Spatula-wielding robot arms, Robotics Demo Day, and is AI good (enough)?
Plus a new warehouse robot simulation and new Robotics Building tour dates.
Welcome to the latest iteration of the Michigan Robotics newsletter, a summary of what’s happening in the University of Michigan Robotics community.
Since Twitter was acquired, it shut down Revue, our previous newsletter service. So welcome to our new Substack! Same news, different medium.
Research
Manipulation via Membranes: High-Resolution and Highly Deformable Tactile Sensing and Control
A method to learn soft tactile sensor membrane dynamics that accounts for sensor deformations caused by the physical interaction between the grasped object and environment, by Miquel Oller, Mireia Planas, Dmitry Berenson, and Nima Fazeli.
Learning the Dynamics of Compliant Tool-Environment Interaction for Visuo-Tactile Contact Servoing
A framework that learns to predict the effects of a robot's actions on the contact between the tool and the environment given visuo-tactile perception, for tasks like scraping a frying pan with a spatula, by Mark Van der Merwe, Dmitry Berenson, and Nima Fazeli.
VIRDO++: Real-World, Visuo-tactile Dynamics and Perception of Deformable Objects
A novel approach and demo of multimodal visuo-tactile state-estimation and dynamics prediction for deformable objects, by Youngsun Wi, Andy Zeng, Pete Florence, and Nima Fazeli.
This study explored cultural differences and how explanation timing and permission of an automated vehicle’s actions affected drivers’ trust in, preference for, and anxiety, by Na Du, Lionel Robert, and X. Jessie Yang.
A new data-driven, phase-based controller for variable-task walking that uses continuously variable impedance control during stance and kinematic control during swing to enable biomimetic locomotion, by Kevin Best, Cara Welker, Elliott Rouse, and Robert Gregg.
What happens if a robot coworker makes a mistake? This study reviews the impact of four distinct trust repair strategies: apologies, denials, explanations, and promises on overall trustworthiness, by Connor Esterwood and Lionel Robert. The warehouse robot simulation environment, developed by Esterwood, is also available for use.
Putting humans back in the loop: An affordance conceptualization of the 4th industrial revolution
A new theory-based framework that attempts to recenter the discussion on humans and better understand the societal implications of ever-smarter machines, by Nigel Melville, Lionel Robert, and Xiao Xiao.
Recent PhD Defenses
Deterministic and Chance-Constrained Real-Time Motion Planning Using Reachability Analysis, Jinsun Liu
Hazy Oracles in Deep Learning, Stephan Lemmer
Closing the loop: How sensation impacts prosthetic function and control, Michael Gonzalez
Magnetic Field Mapping for Indoor Aerial Navigation, Prince Kuevor
Look
In December, several courses shared their work with the public during a Demo Day. We captured some Instagram reels of the following:
ENG 100.580: Biodesign
ROB 102: Intro to AI & Programming
ROB 311: How to Build Robots and Make Them Move
ROB 550: Robotic Systems Lab
In this Friday Night AI, Necmiye Ozay helps answer the question: Is AI Robust Enough to Withstand Attacks?
Congrats
The North Campus Deans presented Professors Jessy Grizzle and Leia Stirling and PhD student Yves Nazon with MLK Spirit Awards.
Prince Kuevor won the 2023 Professor Pierre T. Kabamba Award from the Aerospace Engineering Department.
And at the 2022 IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, we congratulate:
Joseph Breeden and advisor Dimitra Panagou for Outstanding Student Paper Award
Dawn Tilbury for CSS Distinguished Member Award
and Kira Barton for presenting as a plenary speaker!
Lastly
Going to be in Ann Arbor? We have a few Robotics Building tour dates available this spring!