Robotics

A key research area for the CPS Lab is next-generation collaborative robots with a high degree of autonomy.

The CPS Lab robot family

Our department has invested in a large collection of robots over the years. For studying aspects of industrial, academic, and social robotics, we currently own or have access to the following robots:

Pepper
Opening of Telenor-NTNU AI-Lab. Minister of Trade and Industry, Monica Mæland, meets CPS Lab member Inge.
NaoIb
Nao for education
PepperNMK
Frode Alnæs & The Peppers at Newton Room opening, NMK (click for video)
UR
Two UR10 robots collaborating in the NTNU FabLab in Ålesund

Social Robots

Studying social robots, we have focused on the challenges in building interactive robots capable of accomplishing interactive tasks in human environments. The goal is to develop principles, techniques, and technologies that enables use of social robots in various settings to meet the challenges and opportunities in the era of digitalization.

There is a tremendous need for emotionally and socially intelligent robots that can interact with people in a human-like manner in terms of behavior and appearance. This include customized dialogue systems and chat bots by using deep learning technology that can be used in various settings, user profile extraction for personalized and customized response, autonomous navigation, and robot personality.

Being a key strategic area of our department, research on social robots has been organised in a separate lab: Social Robots Lab.

srl_logo

Key research topics

Our social robots serve as a platform for

  • AI, computational intelligence, and machine learning
  • Computer vision
  • Guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) of autonomous systems
  • Dialogue system, chat bot, user profiling, and robot personality
  • Natural language processing
  • Development of caregiver and educational robots

Research area coordinator for social robots

Ibrahim A. Hameed, PhD, Associate Professor
Phone: +47-70161306
Mobile: +47-91276577

Biomedical Robotics

In the research area of medical technology and health information, key topics are the application of robots for the testing of human joints, and 3D technology for modelling and production of orthopaedic braces and prosthesis.
Collaborating with Ålesund Hospital and Department of Ocean Operations and Civil Engineering, we focus on the following topics:
  • Robot assisted testing/evaluation of new methods in orthopaedic surgery
  • Modelling and design of patient-adapted orthopaedic braces for bone fractures in the arm

Furthermore, we are investigating the prospect of digital twins and creating simulator environments in which medical staff can train on a set of surgery procedures for a variety of medical conditions.

Both research areas have great potentials for developing new products and services for the benefit of the patient and the hospital.

Research area coordinator for medical technology

Webjørn Rekdalsbakken, Associate Professor
Phone: +47-70161246