Project Info

Robotics and Nature: From Evolutionary Computation to Intelligent Robots

This project will focus on developing robot demonstrations of perception, reasoning, and acting capabilities that are inspired by nature in order to advance robotics education and personalized learning. There exist many unsolved challenges in robotics that have been amazingly solved in nature during biological evolution, from basic motor skills to advanced meta cognition. This project will explore nature-inspired solutions to robotics challenges, as well as the relationship of nature and robotics technology for personalized education.

More Information

The Human-Centered Robotics Lab’s web page provides an overview of our robotics research, education, and outreach that related to this project: http://hcr.mines.edu

Grand Engineering Challenge: Advance personalized learning

Student Preparation

Qualifications

Programming skills, such as C++ and Python, are required. Experience of robotics, teaching, and K-12 education is preferred.

Time Commitment

4-5 hours/week

Skills/Techniques Gained

Design skills of integrated hardware-software systems, research skills of applying evolutionary computation methods to robotics, and collaboration skills to work with roboticists and K-12/college teachers.

Mentoring Plan

The undergraduate student will collaborate with graduate students working on related projects, so the student can have day-to-day communication with other lab mates. The student will also meet with the professor weekly and attend project meetings of K-12 teachers or college educators.