Purdue's IDEAS Lab Secures Funding for Smarter Robotic Dogs
09-05-2024
Aniket Bera, associate professor of Computer Science, has been awarded a three-year grant by the U.S. Department of Defense to help robotic canines navigate challenging terrains. Photo by Brian Powell
Aniket Bera receives defense grant to develop smart terrain sensing and autonomous navigation for robotic canines
Deep in the IDEAS Lab at Purdue University roves an unusual guardian. This guardian is in training to navigate the most challenging terrains, from dense jungles where visibility is limited to war-torn urban environments littered with debris. This soon-to-be hero is a robotic canine, and all four paws need to be trained to navigate whatever grounds might lie ahead. This is why the United States Department of Defense (DoD) has granted three years of funding to Principal Investigator Aniket Bera, associate professor of Computer Science at the Purdue University College of Science.
The grant, titled "Terrain Intelligence and Adaptive Navigation for Autonomous Robotic Systems in Dynamic and Hostile Environments," is funded by the DoD’s Army Research Laboratory (ARL). The total funding for the first year alone is - $306,450 and subsequent funding will be supplied for years two and three. All funding will go to Bera’s IDEAS Lab (Intelligent Design for Empathetic and Augmented Systems). The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) is a research laboratory strategically placed under the Army Futures Command. ARL is the Army’s sole foundational research laboratory focused on cutting-edge scientific discovery, technological innovation, and transitioning capabilities for the future Army.
“The field of autonomous navigation and robotics is an incredibly exciting and rapidly evolving area of science and technology,” explains Bera. “In simple terms, it involves creating machines that can move through and interact with the world around them on their own, without human intervention. Think of self-driving cars, drones delivering packages, or robots assisting in search and rescue missions.”
Bera and will be working on the DoD's DEVCOM Army Research Lab on developing advanced navigation systems that allow these robots to integrate detailed aerial reconnaissance with ground-level observations. This integration creates a comprehensive, continuously updated map that guides robots through dynamic and unpredictable landscapes safely and efficiently.
This project aims to enhance navigation through advanced mapping and classification, dynamically adapting to complex terrains and threats. Graphic provided by Aniket Bera.
“These robots are also trained to recognize different types of terrain and identify potential threats automatically, akin to soldiers learning to read their environments and anticipate risks,” explains Bera. “This capability enables the robots to adapt their paths on-the-fly, maneuvering around new obstacles or threats as they arise. Through extensive trials in simulated and real-world military scenarios, this technology is being refined to ensure that it can support troops by providing reliable reconnaissance and secure navigation. As this project progresses, we aim to enhance the operational effectiveness of military missions, offering both strategic advantages and greater safety for personnel in complex environments.”
The project also incorporates a sophisticated threat-aware navigation system. This system enables the robots to assess and respond to potential dangers with high precision, making real-time decisions that optimize their routes for safety. Whether avoiding risky terrains, navigating around unexpected enemy positions, or adapting to sudden environmental changes like landslides or flooding, these robots are equipped to handle a variety of combat scenarios.
“This threat-aware approach not only increases the survivability of the robots but also ensures they can continue to perform critical tasks, such as surveillance or delivering supplies, even in hostile settings,” says Bera. “This strategic integration of technology dramatically improves the capabilities of military operations, ensuring higher efficiency and security in executing complex missions.”
Bera will conduct research for this grant at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus in his IDEAS Lab as well as other unique facilities like the Envision Center. Students may even run into the robotic dog on campus as it trains to sit, stay, heel, walk and run on a variety of landscapes.
“What excites me most about receiving this funding is the immense potential it brings to address some of the world's most pressing challenges through the advancement of science and technology,” explains Bera. “This support allows us to delve into innovative research that can lead to breakthroughs in autonomous systems and robotics, enabling us to tackle big problems that have far-reaching implications. With this funding, we can develop technologies that enhance safety and efficiency in critical areas such as disaster response, where autonomous systems can navigate hazardous environments to assist in search and rescue operations, saving lives and reducing risks for human responders. We can improve transportation systems, making them smarter and more efficient, which can alleviate congestion, reduce accidents, and lower environmental impact. The grant also empowers us to work on enhancing the capabilities of robots in dynamic and unpredictable settings, such as military operations or complex industrial environments, where reliable and adaptive autonomous systems can significantly improve operational effectiveness and safety.”
The grant will fund four to six graduate students per year as well as provide undergraduate opportunities, faculty salary, robotics equipment support, workshops and conference and journal publication funding. This grant will support the development of advanced technologies to enhance autonomous navigation in complex and hostile environments. The primary goal is to improve terrain mapping, classification, and path planning by integrating data from ground vehicles and aerial imagery using novel techniques. This also aligns with the broader mission of fostering the next generation of scientists and engineers who will continue to advance DoD-related research.
“The collaborative aspect, involving students, researchers, and military partners, is a vital component of our success,” says Bera. “This project aims not only to advance technology but also to provide valuable educational and professional development opportunities for our team members. Additionally, the broader applications of this research, including environmental monitoring and disaster response, highlight the potential impact and importance of our work beyond military contexts.”
The IDEAS Lab focuses on developing AI agents and systems that interact naturally and collaboratively with humans.
“Our research encompasses various fields, including robotics, computer graphics, AI, virtual environments, and medical research,” he says. “Additionally, the lab is dedicated to building embodied computational models of human behaviors and developing component algorithms for intelligent agents, from sensing to decision-making and actuating. This interdisciplinary approach is crucial for advancing the state-of-the-art in autonomous systems and ensuring their successful integration into real-world applications, including DoD operations. I am also a part of the Institute for Control, Optimization and Networks (ICON) at Purdue which ties to one of Purdue’s major initiatives: Purdue Computes.”
Bera’s research spans several areas that extend beyond the scope of this specific grant, including social navigation, robotics, multi-agent systems, and affective computing including social navigation, robotics, multi-agent systems, affective computing, human motion generation and healthcare applications.
"This groundbreaking research led by Professor Aniket Bera highlights Purdue Computer Science's commitment to advancing technology that has real-world impact,” said Petros Drineas, professor and Samuel D. Conte head of the Department of Computer Science at Purdue. “By securing this prestigious DoD grant, Professor Bera's research is pushing the boundaries of autonomous systems and robotics."
“Overall, my research is driven by the goal of leveraging AI and machine learning to solve real-world problems, enhancing both civilian and military applications,” he says. “The interdisciplinary nature of this work, combining robotics, AI, and human-centered design, aims to create technologies that improve safety, efficiency, and quality of life across various domains.”
About the Department of Computer Science at Purdue University
Founded in 1962, the Department of Computer Science was created to be an innovative base of knowledge in the emerging field of computing as the first degree-awarding program in the United States. The department continues to advance the computer science industry through research. US News & Reports ranks Purdue CS #8 in computer engineering and #19 and #18 overall in graduate and undergraduate computer science. Additionally the program is ranked 6th in cybersecurity, 8th in software engineering, 13th in systems, 15th in programming languages and data analytics, and 18th in theory. Graduates of the program are able to solve complex and challenging problems in many fields. Our consistent success in an ever-changing landscape is reflected in the record undergraduate enrollment, increased faculty hiring, innovative research projects, and the creation of new academic programs. The increasing centrality of computer science in academic disciplines and society, and new research activities—centered around foundations and applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning, such as natural language processing, human computer interaction, vision, and robotics, as well as systems and security—are the future focus of the department. cs.purdue.edu
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Contributor: Aniket Bera, associate professor of Computer Science at the Purdue University College of Science