Engineering Professor Receives Major Grant to Advance Robotics Research

Shayok Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of New Haven, recently secured a prestigious Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant from the National Science Foundation that will allow him and his team to acquire Boston Dynamics' cutting-edge Spot Robot platform.

The primary goal? To push the boundaries of robotic exploration in unknown and hazardous environments.

From responding to natural disasters to other high-risk scenarios, robots have the potential to play a vital role in exploring and assessing these environments without putting human lives in jeopardy.

"We want to develop a system that can go in and check out debris before emergency rescue crews enter, or even while they work," Dr. Mukhopadhyay explained.

While the Spot Robot has been used in limited scenarios, this project aims to elevate its capabilities. The project will also focus on integrating artificial intelligence and other technologies that optimize the robot's performance in collaboration with humans and other systems. "Hopefully, this helps us build new techniques so a robot can truly understand what's happening in its environment before it ventures further," he said.

The Spot Robot is uniquely equipped to navigate dangerous environments, but it still faces limitations. According to Dr. Mukhopadhyay, real-world conditions can be unpredictable, and the current generation of robots often struggle to fully adapt. "The robots don't yet account for things such as shifting debris or hazards that could harm people or other equipment nearby," he said.

By advancing the robot's risk-aware systems, Dr. Mukhopadhyay and his colleagues and Co-PIs Cheryl Li, Ph.D., and Vahid Behzadan, Ph.D. aim to address these shortcomings. They want to ensure the robot becomes more aware of its surroundings and of its impact on the environment and humans. "It's not just about exploring—it's about doing so safely and efficiently," he added.

One of the project's most exciting aspects is its potential educational impact. The University of New Haven is collaborating with local high schools, allowing students to engage with the technology firsthand. "We'd like to invite them to our campus to learn about robotics and to see how advanced robots are built," Dr. Mukhopadhyay said.

The challenge of making robots more autonomous and collaborative in hazardous environments is no small feat. Dr. Mukhopadhyay emphasized the importance of incorporating artificial intelligence, particularly in areas such as natural language processing, and collaborative multi-agent settings.

"You could give the robot a command, and it would understand what actions it should perform—such as moving a block of debris—but it also needs to figure out if that action is mechanically feasible," he explained.

Humans naturally calculate weight and safety risks when moving objects, but robots lack that instinct. Dr. Mukhopadhyay's team hopes to develop methods that allow robots to make these determinations independently. "We want it to collaborate with humans and other robots, ensuring safety in the process," he added.

This research has far-reaching implications, not only for disaster response but also for how robotics is taught. "I want my students to work with advanced robots like this one, which moves on legs and manipulates objects as it goes," Dr. Mukhopadhyay said. He explained that this is a departure from the wheeled robots that are typically used in education, adding, "Legged robots present a whole new challenge."

The grant provides unparalleled access to technology that is typically out of reach for most researchers. "It's uncommon to have access to equipment like this for both research and education," Dr. Mukhopadhyay said, reflecting on the significance of the NSF grant. "It's a dream come true for a robotics researcher."

With the Spot Robot, Dr. Mukhopadhyay and his students will no longer need to build systems from scratch. "We can now focus on the advanced work—on the high-level challenges—because the platform already exists," he said. This allows researchers to dedicate their efforts to new, innovative solutions rather than spending time reinventing existing technology.

Looking ahead, the project is sure to open new doors for collaboration and innovation. Dr. Mukhopadhyay continued, "This equipment will help train students and researchers alike, allowing them to be creative and develop something even better than what we're imagining."