What do robots need to be able to effectively help people? How can we equip robots with the skills to understand human states, predict human intentions and assist in an intelligent and supportive manner?

Using examples from research at Imperial College’s Personal Robotics Laboratory, Professor Demiris will demonstrate that assistance personalisation is a key competence that future helper robots will need to possess. Join us as we explore how robots can assist kids with disabilities, people with chronic conditions or mobility problems, or even help us with our car driving.

Our speaker will draw inspiration from intelligent sensing, machine learning, human factors, and robot design to give us a glimpse of how robots can help people’s wellbeing.

Professor Yiannis Demiris heads the Personal Robotics Laboratory at Imperial College London, where he conducts research in personalised assistive robotic systems, with applications in healthcare, in-vehicle intelligence, and support for children and adults with disabilities. He is a Fellow of the IET, BCS and RSS , and has received the Rector’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Faculty of Engineering award for Excellence in Engineering Education.

Date: Thursday 23 February 2017

Time: Refreshments served from 18.00. Talk starts at 18.30. Finishes around 20.30 following discussion.

Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, Churchill College, Storey's Way, Cambridge, CB3 0DS (directions)

Parking: There is ample free parking at the College either along Churchill Road (the College's private road) or in the main car park at the end of that road. Permits are not required.

Free to attend. All welcome. Registration required. To register, visit https://localevents.theiet.org/4bfb5c

​Contact: cambsec@theiet.org

This event is organised by the jointly by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Cambridge Network.