The Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines

robotics.gatech.edu

Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta, GA 30332-3000

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Copyright 2016 • Georgia Institute of Technology • B17C5416

Georgia Tech offers the first interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in robotics to students enrolled

in a participating school within either the College of Computing or the College of Engineering.

A fully integrated, multidisciplinary experience, the program educates a new generation of

robotics researchers as well as innovative leaders prepared to make an impact upon entering

the workforce.

IRIM serves as the flagship for Tech’s robotics efforts and, therefore, has an integral

relationship with many faculty members serving as research advisors to students pursuing

the robotics degree. The program includes both coursework and research, with teaching needs

served by faculty members in various units across campus.

Georgia Tech’s Ph.D. in robotics is recognized as one of the best in the U.S., and the program’s

graduates go on to be leaders in both industry and academia, securing positions at companies

and institutions such as Google, KUKA Robotics, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon.

Learn more at phdrobotics.gatech.edu.

CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ROBOTICS RESEARCHERS

The IRIM Industrial Partners Program allows members to explore opportunities for research collaborations,

testing services, consulting relationships, student hiring, and other valuable interactions.

IRIM’s industry partners are well positioned to take advantage of new technologies as they are developed,

and the collaborative research environment provides companies with unprecedented access to some of the

world’s best computer scientists and engineers. Through Georgia Tech’s redesigned research contracting,

members enjoy industry-friendly intellectual property arrangements.

Contact an IRIM representative to begin an industry partnership tailored to meet your needs.

IRIM’s industry partners get to know robotics students during an annual networking event.

Magnus EgerstedtExecutive Director

Gary V. McMurrayAssociate Director of Industry

Jun UedaAssociate Director of Academics

Beth BryantDirector of Corporate Relations

Josie G. GilesMarketing Communications Manager

Nina M. WhiteAdministrative Manager

IRIM INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS PROGRAM

ROBOTICS.GATECH.EDU

THE INSTITUTE FOR ROBOTICS AND INTELLIGENT MACHINESEnhancing the human experience through robotics

The scale and scope of IDEaS gives researchers and industry partners the resources to innovate and pursue opportunities to a much greater extent than would otherwise be possible.

IRIM FOCUS AREASThe depth and breadth of IRIM breaks

through disciplinary boundaries and allows

for transformative research that transitions

from theory to robustly deployed industrial

systems featuring next-generation robots.

IRIM research is organized around three main threads:

HUMAN AUGMENTATION Robots can augment human capabilities, empowering people to be more productive, healthy, and creative. IRIM researchers are developing the next generation of robots to enhance the human experience for everyone. Ongoing research includes work on intelligent prostheses for superhuman musicianship, soft robotic appendages to assist people with stroke-related impairments, robotic exoskeletons that interpret a user’s intent from biosignals, robots that enhance surgeons’ capabilities, socially interactive robots for childhood education, and mobile robots to assist older adults in their homes.

AUTONOMY Autonomy, broadly speaking, involves robots that have transitioned out of labs and into daily lives — whether in hospitals, on farms, in homes, or on factory floors. These robots must sense their environments, reason about appropriate actions, and take action in a safe and effective manner. IRIM has significant expertise in this area, with hopping, walking, slithering, driving, flying, and swimming robots being part of the robotic menagerie on campus. Perception, machine learning, path planning, and motion control are all supporting disciplines to Georgia Tech’s research in autonomy.

COLLABORATIVE ROBOTICS As industrial robots are freed from their enclosures on the manufacturing floor and begin to work alongside human operators, a new, human-centric design process is needed. IRIM is a leader in human-robot interactions, developing robots that can learn from human demonstration, as well as human-robot teams that can assemble and manipulate objects together. Where flexible and advanced manufacturing solutions are required, IRIM focuses on designing user interfaces that allow quick and easy programming by human operators through both software generation and learning by demonstration.

Georgia Tech’s Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (IRIM) serves as an

umbrella under which robotics researchers, educators, and students from across campus

can come together to advance the many high-powered and diverse robotics activities at

Georgia Tech.

IRIM’s mission is to create new and exciting opportunities for faculty collaboration; educate the next generation of robotics experts, entrepreneurs, and academic leaders; and partner with industry and government to pursue truly transformative robotics research.

• 70+ Faculty Members

• 180+ Graduate Students

• 30+ Robotics Labs

• $30m+ Annual Sponsored Research

COMMUNITY OUTREACHIRIM participates in numerous outreach activities related to robotics, including:

National Robotics Week Open House Every year, IRIM hosts an open house with tours and demos during National Robotics Week, an annual celebration that recognizes robotics technology as a pillar of 21st century American innovation. Now in its eighth year, the open house educates the public on the economic and societal benefits of robotics technology and inspires students of all ages to pursue careers in robotics and other science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.

Robot Trading Cards IRIM produces and distributes robot trading cards, including a special deck created in collaboration with iRobot and IEEE Spectrum. These popular cards teach both adults and children nationwide about the numerous applications for robots created at Georgia Tech and across the U.S.

RoboGrads & RoboJackets Two student groups, RoboGrads (graduate) and RoboJackets (undergraduate), raise awareness of the importance of robotics technology to stimulate interest in the field. The groups work together to mentor a high school team for the FIRST Robotics Competition, providing support such as shop space and equipment, funding, and engineering guidance. In collaboration with IRIM staff, RoboGrads leaders also host tours throughout the year.

Fernbank Museum Robot Day During Fernbank’s annual Robot Day, IRIM staff and graduate students set up a booth, where they answer questions, conduct demos, and distribute robot cards and information on IRIM.