The 1997 Florida Conference on Recent Advances in Robotics was organized by Florida International University (FIU) in Miami on April 10-11, 1997. The annually-held conference has started nine years ago and has been organized in various cities in Florida. It was held in Miami for the first time.

CONFERENCE VENUE

The conference was held at the Roz and Cal Kovens Conference Center located at the North Campus of Florida International University, situated between the Miami and Fort Lauderdale metropolitan areas. The location offers a wealth of amenities, such as easy access to airports, seaports, hotels, business centers, beaches and recreational facilities in both cities. Again, here is a list of hotels close to the Kovens Conference Center.

FINAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Thursday - April 10, 1997, Bayview Room North

• 8:00 Registration and Breakfast
• 8:45 Session: Design I
• 10:00 Coffee Break
• 10:15 Dean's Welcome, Dean G. Hopkins
• 10:30 Session: Machine Vision
• 12:00 Lunch, Bayview Dining Room South
• 1:30 Plenary Session: Telerobotics: Promises and Problems, Dr. William Hamel
• 2:30 Session: Modeling
• 4:00 Coffee Break
• 4:15 Session: Design II
  

Friday - April 11, 1997, Room 126

• 8:00 Registration and Breakfast
• 8:30 Session: Robot Control
• 9:45 Plenary Session: Robotics Development for Waste Management within DOE, Dr. Lin Yarbrough
• 10:30 Coffee Break
• 10:45 Session: Sensing
• 12:00 Trip to FIU University Park Campus
• 1:00 Lunch at Faculty Club/Cafeteria
• 2:30 Campus Walk and Lab Tour
• 3:30 Trip to FIU North Campus

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

Session: Design I

Chair: R. Schoepherster, Florida International University
Co-Chair: H. Zhuang, Florida Atlantic University

• Design and Construction of a Prototype Force-Reflecting Manual Controller, P. Batsomboon, S. Tosunoglu, Florida International University, Miami, and D. W. Repperger, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.

• Design and Realization of an Automated Log Strip Separator (LSS), I. N. Tansel, T. T. Arkan, W. Y. Bao, J. Shaw, C. A. Velez, T. C. Yih, S. Tosunoglu, I. Fernandez, and B. Tansel, Florida International University, Miami.

• Contactless Gripper for Silicon Wafers, J. Jin, and T. C. Yih, Florida International University, Miami.

• A Modular Robot Arm Design, D. Boyer, J. Ketchel, E. Perez-Nunez, and P. Larochelle, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne.

• Prototyping for High-Tech Consumer Products, B. Shisler, D. Johnson, D. Smith, Motorola, Fort Lauderdale, I. N. Tansel, W. Bao, and T. T. Arkan, Florida International University, Miami.

Session: Machine Vision

Chair: C. Crane, University of Florida
Co-Chair: A. B. Barreto, Florida International University

• An Image-Based Visual-Motion-Cue for Autonomous Navigation, S. R. Kundur, D. Raviv, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, and E. Kent, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, Maryland.

• An Orientation-Independent Imaging Technique for the Recognition and Classification of Objects, N. Fernandez, and M. Adjouadi, Florida International University, Miami.

• A Study on the Inaccuracy of Vision Systems of Mobile Robots Causing the Failure of Pick-and-Place Tasks, Y. Ting, Y. H. Chen, Y. Kang, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan, R. O. C., M. Lin, and S. C. Dai, United Microelectronics Corp., Hsin-Chu, Taiwan, R. O. C.

• Software Development of a Neural Networks Algorithm for Robotic Object Recognition, H. Eldeeb, N. Boubekri, and T. Khalil, University of Miami, Miami.

• Real-Time Signal Processing Towards an EEG-Based Human-Computer Interface, A. M. Taberner, and A. B. Barreto, Florida International University, Miami.

• Pattern Matching for Object Recognition and Depth Reconstruction, M. Adjouadi, and F. Candocia, Florida International University, Miami.

Plenary Session

Telerobotics: Promises and Problems, Dr. William Hamel, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Session: Modeling

Chair: R. Roberts, FAMU/FSU, Florida State University
Co-Chair: M. Adjouadi, Florida International University

• The Optimum Quality Index for Some Spatial In-Parallel Devices, J. Lee, J. Duffy, University of Florida, Gainesville, and K. H. Hunt, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.

• Dynamic Performance Study of Cooperating SAM Robots, P. M. Larochelle, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne.

• Kinetics of Robotics: The Development of Universal Metrics in Robotics Swarms, S. D. Jantz, K. L. Doty, J. A. Bagnell, and I. R. Zapata, University of Florida, Gainesville.

• Efficient Barrel Packing, R. J. McGee, J. Lee, C. D. Crane, and P. D. Adsit, University of Florida, Gainesville.

