John Rieffel, professor of computer science and department chair, shows off one of his “soft robots," that is composed of rigid struts and springs.
For many, AI is ChatGPT.
John Rieffel’s research focuses on a different flavor of AI -- robotics.
The professor of computer science and department chair is using AI to optimize movements of tensegrities – “soft robots” composed of rigid struts and springs – that have potential applications in search-and-rescue, space exploration and surgery.
A computer gives a random set of speeds to the robot’s three vibrating motors and, through trial and error, develops an algorithm for solutions a human might not discover.
“The robot can find non-intuitive solutions that are better than a human would have arrived at because we come with preconceived notions,” Rieffel said.
Rieffel was recently awarded a Mercator Fellowship, which supports his collaboration with robotics researchers in Germany.