UMass Lowell Robotic's Lab News http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/ Robot news from UMass Lowell's own Robotics Lab en UMass Lowell Robotic's Lab News http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/fileadmin/rss_icon.gif http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/ Robot news from UMass Lowell's own Robotics Lab TYPO3 - get.content.right http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:24:00 -0500 Upcoming paper presentation at Tabletop 2009 http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/upcoming-paper-presentation-at-tabletop-2009/ Robotics Lab members Mark Micire, Munjal Desai, Amanda Courtemanche, Kate Tsui, and... Robotics Lab members Mark Micire, Munjal Desai, Amanda Courtemanche, Kate Tsui, and Prof. Holly Yanco have had a paper on the analysis of natural multi-touch gestures for controlling robot teams accepted to the 2009 ACM International Conference on Interactive Tabletops and Surfaces.  The conference will be held in Banff, Alberta on November 23-25, 2009. 
Abstract:
Multi-touch technologies hold much promise for the command and control of mobile robot teams. To improve the ease of learning and usability of these interfaces, we conducted an experiment to determine the gestures that people would naturally use, rather than the gestures they would be instructed to use in a pre-designed system. A set of 26 tasks with differing control needs were presented sequentially on a DiamondTouch to 31 participants. We found that the task of controlling robots exposed unique gesture sets and considerations not previously observed, particularly in desktop-like applications.  In this paper, we present the details of these findings, a taxonomy of the gesture set, and guidelines for designing gesture sets for robot control.
]]> Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:24:00 -0500 Upcoming paper presentation and robot demonstration at IEEE TePRA conference and RICC http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/upcoming-paper-presentation-and-robot-demonstration-at-ieee-tepra-conference-and-ricc/ Doctoral candidate Kate Tsui will be demonstrating the Manus ARM robot at the FirstAnnual Robotics... FirstAnnual Robotics Innovations Competition and Conference (RICC) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute on November 7-8, 2009. This year's challenge focuses on improving the quality of life using robots. Lab graduate Erin Rapacki (MS 2009) has had a paper on the development
of a wheelchair-mounted door opening robot arm accepted to the 2009
IEEE International Conference on Technologies for Practical Robot
Applications (TePRA).  The conference will be held in Woburn, MA on November
9-10, 2009. Abstract:
This paper describes the development of an underactuated gripper designed to unlatch door knobs and handles. The challenge was to create a mechanism that could manipulate a variety of door knobs and handles while using only one motor in order to create a low cost device. The final design evolved by exploring the limitations in the performance of an initial prototype. In this paper, the cause of failure for the first prototype is discussed along with rationale for the changes made in the second design. The first design was capable of twisting door knobs and handles in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. It had a collet-cone shape for compliance gripping and centering, and it utilized one motor for both gripping and twisting actions. The discussed gripper was developed for the assistive technology domain; however, this gripper mechanism could be utilized in a wide variety of robotic domains that exist today.
]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:55:00 -0500 2009 "Introduction to Classroom Robotics" Workshop http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/2009-introduction-to-classroom-robotics-workshop/ Applications due November 1, 2009.
 * Interact with other teachers who have already used robots.
 * Build and program your own robot creature.
 * Receive advanced instruction for experienced users.
 * Learn about a new science offering on sensors in the classroom
 * Receive information about funding opportunities!

Please register by November 1, 2009 by completing and returning the below registration form and reply to robots@cs.uml.edu
For more information on robotics programs at UML, please go to www.cs.uml.edu/k12

Please note, if you register you will receive a pre-workshop reminder with directions, about one week prior to the workshop. Please also note that the workshop is designed for teachers and educators (home school parents are welcome). Due to space and time constraints we cannot accommodate children.

