Presentation by Prof. Nikos A. Aspragathos
Prof. Nikos A. Aspragathos from the robotics group of the Mechanical University of Patras, Greece, will give a lecture on "Intelligent planning and control for robot motion and dexterous manipulation" on July 6, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. in G29-301.
Professor Nikos A. Aspragathos heads the Robotics Group of the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Patras. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering (1975) and a PhD from the Department of Electrical Engineering of the University of Patras (1982). He was a visiting scientist at the University of Newcastle (1983), at UWIST in Cardiff (1987 to 1988) and at CEA-LIST, Laboratoire de Robotique Interactive, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Paris (2011-2012).
He has published around 200 papers and contributions in journals and at conferences. He is a reviewer for about 30 journals and more than 20 conferences. He is a member of the editorial board of Mechatronics Journal, ISRN Robotics and International Journal of Automation and Control. He has been a member of more than 20 scientific or conference organizing committees and organized two national robotics conferences. He is also a member of the advisory group for the New Robotics Engineering Book Series (ASME Press).
The main areas of research of the robotics group and the methods developed are presented.
- Methods for motion planning of mobile and stationary manipulators based on genetic algorithms, neural networks, agent theory and computational geometry. Combined scheduling and motion planning of single and multiple mobile robots and manipulators considering obstacles and other constraints.
- Intelligent control for the skillful manipulation of non-rigid objects such as textiles and human-robot co-manipulation as well as gripping fragile objects.
- Methods for solving inverse kinematics using multi-agent concepts and neural networks.
- Optimal performance of current industrial manipulators and design and operation of metamorphic (reconfigurable) robots. Formulation of global and task-related manipulability indices. Determination of the best anatomy of a metamorphic manipulator
- Applications of these methods for robotics in industry, household, agriculture and services.
Interested members of the public are very welcome.