INTELLIGENT ROBOTICS LABORATORY MISSION



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The mission of the IR lab is to build integrated intelligent systems and contribute to theories of such systems. We understand Intelligent Robotics broadly; it includes traditional robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Mining, Evolutionary Computation, Neural Nets and Fuzzy Logic, and other knowledge-intensive research areas. Sometimes, these areas go under titles of ``Computational Intelligence'', ``Intelligent Systems'' or ``Soft Computing''.

Theoretical aspects of our research include developing and testing methodologies for machine learning based on various paradigms such as constructive induction, immunological networks, artificial neural nets, genetic algorithms, reconstructability analysis and reasoning by analogy. We are especially interested in using quantum mechanics concepts in Computational Intelligence, a new area of ``Quantum Computational Intelligence''.

We are also interested in practical aspects of building robots and applications of other research disciplines in robotics; for instance designing ASIC chips or PCB boards for use in robotics, and designing complete humanoid robots. We are especially interested in Evolvable Hardware and Reconfigurable Processors such as Hough Transform processor, Cube Calculus Machine or controllers for humanoid robots. We built few controller systems, including Evolvable Hardware ones, using digital FPGAs and EPLDs and analog FPAAs (Field Programmable Analog Arrays). One of our research projects is a complete interactive robot theatre based on multi-processor architecture. We are building also a 100 processor cluster for computationally intensive tasks, including robot vision and multi-robot theatre control.

In addition to its role in integrating faculty research and graduate education, the laboratory serves teaching of several undergraduate classes, such as: ECE 271 - Digital Systems, where the first student-designed robots are built, ECE 478/479 - Intelligent Robotics, where more sophisticated control of them is created, using fuzzy logic, neural net and logic methods, ECE 510 - VHDL and Verilog, where robot controller and image processors are designed.

Finally the laboratory serves as a focal point for Portland Area high school students who are interested in practical robotics. Several projects have been organized, which include Electric Horse, and Talking Heads. There are special programs and grants for disabled high school students and teenage girls interested in robotics.

Intelligent Robotics Laboratory is a part of the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Portland State University and serves predominantly undergraduate and graduate students of this department. For more information about the lab, research of our faculty and students, and our outreach high school robotics programs, contact the lab director, Professor Marek Perkowski.