
Time: 10:00AM to 11:00AM
Location: 32-397
Host: Daniela Rus, MIT
Contact: Mieke Moran, 617-253-5817, mieke@csail.mit.edu
Abstract:
We can easily obtain cheap off-the-shelf microprocessors, wireless radios, and sensors. A variety of actuators from motors and servos all the way to fully built toy vehicles are also readily available. We can build wireless sensor networks from the former and attach them to mobile mechanical bodies from the latter. So where are our autonomous networked swarm robots then?
It turns out there are still a number of system-level problems to solve before we can have personal robots to do our bidding. In this talk, we look at a few of these issues -- how they impede the development of swarm robots, and what can be done to solve or work around them. These range from networking concerns such as power consumption and integration to robotic concerns including localization and control. At the interface are further concerns regarding communicating with mobile nodes. This presentation will cover protocol design and enhancements for networking along with hardware and software development for robot control, with a few detours and asides on the way. We finish by presenting plans for how to move forward so that we can eventually have our own versatile army of robot servants.
Bio:
Ankur is currently finishing up his PhD at UC Berkeley with Prof. Kris Pister; his work has covered a number of fields including wireless sensor networks, autonomous helicopters, and rocket control. He came to Cal following his undergrad and MEng at MIT, doing his Masters project with Profs. Klaus Jensen and Marty Schmidt on the design of a MEMS solid oxide fuel cell. Having spent the past several years tacking on additional research projects in a bid to maintain the glamorous student lifestyle as long as possible, he now realizes that growing up is inevitable, and so will soon embark on the next phase of his journey through academia.
When not in the lab, Ankur swing dances as a part of a campus performance group, and enjoys social dancing as well. He is the founder and leader of the Cal Puzzlers League, a group that has put on yearly puzzle hunts at Berkeley in the style of the MIT Mystery Hunt. He also plays board games and ultimate frisbee.
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