WPI Journal - The Magazine for WPI Alumni

WIN 2013

The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)

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π W collaboration Archie is Ready to Serve Humankind MEET ARCHIE, the latest recruit in WPI's efforts to engineer better robot-human relations. (His name is short for Autonomous Robotics Collaboration.) Archie will serve as a research platform for investigating robot-human collaboration, motion planning, and robotic manipulation. Possible applications for this research include domestic robotics to assist the elderly or disabled and manufacturing robots better suited to work alongside humans. Archie's mentor, Dmitry Berenson, joined WPI last summer as assistant professor of computer science and robotics engineering. When he was an undergraduate at Cornell, Berenson didn't see himself as a roboticist—until the day he discovered the robotics lab. "What really excited me was getting involved in research," says Berenson. "The more I got involved with robot motion and writing algorithms, the more I knew it was the field for me." His work has been featured in National Geographic, Scientific American, and Fortune and has been covered by PBS and the BBC. Berenson was selected to lead WPI's research group as part of the $2 million robotics challenge sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). WPI is part of one of seven "A teams" selected by DARPA to develop humanoid robots, with up to $3 million from DARPA to fund the work. WPI is tasked with locating and closing a valve near a leaking pipe. The effort combines Berenson's work in motion planning algorithms with the expertise of several faculty members. Sonia Chernova, assistant professor of computer science and robotics engineering, will apply her expertise in machine learning, and Rob Lindeman, associate professor of computer sci- BY NOW EVERYONE'S HEARD THAT THE ODDS FOR WINNING LAST NOVEMBER'S $550 MILLION POWERBALL DRAWING WERE 1 IN 175 MILLION. BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY? MARCEL BLAIS, ASSISTANT TEACHING PROFESSOR OF MATH AT WPI, PUTS IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE. BLAIS SAYS WINNING THE JACKPOT WOULD BE ANALOGOUS TO HAVING ROLLING TWO DICE 27 FLIPPING A COIN THAT COMES UP HEADS 104 GRANDCHILDREN THAT ARE ALL FEMALE 27 TIMES AND NEVER COMING UP WITH THE NUMBER 7 TIMES IN A ROW traditions Founders Day Brings Out the Goat in Us All WPI BOARD OF TRUSTEES chair Steve ence, will draw on his knowledge of virtual reality and novel computer interfaces to develop an interface people can use to give the robot high-level guidance. The DARPA challenge is intended to spur the development of advanced technologies that can enable human-like robots to execute complex tasks in humanengineered environments and to work in locations where it is too risky to send people. Rubin '74 makes no bones about his love for goats. When the opportunity arose for two of his own to participate in Founders Day (Nov. 11, 2012), he didn't hesitate. Pollux (left) and Castor, three-year old Nigerian Dwarf goats, thoroughly enjoyed their day at WPI, garnering a great deal of attention from students, faculty, and staff—including lots of petting, and more than their daily allotment of apple wedges. Rubin's herd also includes Honey, a Steve Rubin with Nigerian Dwarf. Another, Howard (a Nubian), his goats on now resides at Winslow Farm in Norton Mass. Founders Day Howard has the distinction of having been named the largest goat in New England. Rubin's relationship with the farm recently led to some WPI students doing their IQP at Winslow Farm. Winter 2013 13

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