Interdisciplinary Robotics Research Laboratory (IRRL)

Vassar College

Spring 2006 Robot Competition: May 15, 2006 (Details)

The Interdisciplinary Robotics Research Lab (IRRL) opened its doors in the Fall of 2004, thanks to an NSF Grant acquired by the members of the IRRL faculty (see below) and matching funds from Vassar College. It provides laboratory space for robotics research by both faculty and students, as well as for student teams participating in Vassar's Robotics Competition held each Spring. If you are a student interested in exploring Robotics at Vassar, please feel free to contact any of the IRRL faculty to discuss the possibilities.

Watch Prof. John Long and his swimming robot on Canadian Television!


The IRRL Open House (12/03/2004)

Faculty

Thomas Ellman
Computer Science
Homepage 		Specification and synthesis of numerical programs for simulation and animation of virtual robots.
Luke Hunsberger
Computer Science
Homepage 		Intentionality in collaborative multi-agent systems (involving both people and computer-based systems), with a focus on managing temporal constraints in collaborative groups.
Ken Livingston
Psychology
Homepage 		I am exploring the role played by the action capabilities of a system in how it learns to partition the world into categories about which it can then reason and plan.
John Long
Biology
Homepage 		John uses purpose-built robots to test theory in biology and cognitive science. Current projects are (1) evolutionary robotics to understand the origin of complex phenotypes in vertebrates, led by Joe Schumacher (Cog Sci '05); (2) development of an aquatic, four-finned, autonomous robot to understand the control of swimming behavior and performance in vertebrates.
Brad Richards
Computer Science
Homepage 		Developing materials to support the use of simple, robust robots as teaching tools in the introductory Computer Science curriculum.


Students putting last-minute touches on their robot, Spring 2003

Contact Info: Tom Ellman: thellman@vassar.edu