Project Meet And Teach Autonomous Robots in VR

Prof. Dr. Bernd Fröhlich
M.Sc. Carl-Feofan Matthes

Dipl.-Mediensys.wiss. Andre Kunert
M.Sc. Tim Weißker
M.Sc. Adrian Kreskowski
Dipl.-Mediensys.wiss. Stephan Beck
Dr. Alexander Kulik

15 Credits Medieninformatik (B.Sc.)
15 Credits Human Computer Interaction (M.Sc.)
15 Credits Computer Science for Digital Media (M.Sc.)
15 Credits Computer Science and Media (M.Sc.)

Description:

The Virtual Reality and Visualization Research Group is participating in the Human Brain Project (HBP), a large-scale flagship project that involves researchers across Europe and aims to advance knowledge in the fields of neuroscience, computing and brain-related medicine [1].

One avenue of research conducted in the HBP is the simulation of virtual robots controlled by simulated neurons in spiking neural networks [2]. To understand related learning processes in depth, researchers have setup an extensive collection of experiments where virtual environments are populated with autonomous virtual bodies.

The goal of this semester’s project is to experiment with these cutting-edge spatio-temporal simulations in our state-of-the-art virtual reality systems. We will design and implement novel interaction paradigms, which allow users to observe and track autonomously moving robots and influence their behaviour.

References:
[1] The Human Brain Project. (June 27, 2018). Retrieved from www.humanbrainproject.eu/en/
[2] Alois Knoll and Marc-Oliver Gewaltig. "Neurorobotics: a strategic pillar of the Human Brain Project." Science Robotics (2016).

 

Requirements:

Experience in Python, OpenGL programming and/or Avango-Guacamole are helpful to get started.

Assessment:

Active participation in the project, intermediate talks, final presentation