Event

Computer Science Department Seminar: Dr. Tokekar, "Algorithms for Autonomous Near Earth Sensing"

Monday, April 8, 2019
11:00 a.m.
4105 Iribe
Ania Picard
301 405 4358
appicard@umd.edu

Computer Science Department Seminar

Algorithms for Autonomous Near Earth Sensing with Aerial, Ground, and Marine Robots

Pratap Tokekar
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Virginia Tech

Abstract  
A connected network of robots, sensors, and smart devices has the potential to solve grand challenges in domains such as agronomy, oceanography, and emergency response. Robots will form the "physical" layer of this Internet-of-Things and collect data from hard to reach places at unprecedented spatio-temporal scales. Heterogeneity in sensing and mobility in these robot teams is critical in order for us to effectively collect data from diverse, unstructured, natural environments.   

In this talk, I will present our recent work on devising efficient algorithms for data collection with heterogeneous robot teams.

We will use tools from computational geometry, combinatorial optimization, stochastic optimization, Bayesian neural networks, and information theory to design these algorithms. I will present our experiments results on bridge inspection with aerial robots, precision agriculture with aerial and ground robots, monitoring marine environments with aerial robots and robotic boats. I will conclude by discussing our recent efforts that aim to bridge the gap between algorithmic and field robotics.    

Host 

Dinesh Manocha 

Biography 
Pratap Tokekar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the GRASP lab of University of Pennsylvania. He obtained his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota in 2014 and Bachelor of Technology degree in Electronics and Telecommunication from College of Engineering Pune, India in 2008. He is a recipient of the NSF CISE Research Initiation Initiative award. His research interests include algorithmic and field robotics, and cyber physical systems, and their applications to precision agriculture and environmental monitoring.