Newsroom staff
18 May 2018: The University of Canberra has partnered with Tactical Research Pty Ltd on a collaborative research project aimed at exploring human-robotic interactions.
The project ‘Bridging the Gap – Humans, Robots and Remote Places’ will focus on industrial challenges within the New South Wales Snowy Mountains by exploring how robotic technology can meet the needs unique to the region.
The project began the initial scoping stage on 15 May with a workshop held at the University of Canberra. Over the next six months, the team will engage with industry and other stakeholders to identify priority research areas.
Tactical Research Managing Director Scott Russell said the partnership was a wonderful example of how industry and academia can collaborate.
“In this project we will utilise our advanced sensing, computing, and machine learning platform, cognition®,” Mr Russell explained.
“The integration of this patented technology platform with unmanned vehicles presents a new wave of opportunity to conduct intelligent, autonomous operations in remote areas where there is no power or communications infrastructure available,” he added.
Director of the University of Canberra’s Human-Centred Technology (HCT) Research Lab Professor Roland Goecke said the University was delighted to partner with Tactical Research on the project.
“HCT focuses on interdisciplinary research into the nature, creation and use of technology that assists people in their work and personal lives,” Professor Goecke said.
“Exploring how humans and robots can work together and cohabitate is an exciting area of research underway at the University of Canberra.
“Our role in this project will be looking at this human-robot interaction and how unmanned drones can be utilised to inspect infrastructure or for alpine search and rescue operations.”
The work will be led by Assistant Professor in Software Engineering Dr Damith Herath, an expert in human-robot interaction, robot navigation and robotic art.
