Autonomy Incubator Seminar Series:
WHY DRIVE (AUTONOMOUSLY) WHEN YOU CAN FLY (AUTONOMOUSLY)?
Sanjiv Singh, Research Professor, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University
April 10, 2014, 10:00 am, NASA Langley, Reid Center
Hosts: Danette Allen (NASA) and Fred Brooks (NIA)
Abstract:
Now that the question of self-driving automobiles becoming commonplace is one of “when” rather than “if”, we might ask if the age of autonomous personal aviation is close also. While the logistics and safety issues associated with autonomous flight are complex, in many cases, “slipping the surly bonds of earth” simplifies the problem of autonomous aviation. Dr. Singh will illustrate this point with results from series of experiments that have demonstrated autonomous flight close to the ground, between wires, trees and buildings on platforms spanning sub-meter scale to full-sized helicopters. Dr. Singh will also try to answer the question of what it will take to get to the Jetson’s age in which it will sometimes make sense to fly your car autonomously rather than to drive it.
Bio:
Sanjiv Singh is a Research Professor at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University and the CEO of Near Earth Autonomy. His chief expertise is in two areas: perception in natural environments, and, multi-agent coordination. Recent projects have applications in military aviation, specialty agriculture, mining and construction. In 2010 he led a team that demonstrated the first autonomous, full-scale helicopter capable of take-off, search for viable
landing sites and safe descent. In 2011 he led the autonomy effort for Transformer, DARPA’s flying car program. He currently leads projects to demonstrate sensors, perception and motion planning for full-scale autonomous aircraft. He holds a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and is the founding editor of the Journal of Field Robotics.