IGERT: Interdisciplinary Research Training in Biocentric Robotics

这项综合研究生教育和研究培训（IGERT）奖支持犹他大学生物中心机器人跨学科培训的发展，包括机械工程、生物工程和计算机科学方面的学生和教师。以生物为中心的机器人技术涉及机器人的发展，以物理方式与人互动和帮助人，并通过应用生物学原理获得高级性能。学生将在设计以生物为中心的机器人和生物系统的突出方面接受跨学科的培训。重点是开发新的组件，设计方法和必要的控制技术，以建立未来的机器人。来自不同部门的受训者将学习机器人方面的共同课程，并辅以几门新课程和为培训和研究配备的新实验室。学生立即被分配到一个监督委员会，并开始一系列的实验室轮岗。学员将在年度会议上展示他们的作品，并将参加各种活动，为他们未来的职业生涯做准备。跨学科的课程和其他活动将使受训者准备开发机器人来帮助人类生活的各个方面。以生物为中心的机器人将能够帮助身体受损的人和老年人，协助康复，并协助外科手术。受生物学启发的机器人设计将实现哺乳动物和无脊椎动物所享有的一些灵活性和能力，以执行人类无法完成的过于危险或困难的任务。外展活动将利用机器人项目和竞赛来激发中学生对科学和工程的兴趣。该项目将与蒙大拿州立大学和北卡罗来纳州农业技术大学合作招收研究生。IGERT是一项nsf范围内的计划，旨在满足教育美国博士科学家和工程师的挑战，他们具有跨学科背景，所选学科的深厚知识，以及未来职业需求所需的技术，专业和个人技能。该计划旨在通过建立创新的研究生教育和培训模式，在一个超越传统学科界限的合作研究的肥沃环境中，促进研究生教育的文化变革。

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.