Robohub.org
 

Brenna D. Argall: Human Autonomy through Robotics Autonomy | CMU RI Seminar


by
20 September 2016



share this:

Video of seminar on YouTube

“It is a paradox that often the more severe a person’s motor impairment, the more challenging it is for them to operate the very assistive machines which might enhance their quality of life. A primary aim of my lab is to address this confound by incorporating robotics autonomy and intelligence into assistive machines—to offload some of the control burden from the user. Robots already synthetically sense, act in and reason about the world, and these technologies can be leveraged to help bridge the gap left by sensory, motor or cognitive impairments in the users of assistive machines. However, here the human-robot team is a very particular one: the robot is physically supporting or attached to the human, replacing or enhancing lost or diminished function. In this case getting the allocation of control between the human and robot right is absolutely essential, and will be critical for the adoption of physically assistive robots within larger society. This talk will overview some of the ongoing projects and studies in my lab, whose research lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, rehabilitation robotics and machine learning. We are working with a range of hardware platforms, including smart wheelchairs and assistive robotic arms. A distinguishing theme present within many of our projects is that the machine automation is customizable—to a user’s unique and changing physical abilities, personal preferences or even financial means.”




John Payne

            AUAI is supported by:



Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack



Related posts :

Robot Talk Episode 159 – Robot sensing and manipulation, with Maria Koskinopoulou

  05 Jun 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Maria Koskinopoulou from Heriot-Watt University about autonomous robotic manipulators for surgery, industry, and beyond.

Global robotics technology roadmap

  03 Jun 2026
A multi-regional, cross-domain strategic perspective for Europe, Asia, and the United States.

RoboChem Flex: democratisation of the autonomous synthesis robot

  02 Jun 2026
A versatile, modular design and the option for "human-in-the-loop" analytics.

Robot Talk Episode 158 – Autonomous robot deliveries, with Ahti Heinla

  29 May 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Ahti Heinla from Starship Technologies about their AI-powered delivery robots that operate independently on streets and pavements.

Light-activated gel could impact wearables, soft robotics, and more

  28 May 2026
In the field of ionotronics, data are transferred through ions, potentially providing a bridge between electronics and biological tissue.

Handle with care: Soft robot gripper picks ripe fruit without bruising

  27 May 2026
Stretchable fiber-optic sensors used to create a soft robot gripper.

Robot Talk Episode 157 – Generating new robot designs, with Josie Hughes

  22 May 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Josie Hughes from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne about using AI to develop new designs for robotic manipulators.

Robotics Café brings together autonomous robot practitioners

  20 May 2026
Recently launched series for researchers, students and industry practitioners aims to provide a platform for students to present their work.



AUAI is supported by:







Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack




 















©2026.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence