Educational activities, Minors
The Center has two educational modules, two Minors:
- Minor in Robotics and Embodied Intelligence
- Minor in Biocomputing and Bioinformatics.
Students interested to expand the opportunities for employment beyond classical computer science topics, and learn about genetic engineering, walking and flying robots, intelligent systems, neuroinformatics websites, and other opportunities for employment, are encouraged to select these minors. Upon graduation, the minor(s) are part of the student transcript.
Figure: Example of a part of a graduation transcript of a student who graduated in 2021. Noted is major in Computer Science and minor in Robotics and Embodied Intelligence and minor in Biocomputing and Bioinformatics. This transcript enables student to look for a job in all areas of Computer Science as well as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Biocomputing, and Bioinformatics
Research focus
The Center is focused on research that leads to pioneering results in science.
Lab work, robotics
Here are shown some photos of robots assembled and used in the lab
Figure: 2001. A load carrying rover robot Adriel 7 of type cye was the first robot in the lab. It was obtained with help of Mr. Sam McDonald and SCSU Title III fund. Included in education in 2001.
Figure: 2008. A versatile rover robot with various sensors and behaviors. Here shown in our lab setup for avoiding obstacles, never touching the walls of the designed maze.
Photo: A robot arm, Introduced in education before 2001, introduced in the lab in 2006
Photo: A biped robot, introduced in education in 2001, introduced in the lab in 2008
Photo: A hexapod robot, entered education and lab in 2008
Figure: A humanoid robot, entered education and lab in 2008
Photo: 2013: Flying robots introduced in education and lab
Embodied intelligence
Embodied intelligence is an intelligence in a body, in a creature. It might be a robot, a (re)programmed virus, etc.
One of the basic features of an embodied intelligence is having a model of the surroundings. Here is a model of the world, learnt and understood by our robot Adriel 9 of type cye.
Figure: 2003: Model of the world, two rooms and a corridor on the second floor SCSU Nance Hall. The room 218 (our lab) and 220 (a classroom) are learned and mapped in the robot memory. Only white areas are allowed for robot movement. Spots marked X are spots where a robot operator can send the robot. There were cases when robot was sent from room 2018 to room 220 while students had a class.