IEEE Winnipeg Section

In the growing world of technology, humanoid robotics has emerged as one of the fastest evolving fields. As a human when we play a soccer game, a basketball game, jogging or climbing, we are doing tasks that are easy for the human brain to understand. We do not think about solutions such as solving for the x, y, z positions of each individual joint or how to calculate the angular velocity of each particular joint. Similarly, when we walk, we do not think about the parameters of each individual joint, we instead decide about walking pace and stride. However, no existing humanoid robot can do any of these tasks as well as humans. Moving and controlling balance is a very simple task for humans but for a biped robot controlling balance and motion is a very complicated and expensive task. In order to advance the state of the art, fully autonomous humanoid-robots that use artificial intelligence need to be examined against solid benchmarks so that current abilities can be measured and so that goals can be set and progress charted. One means of setting such benchmarks is through robotics competitions: researchers around the world can compete against each other in real time, and share their ideas and solutions. HuroCup is a benchmark competition that is recognized worldwide and has been growing since 2002. It consists of many different sporting events such as weightlifting, basketball, etc. RoboCup is another benchmark with the focus on playing soccer. The elements of artificial intelligence and control in these tasks are all important components in broader applications for humanoids (e.g. rescue, household robots) In this seminar, speaker will talk about AALab’s work on Hurocup and RoboCup challenges in recent years and how these two benchmarks lead researchers to improve artificial intelligence and robotics.

Mr. Hosseinmemar is currently a PhD candidate in computer science program, at University of Manitoba. He received M.Sc. in computer science, B.Sc. (honors) in computer science, and diploma in electronic. He is in third year working with the successful group in Autonomous Agent laboratory (AALab). His research is on active balancing of humanoid robots and push recovery and artificial intelligence under supervision of prof. Jacky Baltes and Co-supervision of prof. John Anderson. He is the leader of the teen size humanoid team. The kid size and teen size robotic teams of the group have won many prices over years.

IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists. It focuses on inspiring girls around the world to follow their academic interests to a career in engineering.

Our proud sponsor for this event would be the Graduate Student Association of University of Manitoba (UMGSA).

After the technical talk by Ms. Hosseinmemar, He will show couple of athletic robots. Come and see female athletic robots, Jennifer, Clara.

Please register using the link https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/42050 before 21^st November.