WPI Journal - The Magazine for WPI Alumni

WINTER 2015

The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)

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research Making the World SAFER with Robots Conference gathers experts to seek Ebola solutions WPI'S ROBOTS AND THEIR HANDLERS have been in the spotlight as researchers explore the possibility of repurposing existing robots to assist with the Ebola epidemic in West Africa. In November experts came together for a Symposium on the Advancement of Field Robots for Ebola Response (SAFER) at WPI, followed by an invitation-only Safety Robotics for Ebola Workers workshop held in collaboration with the White House Offce of Science and Technology Policy, Texas A&M; University, and University of California, Berkeley. The focus was on incorporating telemedicine and surveillance, as well as decontamination and other technologies, into the current discussion about responding to the Ebola outbreak. In an interview with the New York Times, robotics engineering professor Taskin Padir spoke of repurposing AERO, a campus robot developed for NASA, to safely perform decontamination tasks, such as spraying bleach solution on surfaces exposed to infected body fuids. Baxter, an indus- trial robot, has appeared on BBC television, demonstrating his potential to help health workers take off goggles and clumsy protective gear. Padir says he was pleased with the diverse participation in the confer- ence. "It was great to hear people's perspectives, and now it's time to think hard on problems and see if we can make things happen," he says. The group discussed short-term solutions that can be implemented in the Ebola crisis, which he will share with government leaders. "Par- ticipants were engaged and I think they appreciated that we provided a platform for discussion, and not only for Ebola. Toward the end of the day we started hearing about other disasters and talking about where we can use technology to be better prepared next time something like this happens." Winter 2015 19 W π Barton, who also performed, creates software that allows human musicians to interact with robots. So while Barton played his guitar, the robot responded not only to the composition, but also to the improvisation. One audience favorite combined a belly dancer with a musical robot. This captivating dance was juxtaposed with an electronically generated soundscape complete with mechanical movements, and, according to Barton, the pair was a perfect example of how humans and machines could interact. "In one sense, the fuidity of the belly dance contrasts with the exactness of the robots, but in another," he says, "the two are aligned as their movements each produce sound. The mix of contradiction and agreement is intel- lectually and aesthetically compelling." Barton relishes the unpredictability of mixing humans and robots in a performance. "The thing I like about improv is the chance for surprise," he says. "I love that in music. The coolest thing when robots make their own choices is that they can do things that surprise you. Those are the moments in music I get most excited about."

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