Biodiversity Seminar: Sustainability Robotics: Nature-Inspired Robots for Nature Protection
Datum:
Ort:
WSL Birmensdorf, Hörsaal
Organisiert von:
Biodiversity Center, WSL
Vortrag:
Mirko Kovač, Empa
Moderation:
Rolf Holderegger, WSL
Sprache(n):
English
Veranstaltungstyp:
Vorträge und Kolloquien
Zielpublikum:
Anyone interested in the topics
Abstract ¶
Environmental sciences rely heavily on accurate, timely and complete data sets which are often collected manually at significant risks and costs. Robotics and mobile sensor networks can collect data more effectively and with higher spatial-temporal resolution compared to manual methods while benefiting from expanded operational envelopes and added data collection capabilities. In future, robotics and AI will be an indispensable tool for data collection in complex environments, enabling the digitalisation of forests, lakes, off-shore energy systems, cities and the polar environment. However, such future robot solutions will need to operate more flexibly, robustly and efficiently than they do today.
This talk will present how animal-inspired robot design methods can integrate adaptive morphologies, functional materials and energy-efficient locomotion principles to enable this new class of environmental robotics. The talk will also include application examples, such as flying robots that can place sensors in forests, aerial-aquatic drones for autonomous water sampling, drones for aerial construction and repair, and impact-resilient drones for safe operations in underground and tunnel systems.
About the speaker ¶
Prof. Mirko Kovac is director of Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in Zürich and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Before his appointment at EPFL he was full Professor at Imperial College London. His research group focusses on the development of novel mobile robots for distributed sensing and autonomous manufacturing in complex natural environments. Prof. Kovac's particular specialisation is in robot design, hardware development and multi-modal sensor mobility.
He was post-doctoral researcher at Harvard University and obtained his PhD at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). He received his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) in 2005.
Since 2006, he has presented his work in more than 100 peer reviewed publications in leading conferences and journals, has won several best paper awards and has delivered over 100 keynote and invited lectures. He also regularly acts as advisor to government, investment funds and industry on robotics opportunities.
How to join ¶
Our public seminars are hybrid, with the option to attend in-person or online.
Zoom webinar: link (ID: 650 3334 2319, Password: 348826)
Biodiversity Seminars ¶
The Biodiversity Seminar Series are organized by the WSL Biodiversity Center. Every two weeks, we aim to host a seminar speaker who presents research or outreach on topics relevant to the biodiversity community at WSL. The seminars are public and are usually broadcast online.
To find out more about the WSL Biodiversity Center and a complete list of events, please visit our website.
Please send an email to events-biodiversity(at)wsl.ch if you would like to be updated on the activities of the WSL Biodiversity Center.
Contact ¶
How to get here ¶
Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf
By public transport ¶
Bus stop Birmensdorf ZH, Sternen/WSL
Accessible by bus lines 220 and 350 via Wiedikon/Triemli or via Birmensdorf station with S-Bahn lines 5 and 14.
By car ¶
See map on map.search.ch or Google Maps
You'll find guest parking spaces (for a fee) behind the main building after passing the main entrance.