Human models for accelerated robot learning and human-robot interaction. This project aims to develop novel approaches to teach robots to proficiently interact with humans in a safe and low-cost manner. To achieve this aim, this project will develop novel models from which various human behaviours can be generated and used to train human-robot interaction policies in simulation. Expected outcomes of this project include new computational models of human behaviour built using cognitive science th ....Human models for accelerated robot learning and human-robot interaction. This project aims to develop novel approaches to teach robots to proficiently interact with humans in a safe and low-cost manner. To achieve this aim, this project will develop novel models from which various human behaviours can be generated and used to train human-robot interaction policies in simulation. Expected outcomes of this project include new computational models of human behaviour built using cognitive science theories and limited data and new training schemes for robot learning in simulation. By training robots in simulation with accurate human models, this research will enable fast and safe robot training to support the deployment and adoption of robots in human contexts such as healthcare facilities, homes, and workplaces.Read moreRead less
Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping in Deformable Environments. This project aims to investigate the problem of building a three-dimensional map of a deformable environment in real-time using images and at the same time localising the camera within the map. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of simultaneous localisation and mapping in deformable environments using visual sensors. Expected outcomes include in-depth understanding of the fundamental sensing requirem ....Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping in Deformable Environments. This project aims to investigate the problem of building a three-dimensional map of a deformable environment in real-time using images and at the same time localising the camera within the map. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of simultaneous localisation and mapping in deformable environments using visual sensors. Expected outcomes include in-depth understanding of the fundamental sensing requirements for the problem to be solvable, the achievable accuracy, and efficient algorithms for achieving accurate three-dimensional reconstruction of deformable environments. The research outcomes from this project offer significant benefits to diverse areas such as minimally invasive robotic surgery.Read moreRead less
Robotic Perception with Unconventional Sensors . Autonomy in robotic systems currently relies on conventional sensors such as lasers and cameras. Alternative sensing modalities as in the case of active electromagnetic sensors are commonly used to detect flaws, cracks and assess infrastructure’s integrity, however, fundamental research questions preclude their use for robotic perception. This project will develop the theory and algorithms to enable perception tasks such as localisation, mapping a ....Robotic Perception with Unconventional Sensors . Autonomy in robotic systems currently relies on conventional sensors such as lasers and cameras. Alternative sensing modalities as in the case of active electromagnetic sensors are commonly used to detect flaws, cracks and assess infrastructure’s integrity, however, fundamental research questions preclude their use for robotic perception. This project will develop the theory and algorithms to enable perception tasks such as localisation, mapping and recognition with unconventional sensors. The outcomes of this research have the potential to improve the effectiveness of critical civil infrastructure maintenance technology through accurate and reliable inspections, and the reduced need for human intervention.Read moreRead less
Unifying Foundations for Intelligent Agents. This project aims to drive forward the development of rigorous foundations for intelligent agents. The agent framework, the expected utility principle, sequential decision theory, and the information-theoretic foundations of inductive reasoning and machine learning have already brought significant order into the previously heterogeneous scattered field of artificial intelligence. This project aims to investigate an information-theoretic approach towar ....Unifying Foundations for Intelligent Agents. This project aims to drive forward the development of rigorous foundations for intelligent agents. The agent framework, the expected utility principle, sequential decision theory, and the information-theoretic foundations of inductive reasoning and machine learning have already brought significant order into the previously heterogeneous scattered field of artificial intelligence. This project aims to investigate an information-theoretic approach towards a unifying foundation for intelligent agents, which has recently spawned impressive applications. The theory is expected to provide a gold standard and valuable guidance for researchers working on smart software.Read moreRead less
Learning Robotic Navigation and Interaction from Object-based Semantic Maps. Our project aims to develop new learning algorithms that enable robots to perform high-complexity tasks that are currently impossible. Compared to existing methods that rely on low-level sensor data, we aim to achieve this by learning from a high-level graph representation of the environment that captures semantics, affordances, and geometry. The outcome would be robots capable of using human instructions to efficiently ....Learning Robotic Navigation and Interaction from Object-based Semantic Maps. Our project aims to develop new learning algorithms that enable robots to perform high-complexity tasks that are currently impossible. Compared to existing methods that rely on low-level sensor data, we aim to achieve this by learning from a high-level graph representation of the environment that captures semantics, affordances, and geometry. The outcome would be robots capable of using human instructions to efficiently learn complex interaction and navigation behaviours that transfer to unseen environments. Our research should benefit new applications in domains of economic and societal importance that are currently too complex, unsafe, and uncertain for robot assistants, such as aged care, advanced manufacturing and domestic robotics.Read moreRead less
