The Michigan Robotics Newsletter, Spring 2020
Welcome to ISSUE 5 of the Michigan Robotics Newsletter, an easy to skim summary of what's happening in the University of Michigan Robotics Institute community (and full of how we try to practice our values). Wishing you well, and in case you need it, the College has put together a page with COVID-19 related resources, including emergency funding for our community members and where to give blood.
Research
PhD Gideon Billings helped WHOI program the vision and manipulation of the very first underwater biological sample done by remote-operated vehicle.
ME PhD Suresh Kumaar Jayaraman and Professors Lionel Robert, Dawn Tilbury, and Jessie Yang published work on how pedestrians trust autonomous vehicles.
IOE PhD Na Du and Professors Jessie Yang, Lionel Robert, and Dawn Tilbury published work on how emotions can affect the time it takes for a human to takeover from automated driving.
A team including PhD Alex Vaskov and Professor Cindy Chestek published work on a peripheral nerve interface that allows control of a prosthetic hand.
Professor Leia Stirling answers a Q&A on exoskeleton research.
Congratulations
In the annual awards from the College of Engineering, PhD Alexa Carlson received the Towner Prize in Robotics, ME PhD Daniel Bruder received an award for Outstanding PhD Research, and Mars Rover member Kathleen Ascrizzi earned Distinguished Achievement, CLASP.
Graduate Coordinator Denise Edmund was recognized for her work supporting a positive culture.
Professor Chad Jenkins earned an MLK Spirit Award for his commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Chad Jenkins also received his AAAS Fellowship.
Professor Vineet Kamat received ASCE's Peurifoy Construction Research Award.
PhD Luowei Zhou made history as the first Robotics PhD to defend their thesis remotely.
Look/Listen
ROB 550 upped its game combining mazebots with gripper arms.
Check out Michigan Mars Rover's overview video of this year's rover.
Watch First Alumni & Mentors Network at Michigan's (FAMNM) reveal of their Robot in 3 Days.
Professor Brent Gillespie gave a seminar on human-machine control sharing.
Professor Tucker Hermans, Utah, gave a seminar on multi-fingered robot manipulation.
In case you missed Mia Stevens' PhD defense last year, here's the presentation on geofencing for small unmanned aircraft systems.
Professor Bobby Gregg gave a seminar on design and control of wearable robots for locomotion.
Past events
An example of the ongoing outreach of the Robotics Graduate Student Council: PhD Daphna Raz volunteered at Ann Arbor Schools' Hour of Code, PhD Victoria Florence and PhD Liz Olson made toothbrush bots with Ypsilanti students.
Walter P Moore became the first company to offer a Robotics Research Fellowship and hosted an on-campus information session. The $20K masters' fellowship combines a summer internship with a fall ROB 590 project, and presentation of work in the spring.
Professors Ella Atkins, Chad Jenkins, Katie Skinner and PhD Cosme Ochoa helped host NSF's National Robotics Initiative.
If you have comments on this email or submissions for the next, please send them to dnewms@umich.edu.
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