Robot Designer

How did you become interested in robotics?

My parents took me to see Star Wars when I was 7, and I was completely mesmerized by the fictional robot “droids” in the movie. I knew then that I wanted to build real-life robots when I grew up.

What types of robots do you create?

My lab makes all kinds of robots. But we specialize in creating humanoid, or human-shaped, ones. The most challenging part of developing a humanoid robot is perfecting its movements, like hand motions and walking.

Building robots that move like humans is important because all objects in our lives—from stairs to doors to dishwashers—have been designed to be used by people. For robots to successfully navigate human environments, they need to be able to interact with these items like we do.

How does your team decide what to build?

We sometimes design robots for the government, to help with things like disaster relief. We also work with companies to develop robots to improve their business. For example, we recently partnered with a Korean food-delivery service to develop YORI, a robotic cooking system. YORI has chemical sensors to determine if ingredients it’s using are fresh. Then it can fry, bake, and boil them into all kinds of meals.

We participate in competitions too. Every year we compete in the RoboCup, a soccer tournament where all the players are humanoid robots created by labs around the world. The robots are fully autonomous, meaning they’re not controlled by humans. They’re programmed to locate, aim, and kick soccer balls by themselves. So far, our lab has won the RoboCup World Championship six times since it began in 1997! This year, we competed and won with our new robot ARTEMIS—the world’s fastest-walking humanoid robot.

What is the process for developing a robot?

Our team starts by brainstorming. Next we run computer simulations to see how a design might work before we build it. Then we program the robot’s software. After that, we start to make the metal parts and electronics. Once it’s complete, we test the robot to see what needs to be improved.

You need many different skills to do all this. Our team consists of 28 students working toward their Ph.D.s. We have mechanical engineers, computer scientists, electrical engineers, materials specialists—and even biologists.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Many ideas come from observations I’ve made. I always carry a pencil and a notebook with me to write or sketch what I see. Our robot STriDER is a tripod-shaped walking machine. It moves by swinging its rear leg forward and placing it ahead of the other two, a movement inspired by the technique of braiding hair. This idea came from a sketch I’d made of a woman braiding a child’s hair in the park.

What is your favorite robot you’ve created?

They’re all my favorites! Our projects, big or small, make the world a better place. For example, we recently developed a robotic car that allows a blind person to drive. Creating it reminded me just how much robots can improve our lives—and they will only become more useful as technology evolves.