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Today, robotics is where personal computers were three decades ago. In the last decade, the performance of robots has increased enormously while prices have plummeted. Consequently, there is an increasing need to merge low-cost components into existing platforms for mass-market appeal and affordability.
History
Building on a strong association with NASA centers (such as Ames and JPL), the Carnegie Mellon-West Robotics program was founded in 2003 to carry out applied research in intelligent, mobile robotics. The program’s first project was the creation of a low-cost, high performance stereo-vision based mobile robot for RoboCamp-West. This project expanded to encompass the creation of the Robotics Lab and a high-fidelity robotic research platform called MAX (Mobile Autonomous eXplorer).
Vision
The objectives of the Carnegie Mellon-West robotics program are to:
- Provide a catalyst to promote mobile, autonomous robotics as a mainstream field in educational and research institutes worldwide
- Create low-cost, mobile, autonomous robots which are ubiquitous, easy to use, and versatile as personal computers
- Provide an educational and research environment that allows for rapid development and innovation without the need for intimate knowledge of the detailed working of the robotic platform
- Inspire children to explore the boundaries of knowledge and creativity
Activities and Ongoing Research
Robotics Academy
The Robotics Academy is offered by Carnegie Mellon University. This was conducted in cooperation with the NASA Ames Research Center in 2002 and 2003. The course introduces students to the comprehensive issues governing autonomous mobile robotics in a challenge-based, hands-on laboratory. Students build, program and operate autonomous, vision-based mobile robots capable of sophisticated sensing and intelligent decision-making.
MAX Platform
MAX, a Carnegie Mellon West initiative, is a new class of low-cost, high-performance rover with a customizable sensor configuration. The robot comes in two variants: a low-cost version for educational purposes (MAX 5.0R) and a high-end research version (MAX 5.0J and MAX 5.0A). MAX has been successfully introduced at RoboCamp-West 2005 and deployed in limited numbers for select research projects during 2005-2006. It is now the standard robot platform to teach the 2006 series of Robolab and RoboCamp - West. During spring 2006, MAX is also being used in an undergraduate mobile robotics course at Carnegie Mellon University called “Robots to the Rescue”.
Carnegie Mellon Innovations Lab (CMIL)
Learn more
People
- Dr. Raj Reddy, Mozah Bint Nasser Professor of Computer Science and Robotics
- Dr. Khalid Al-Ali, Senior Fellow and Director of Robotics
- Dr. Ed Fredkin, Distinguished Career Professor
- Ajinkya Y. Bhave, Research Associate and Deputy Director of the Robotics Laboratory
- Dan Miller, Research Consultant
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