ORIentate Seminar, Oxford Robotics Institute, University of Oxford
ORIentate Seminar
ORIentate is the bi-weekly seminar series ran by the Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI). It is an opportunity for the ORI community to connect and share their work. We host diverse sessions ranging from presentations from our academics and students, tutorials on technical topics, and keynotes given by invited external speakers.
External research talks are open to all members of the University of Oxford community and are marked with an asterisk [*]. All other events are only for members and associates of the Oxford Robotics Institute.
Lead: Perla Maiolino
Postdoc Chairs: Victor-Alexandru Darvariu and Joe Watson
Upcoming Talks
ORGS Lecture Series: Change starts with YOU: Making the robotics field an inclusive space
Speaker: Alex Schutz (ORI), Kate Lampo (ORI)
Location: TBC
Time: TBC
ORGS Lecture Series: How to Give a Presentation
Speaker: Nick Hawes (ORI)
Location: TBC
Time: TBC
Past Talks
Overcoming adaptability-agility trade-offs through body shape modulation
Speaker: Kaushik Jayaram (Imperial College London)
Abstract: Animals such as mice, cockroaches and spiders have the remarkable ability to maneuver through challenging cluttered natural terrain and have been inspiration for adaptable legged robotic systems. We hypothesize that animals vary their body geometry and mechanics to overcome the adaptability-agility tradeoffs which limit the performance of traditional soft robots. Inspired by locomotion strategies of cockroaches and spiders, we present our results related to the above using Compliant Legged Autonomous Robotic Insect (CLARI), our insect-scale, origami-based quadrupedal robot capable of passive shape morphing and active shape shifting, and demonstrate novel behaviors such as omnidirectional confined legged locomotion. While the distributed compliance of such soft-legged robots enables them adapt to explore complex environments, their gait design, control, and motion planning enable agile locomotion. However, this is often challenging due to a large number of unactuated/underactuated degrees of freedom. Towards addressing this issue, we present a geometric motion planning framework for autonomous, closed kinematic chain articulated systems that is computationally effective and has a promising potential for onboard and real-time gait generation. Finally, combining experimental and modeling efforts, we will present the beginning of a framework that enables us to quantify tradeoffs associated with shape change notably with respect to agility and adaptability.
Wearable Robots and AI for Rehabilitation, Human Augmentation and Collaborative Robotics
Speaker: Lorenzo Masia (Technical University of Munich)
Speaker: François Pomerleau (Université Laval)
Location: LR1, Thom Building
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Abstract: As the promise of autonomous cars keeps being delayed, more and more questions are raised about the accessibility of this technology in remote locations. Moreover, extreme meteorological events are on the rise with the concretization of climate change. This new reality stresses the importance of investigating how robust navigation algorithms are against harsh environmental conditions.
In an era of simulations and augmented datasets, this presentation will focus on our efforts in facing complex research questions through field robotics. Field robotics is a sub-community of researchers challenging theoretical simplifications with experimental work closer to real applications. During this talk, we will dive into our latest scientific results with an emphasis on lessons learned related to lidar-based mapping and navigation in subarctic conditions.
A few minutes will be reserved to explain how we are consolidating the Canadian robotics ecosystem and the opportunities it triggered for British researchers.
Formal methods for robot planning and control
Speaker: Jana Tumova (KTH Royal Institute of Technology; Visiting Professor at ORI)
Location: LR2, Thom Building
Time: 4pm-5pm
Tutorial on SLAM and 3D Perception
Speaker: Ethan Yifu Tao (DRS-P Group, ORI)
Location: LR1, Thom Building
Placing Humans at the Centre of Wearable Assistive Robotics and Technology
Speaker: Digby Chappell (Oxford Robotics Institute)
Location: LR1, Thom Building
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Transfer of Status Presentations
Speakers: ORI students preparing for Transfer of Status (ToS)
Location: HBAC Lecture Theatre
Time: 3:30pm-4:30pm
Composable Optimization for Robotic Motion Planning and Control
Speaker: Zac Manchester (Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University)
Location: LR1, Thom Building
Time: 4pm-5pm
Note that this seminar is taking place on a Wednesday.
Location: LR1, Thom Building
Session 1
Tutorial on Graph Neural Networks
Speakers: Alex Schutz and Victor Darvariu (GOALS Group, ORI)
Session 2
Intro to Oxford University Innovations (OUI)
Speaker: Serena de Nahlik (OUI)
Introduction to ORI Research Groups
Speakers: All ORI Principal Investigators
Location: Lecture Theatre LR7 (Information Engineering Building)
Time: 3:30pm-5pm
Location: Thom Building Lecture Theatre LR2
Session 1
Intrinsic motivation in evolved, engineered, and hybrid systems: the interface of biophysics, computer science, and behavioral science
Speaker: Michael Levin (Tufts University)
Session 2
Evaluating Intuitive Physics Understanding in Video Diffusion Models via Likelihood Preference
Speakers: Jianhao Yuan (CRG & MRG Groups, ORI)