ITL’s Scholtz is invited presenter at Rescue Robot Camp in Italy

Dr. Jean Scholtz, of the Information Access Division, was an invited presenter at the Rescue Robot Camp, October 29 - November 2, 2004 in Rome, Italy. The camp was sponsored by the University of Rome, Robocup Rescue, and the Insituto Superiore Antincendi. The camp focused on the use of robots in urban search and rescue activities. Approximately 50 students and faculty participated in the camp. Participants were from the U.S., Italy, Germany, Australia, Japan, Sweden, The Netherlands, Israel, and The Czech Republic. Morning lectures focused on different areas of urban search and rescue robots, including mapping, victim identification, human-robot interaction, and mobility. In the afternoons, the participants worked in practical sessions implementing code for one of the different areas. Dr. Scholtz supervised a practical session on human-robot interaction that resulted in the design and implementation of a user interface to support live video, a laser ranging display, and the ability to operate the robot in four different modes of autonomy.

Contact: Jean Scholtz, ext. 2520.