Lynne Parker, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the research director of the department’s Distributed Intelligence Laboratory, will discuss “distributed intelligence” in multi-robot systems at the University Studies Program’s Centripetals Luncheon at noon on Wednesday, April 29.
In multi-robot systems, robots work together to collectively, cooperatively, or collaboratively achieve tasks that are difficult or impossible for a single monolithic agent to accomplish. Such systems, when appropriately designed, exhibit “distributed intelligence.” This talk reviews the topic of distributed intelligence in the context of multi-robot systems, which sense and interact in the physical world. Parker will describe methods that have been developed to allow these robot teams to autonomously collaborate, detect faults, learn, and adapt in their environment.
Parker also holds an appointment as Adjunct Distinguished Research and Development Staff Member in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where she worked as a full-time researcher for several years. She regularly teaches undergraduate and graduate classes at UT in robotics, artificial intelligence, algorithms and related topics. Parker also has authored several books and a number of articles on robotics; and she is the recipient of substantial awards from notable institutions, including the National Science Foundation, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Lockheed Martin.
The Centripetals Luncheon – open to scholars, researchers and interested members of the Knoxville community – is a monthly affair held in the University Center Executive Dining Room. Cost for lunch is $8, payable at the door, but RSVP is required.
For more info or to RSVP, call 974-8177 or e-mail unistudy@utk.edu.