Active Visual Navigation in an Unexplored Environment. This project will develop a new method for robotic navigation in which goals can be specified at a much higher level of abstraction than has previously been possible. This will be achieved using deep learning to make informed predictions about a scene layout, and navigating as an active observer in which the predictions informs actions. The outcome will be robotic agents capable of effective and efficient navigation and operation in previous ....Active Visual Navigation in an Unexplored Environment. This project will develop a new method for robotic navigation in which goals can be specified at a much higher level of abstraction than has previously been possible. This will be achieved using deep learning to make informed predictions about a scene layout, and navigating as an active observer in which the predictions informs actions. The outcome will be robotic agents capable of effective and efficient navigation and operation in previously unseen environments, and the ability to control such agents with more human-like instructions. Such capabilities are desirable, and in some cases essential, for autonomous robots in a variety of important application areas including automated warehousing and high-level control of autonomous vehicles. Read moreRead less
Exploiting the Symmetry of Spatial Awareness for 21st Century Automation. This project aims to enable autonomous robotic systems to operate more robustly and more reliably in the complex, cluttered and dynamic environments found in real-world applications. Applying the latest understanding of symmetry in non-linear systems and control provides tools that can be used to develop new design methodologies for spatial awareness algorithms. The outcomes of this project should increase Australia's ca ....Exploiting the Symmetry of Spatial Awareness for 21st Century Automation. This project aims to enable autonomous robotic systems to operate more robustly and more reliably in the complex, cluttered and dynamic environments found in real-world applications. Applying the latest understanding of symmetry in non-linear systems and control provides tools that can be used to develop new design methodologies for spatial awareness algorithms. The outcomes of this project should increase Australia's capacity in high-tech systems and deliver world best open source code for spatial awareness problems to enable the next generation of automation in Australia.Read moreRead less
Cybersecurity ethics training simulations for values-based decision-making. This Project will investigate ways to train reflective ethical decision making in cybersecurity management through the design of interactive social simulations. The Project will advance understanding and management of human factors in cybersecurity breaches and the field of serious game design for cybersecurity training by using new techniques for building artificially intelligent virtual agents, drawing on interdiscipli ....Cybersecurity ethics training simulations for values-based decision-making. This Project will investigate ways to train reflective ethical decision making in cybersecurity management through the design of interactive social simulations. The Project will advance understanding and management of human factors in cybersecurity breaches and the field of serious game design for cybersecurity training by using new techniques for building artificially intelligent virtual agents, drawing on interdisciplinary expertise in ethics, artificial intelligence and serious game design. Expected outcomes of the Project include a new framework and technologies for cybersecurity training. This should provide significant benefits through deeper understanding of the ethical impact of new cybertechnologies and training solutions.Read moreRead less
Explanation in artificial intelligence: a human-centred approach. This project aims to produce validated methods for creating human-centred explanations of decisions made by artificial intelligence (AI). Trial deployment of AI devices has resulted in the requirement for explanations of how AI makes decisions, where developed AI systems gave insufficient consideration of how decision logic would be explained to people. This project positions 'explainable AI' within the intersection of human-compu ....Explanation in artificial intelligence: a human-centred approach. This project aims to produce validated methods for creating human-centred explanations of decisions made by artificial intelligence (AI). Trial deployment of AI devices has resulted in the requirement for explanations of how AI makes decisions, where developed AI systems gave insufficient consideration of how decision logic would be explained to people. This project positions 'explainable AI' within the intersection of human-computer interaction, computer science and cognitive psychology. The expected outcomes of this project are new methods, models and algorithms for explaining different types of AI models to people. This project should result in improved understanding and trust of decisions made by AI systems, mitigating some societal concerns about AI-based decision making.Read moreRead less
Self-organised communication as a foundation of large, complex societies. This Project aims to investigate how evolution has shaped the self-organisation of robust communication networks that emerge in large animal collectives from the actions of individuals following only simple, local rules. It expects to generate new knowledge into the fundamental principles guiding the self-organisation of networks that can sustain a complex society. Empirical work with ant colonies will inform the construct ....Self-organised communication as a foundation of large, complex societies. This Project aims to investigate how evolution has shaped the self-organisation of robust communication networks that emerge in large animal collectives from the actions of individuals following only simple, local rules. It expects to generate new knowledge into the fundamental principles guiding the self-organisation of networks that can sustain a complex society. Empirical work with ant colonies will inform the construction of simulation models to push the investigation beyond experimental limits. The Project should significantly advance our understanding of how communication networks enable the development of large societies, and thus of how to better manage autonomous man-made networks, most importantly the Internet-of-Things.Read moreRead less