Imagine an environment where autonomous systems (robots) are not designed by humans (or indeed designed at all) but are created through a series of steps that follow evolutionary processes. These robots will be “born” through the use of 3D manufacturing, with novel materials and a hybridised hardware-software evolutionary architecture. “Child” robots will learn in a safe and controlled environment where success will be rewarded. The most successful individuals will make available their genetic code for reproduction and for the improvement of future generations. Such a process will ultimately lead to a change in the way things are designed and manufactured. This talk with outline work being undertaken as part of a large EPSRC funded project, to develop robotic systems that can design, build, test and deploy themselves in specific environments.
Come and join us and learn about using evolution to design the next generation autonomous robotic systems.
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SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Headline Speaker: Professor Jon Timmis
Jon is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Commercial) of the University of Sunderland and is responsible for University recruitment, marketing and communications, knowledge transfer and exchange, regional development, work-based learning, partnerships, philanthropy and alumni relations, and international activity. He is also Professor of Intelligent and Adaptive Systems and maintains an active research group in the area of swarm and evolutionary robotics, and computational biology.
After a career in catering, Jon studied Computer Science as a mature student at Aberystwyth University, staying on to study for a PhD in the area of artificial intelligence. In 2000 Jon moved to the University of Kent, becoming Senior Lecturer at the School of Computing. In 2005 he joined York, initially as Reader between the Computer Science and Electronic Engineering departments. He became a professor in 2008, then moved full-time to the Department of Electronic Engineering. He served as Head of Department from 2015 – 2017, and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange from 2017 to 2019, when he moved to Sunderland to take the role as DVC.
Jon is a previous recipient of a Royal Society-Wolfson Research Merit Award and a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship. He has published around 300 papers, raised over £20million in research funding and supervised, to completion, nearly 50 PhD students.
AGENDA
18:00 – Refreshments and networking
18:30 – Main presentation – Professor Jon Timmis
19:00 - Question and Answers
20:00 - Presenation of BCS Newcastle Branch Student Awards
(Approx timings)
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For overseas delegates who wish to attend the event please note that BCS does not issue invitation letters.
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THIS EVENT IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Newcastle and District Branch
Visit https://www.bcs.org/membership/member-communities/newcastle-upon-tyne-district-branch/
