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This Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) award supports the development of interdisciplinary training in Biocentric Robotics at the University of Utah, including students and faculty in mechanical engineering, bioengineering, and the computer sciences. Biocentric robotics concerns the development of robots to physically interact with and assist people, and… more »

This Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) award supports the development of interdisciplinary training in Biocentric Robotics at the University of Utah, including students and faculty in mechanical engineering, bioengineering, and the computer sciences. Biocentric robotics concerns the development of robots to physically interact with and assist people, and to attain advanced performance by applying biological principles. Students will be given interdisciplinary training in designing biocentric robots and in the salient aspects of biological systems. The emphasis is on developing the new components, design approaches, and control techniques necessary to build the robots of the future. Trainees from the different departments will undertake a common curriculum in robotics that is augmented with several new courses and new laboratories equipped for training and research. Students are immediately assigned a supervisory committee and commence with a sequence of lab rotations. Trainees will present their work at an annual meeting and will take part in a variety of activities to prepare them for their future careers.

The interdisciplinary curriculum and other activities will prepare trainees to develop robotics to assist humans in all aspects of life. Biocentric robots will be able to aid the physically impaired and elderly, assist in rehabilitation, and assist in surgical procedures. Biologically inspired robot designs will achieve some of the dexterity and capabilities enjoyed by mammals and invertebrates in order to perform tasks that are too dangerous or difficult for humans to do. Outreach activities will utilize robot projects and competitions to interest secondary school students in science and engineering. This project will work with Montana State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to recruit graduate students.

IGERT is an NSF-wide program intended to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers with the interdisciplinary background, deep knowledge in a chosen discipline, and the technical, professional, and personal skills needed for the career demands of the future. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. « less