Interesting robotics talk by DARPA robotics guy

[Drew Van Zandt]

Forwarding this because it seems like something GNHLUG folks might be
interested in...

--DTVZ

All,

I'm excited to announce that Artisan's Asylum will be hosting a presentation
and discussion on the state of the art of robotics technology and its
ramifications on our current society, led by Dr. Gill Pratt, Program Manager
at the Defense Sciences Office of DARPA. Please take a look at the
eventbrite event and descriptions below; please note that admittance will
only be granted by advance ticket purchase in order to ensure enough
refreshments and seating, and tickets will not be sold at the door.

The event is here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1036543329

- - - - -

Description:

Our society is infatuated with robots. They make our cars, do our dishes,
perform surgery on us, explore the outer reaches of space for us, and more.
All of the easy tasks that can be automated in a factory setting already
have been, and competent teams of bright people are working very hard on
automating the harder tasks. Assuming we manage to reach our goal of
automating all the drudgery and menial labor out of our lives, what's left?
Can we cut manufacturing and utilitarian creation out of our economy and
still function as a society? What would a meaningful life look like if every
repetitive and dull task was done for us?

This talk is focused on the impact robotics technology could have on society
as we currently experience it, and will be formatted as an initial
presentation followed by a group discussion of the potential directions the
industry could take. It will also include an overview of the advanced
robotics research programs Dr. Gill Pratt manages at the Defense Sciences
Office of DARPA (the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), in addition
to including a brief overview of previous projects he oversaw in the
Biomimetic Robotics Lab at Olin College and the Legged Locomotion Laboratory
at MIT.

Biography of Gill Pratt, Ph.D.:

Dr. Gill Pratt received a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer
science from MIT, where he was an associate professor and director of the
Legged Locomotion Laboratory. He then proceeded to become a professor and
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs and Research at the Franklin W. Olin
College of Engineering, where he was also the director of the Biomimetic
Robotics Laboratory. He has recently become a Program Manager in the Defense
Sciences Office of DARPA, where his main research interests include novel
robotic design and fabrication techniques, new human/machine interfaces that
enhance collaboration, and new actuation techniques designed for improving
robotic mobility and manipulation.
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