Ocean One: A Robotic Avatar for Oceanic Discovery

Speaker: Oussama Khatib , Computer Science Department, Stanford University

Date: Monday, November 28, 2016

Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Note: all times are in the Eastern Time Zone

Refreshments: 3:45 PM

Public: Yes

Location: Patil Conference Room, 32-G449

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Host: Daniela Rus

Contact: Lauralyn M. Smith, 617-253-0145, lauralyn@mit.edu

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Reminders to: seminars@csail.mit.edu

Reminder Subject: TALK: 4pm 'Ocean One: A Robotic Avatar for Oceanic Discovery', Oussama Khatib

Abstract:
The promise of oceanic discovery has intrigued scientists and explorers, whether to study underwater ecology and climate change, or to uncover natural resources and historic secrets buried deep at archaeological sites. This quest to explore the oceans requires skilled human access, yet much of it is inaccessible to human divers as nearly nine-tenths of the ocean floor is at one kilometer or deeper. Accessing these depths is imperative since factors such as pollution and deep-sea trawling threaten ecology and archaeological sites. These needs demand a system that deploys human-level expertise at the depths but remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are inadequate for the task - a robotic avatar could go where humans can not, and yet embody human intelligence and intentions through immersive interfaces. To meet the challenge of accessing oceanic depths, Stanford University, working with KAUST’s Red Sea Research Center and MEKA Robotics, developed Ocean One, a bimanual force-controlled humanoid robot that affords immediate and intuitive haptic interaction in oceanic environments. Teaming with the French Ministry of Culture’s Underwater Archaeology Research Department, Stanford deployed Ocean One in an expedition in the Mediterranean to Louis XIV’s flagship Lune, lying at ninety-one meters depth off the coast of Toulon. Following extensive testing at Stanford University, Ocean One was flown to France in the spring of 2016 for its maiden deployment, where it became the first robot avatar to embody a human’s presence at the seabed.

Bio:
Oussama Khatib received his PhD from Sup’Aero, Toulouse, France, in 1980. He is Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University. His research focuses on methodologies and technologies in human-centered robotics including humanoid control architectures, human motion synthesis, interactive dynamic simulation, haptics, and human-friendly robot design. He is a Fellow of IEEE. He is Co-Editor of the Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics (STAR) series and the Springer Handbook of Robotics, which received the PROSE Award for Excellence in Physical Sciences & Mathematics. Professor Khatib is the President of the International Foundation of Robotics Research (IFRR). He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the IEEE RAS Pioneer Award in Robotics and Automation, the IEEE RAS George Saridis Leadership Award in Robotics and Automation, the IEEE RAS Distinguished Service Award, and the Japan Robot Association (JARA) Award in Research and Development.

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Created by Lauralyn M. Smith at Wednesday, November 09, 2016 at 1:35 PM.