• Solutions of Inverse Kinematics of a Robotic Manipulator Using Fuzzy Logic, D. W. Howard, and A. Zilouchian, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton

• Kinematic Design and Simulation of a Motion Platform, R. T. Schlageter, E. Pollak, L. Martin, A. Wang, and Z. Qu, University of Central Florida, Orlando.

Session: Design II

Chair: P. Larochelle, Florida Institute of Technology
Co-Chair: Y. Ting, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan, R. O. C.

• Autonomous Mobile Robots in Engineering Education: An Intelligent Machines Design Laboratory Course, K. L. Doty, University of Florida, Gainesville.

• Development and Testing of a 6-6 Parallel Platform Actuator, W. A. Abbasi, S. C. Ridgeway, P. D. Adsit, C. D. Crane, and J. Duffy, University of Florida, Gainesville.

• Cable-Suspended Robots, R. G. Roberts, J. Trumpower, FAMU/FSU Florida State University, Tallahassee, and T. Graham, NASA Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

• Chassis and Aerodynamic Bodyshell Design for the Pantera Solar Race Vehicle, F. Mihaita, and S. Tosunoglu, Florida International University, Miami.

• Design of a Drive System for a Model Cardiovascular Flow Loop, R. T. Schoephoerster, M. Londoño, C. Gutiérrez, and F. Frigerio, Florida International University, Miami.

• Conceptual Design of a Fault-Tolerant Mobile Platform, M. Espina, and S. Tosunoglu, Florida International University, Miami.

Session: Robot Control

Chair: C. Levy, Florida International University
Co-Chair: R. Smollet, Florida Atlantic University

• Fully Connected Decentralized Estimation: A Robotics Application, A. G. O. Mutambara, FAMU/FSU Florida State University, Tallahassee.

• Hand/Eye Calibration for SCARA Robots, H. Zhuang, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.

• Trajectory Error Control of a Hazardous-Environment Robot, T. C. Yih, D. S. Kwon, J. Jin, Florida International University, Miami, and B. Burks, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

• Robust Control of SMA Actuators, A. Shahin, University of Miami, Miami.

• Control of Fault-Tolerant Manipulators Experiencing Actuator Failure, V. Monteverde, and S. Tosunoglu, Florida International University, Miami.

Plenary Session

Robotics Development for Waste Management within DOE, Dr. Lin Yarbrough, Robotics Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Session: Sensing

Chair: O. Masory, Florida Atlantic University
Co-Chair: W. Rogge, Florida International University

• Control Considerations in the Design of a Laser Tracking CMM, Y. Bai, Z. S. Roth, and H. Zhuang, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.

• Use of Optical Angle Encoders to Calibrate a Stewart Platform, R. Smollett, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.

• Solar Array Design for the Pantera Solar Electric Race Car, V. De Rossi, and S. Tosunoglu, Florida International University, Miami.

• Tool-Breakage Detection in the Micro-Machining of Aluminum by Monitoring Acoustic Emmision, I. N. Tansel, M. E. Trujillo, W. Y. Bao, and T. T. Arkan, Florida International University, Miami.

• Compensation of Laser Interferometer Path Length for Gimbal Kinematic Errors, R. Smollett, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

• "Telerobotics: Promises and Problems," Dr. William Hamel, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

  The lecture reviewed teleoperation systems, new trends and emerging technologies in remote system operations.

• "Robotics Development for Waste Management within DOE," Dr. Linton Yarbrough, Robotics Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

  The talk concentrated on current and planned robotics technology development efforts within DOE, and collaboration between national laboratories and universities.

TOPICS OF INTEREST

The conference is intended to create a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas and experiences on advanced concepts in robotics. Topics of interest include all aspects of robotics research. Authors are invited to submit full papers describing novel research or engineering applications in the following areas:

• Robot Design
• Mobile Robots
• Parallel Mechanisms
• Microrobots
• Multirobot Systems
• Flexible Robots
• Autonomous Systems
• Modeling and Interactive Simulation
• Robot Calibration and Parameter Identification
• Fuzzy Systems
• Soft Computing
• Expert Systems
• Neural Networks
• Genetic Algorithms and Evolutionary Computing
• Fault Tolerance
• Virtual and Merged Reality
• Telesensation
• Human-Machine Interface
• Computer Vision
• Non-Visual Sensing
• Sensor Fusion
• Knowledge-Based Systems
• Intelligent Control
• Applications of Robotic Systems in Fields such as Space, Nuclear, Undersea, Military, Mine, Medical, Entertainment

All accepted papers were included in the Proceedings of the 1997 Florida Conference on Recent Advances in Robotics edited by S. Tosunoglu, T. C. