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Aug 08, 2023
Carnegie Mellon University's Summer Robotics Research Projects
Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute has been busy this summer, with several exciting research projects in the works. One such project is TartanPest, an all-electric tractor designed to
Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute has been busy this summer, with several exciting research projects in the works. One such project is TartanPest, an all-electric tractor designed to combat the invasive species known as spotted lanternflies. These pests can cause significant damage to crops, but TartanPest uses a robotic arm and computer vision to detect and remove lanternfly egg masses, potentially preventing future infestations. The team behind TartanPest hopes that by addressing this issue now, they can save on costs in the long run.
In another project, CMU roboticists tested an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in off-road conditions to gather data on how the vehicle interacts with obstacles. The research team collected 200,000 interactions, compiling them into a dataset called TartanData. The ultimate goal is to use this dataset to train self-driving vehicles to navigate off-road environments safely. Off-road driving presents unique challenges that autonomous vehicles must overcome, and the research team aims to improve their understanding of the dynamics of off-road terrains.
One of the concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles is their ability to detect pedestrians and other moving objects. To address this, CMU researchers, in collaboration with other institutions, developed MoTok. This framework enhances computer vision systems’ ability to detect and identify moving objects, such as pedestrians or cars. By using motion as a key factor, MoTok enables computer programs to better understand the concept of objects with multiple moving parts. This discovery has the potential to contribute to the development of safer autonomous vehicles.
Carnegie Mellon University continues to push the boundaries of robotics research, even during the summer break. These projects highlight the university’s commitment to innovation and its goal of making significant contributions to the field of robotics.