Previous experience is not necessary!
]]> Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:44:00 -0400 Dr. Holly Yanco presents at CMU's Robotics Institute on "Designing for Human-Robot Interaction" http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/dr-holly-yanco-presents-at-cmus-robotics-institute-on-designing-for-human-robot-interaction/ Abstract: For many years, the Robotics Lab at the University of Massachusetts Lowell has conducted... Abstract: For many years, the Robotics Lab at the University of Massachusetts Lowell has conducted studies of HRI in two different robot domains: urban search and rescue (USAR) robots and assistive technology (AT).  In these studies, we have observed several problems arising from current interface and robot designs, including the following:
  • Users do not switch modes effectively.
  • Users are unable to intervene after a long period of autonomy.
  • Users have a lack of situation awareness.
  • Information is presented ineffectively.
  • Bystanders are confused when a robot acts in an unexpected fashion.
  • There can be a wide range of abilities in the target population for a robot system, particularly for assistive robots.
This talk will address how we are investigating these issues in our lab's research, including the design guidelines that we have developed for HRI, the development of multi-touch interfaces for disaster response, and creating HRI for people with disabilities. The talk will also address the evaluation methodologies that we have developed for HRI systems. Bio: Holly Yanco is an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where she heads the Robotics Lab.  Her research interests include human-robot interaction, multi-touch computing, and assistive technology.  Dr. Yanco’s research is currently funded by ARL, NSF, NIST, and Microsoft; she received a Career Award from NSF in 2006.  She was the PI of the NSF funded Pyro Project, which was awarded the NEEDS Premiere Award for Courseware in 2005.  She has a PhD and MS from MIT and a BA from Wellesley College, all in Computer Science. A recording on the talk can be viewed at http://www.ri.cmu.edu/video_view.html?video_id=39&menu_id=387.]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:51:00 -0400 New England Regional Botball dates have been set! http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/new-england-regional-botball-dates-have-been-set/ Mark your calendars! The New England Regional Botball workshop will be held Friday and... and Saturday, January 22 and 23, 2010.  The tournament will be held on
Saturday, April 10, 2010. For more information, please visit http://www.cs.uml.edu/k12 and http://www.botball.org/.]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:05:00 -0400 Welcome, Dan Brooks, to the Robotics Lab! http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/welcome-dan-brooks-to-the-robotics-lab/ Dan Brooks is the Robotic's Lab newest graduate student. Dan graduated from West Virginia... ]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:51:00 -0400 Upcoming Artbotics Workshop for Middle School Students http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/upcoming-artbotics-workshop-for-middle-schoolers/ This August Artbotics is holding two 1-week workshops for emerging 7th and 8th graders. Session one... Download the flyer with more information here To sign up call The Revolving Museum at 978-937-2787 or e-mail ebates[at]revolvingmuseum.org http://www.artbotics.org/]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:44:00 -0400 Researchers from Robotics Lab attend CRA-W Career Mentoring Workshop http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/researchers-from-robotics-lab-attend-cra-w-career-mentoring-workshop/ Doctoral candidate, Kate Tsui, and former post-doctoral researcher, Kristen Stubbs, will attend... http://www.cra-w.org/mentorWrkshp/cmwrl-2009: "The goal of the CRA-W Workshop on Research Career Mentoring for Women in Computer Science and Engineering (CMW-R/CMW-L) is to provide mentoring activities targeting women senior graduate students and women just starting as industrial researchers or professors. The workshop is structured to provide critical information about the culture of and content required for professional research, and contacts with successful role models and mentors."]]> Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:40:00 -0400 Upcoming talk at Robotics: Science and Systems Workshop http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/upcoming-talk-at-robotics-science-and-systems-workshop/ Doctoral candidate, Kate Tsui, will give a talk at the workshop on "Good Experimental... Robotics: Science and Systems conference in Seattle, WA on June 28. Her talk will focus on establishing clinical credibility for rehabilitation and assistive robots through experimental design. Abstract: The number of clinical trials using robots has increased over the last ten years. It is not practical for all experiments to be clinical trials through the development cycle of a rehabilitation or assistive robot. How can system developers incorporate aspects of the clinical trials to gain credibility among clinicians during development period evaluations?

We begin a discussion about how to bridge the gap between pre-clinical experiments and Phase 1 clinical trials using rehabilitation and assistive robots. We examine the importance of clearly defined inclusion and exclusion criterion. We also discuss establishing a baseline either with a control group or pre-experiment evaluation and the necessity for first conducting experiments with able-bodied participants. Also, we discuss the need for a common language between the system developers and the clinicians.]]> Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:42:00 -0400 Upcoming workshop: "Using Robotics to Teach STEM" http://robotics.cs.uml.edu/home/news/single-news-article/article/upcoming-workshop-using-robotics-to-teach-stem/ The Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, iRobot, and the University of Massachusetts Lowell...
What is STREAM?

STREAM is a workshop to help K-12 educators utilize robotics as they teach STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects. This workshop will provide educators the opportunity to explore how they might use robotics in their own STEM instruction through interactive sessions as well as through presentations by other educators currently using robotics as a way to teach STEM. Representatives of local technology companies will also describe potential careers for students interested in robotics and STEM disciplines.

Organizing Committee:
Dave Matheson, iRobot
Holly Yanco, UMass Lowell
Kristen Stubbs, UMass Lowell
http://stream.cs.uml.edu ]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:48:00 -0400