Admoni_ICRA_WS.pdf
Personalizable Human-Robot Interaction through Cognitive Load Monitoring and Optimization
Abstract: TBD
Ajoudani_ICRA_WS.pdf
Howes_ICRA_WS.pdf
Predictive Coding and Social Cognition
Abstract: Predictive coding is a neuroscience theory that suggests the human brain functions as a predictive machine. The brain continually generates predictions about the world and minimizes prediction errors by updating internal models and acting on the environment. My research group has been exploring the potential of neural network models based on predictive coding. Our research questions include whether and how such models enable robots to acquire social cognitive functions such as imitation, intention and emotion recognition, and altruistic behavior. In this talk, we will showcase our robot experiments, demonstrating the potential of predictive coding theory for enabling robots, and humans, to develop social cognitive functions. We will also discuss the ways in which our neuro-inspired approach can facilitate human-robot interaction and highlight the implications of this research for the broader field of artificial intelligence and computational neuroscience.
Towards Robots that Navigate Seamlessly Next to People
Abstract: Robots have the potential to enhance human productivity by taking over tedious and laborious tasks across important domains like fulfilment, manufacturing, and healthcare. These domains are highly dynamic and unstructured, requiring robots to operate close to users who are occupied with demanding and possibly safety-critical tasks. This level of complexity is challenging for existing systems which largely treat users as moving obstacles. Such systems often fail to adapt to the dynamic context, producing behaviors that distract human activity and hinder productivity. In this talk, I will share insights from my work on robot navigation in crowds, highlighting how mathematical abstractions grounded on our understanding of pedestrian navigation may empower simple models and interpretable architectures to produce safe, efficient, and positively perceived robot motion under close interaction settings. I will close with field-deployment challenges, emphasizing the importance of handling autonomy failures and scaling performance across diverse environments.
Mavrogiannis-ICRA-WS.pdf