AME Intelligent Robotics Lab
AME Intelligent Robotics Lab
Welcome to the IRL. Research in
this lab is mainly concerned with solving problems that
require a mixture of mechanics and computation, where
neither will suffice on their own. When trying to solve a
problem (e.g., exploring Mars) once can take a mechanical
approach and build a tank -- which can go over any
terrain, or a brilliant unicycle, which can plot a safe,
but long path that avoids all possible hazards. At the
IRL, we try and find a middle ground. We design robust
mechanics that don’t waste mass and energy on the worst
case, and use intelligent software to get us around those
bits of the physical world beyond our mechanics. On the
flip side, we don’t spend time and energy running optimal
algorithms, when satisfactory solutions can be found for a
fraction of the cost.
Balancing Mechanics & Computation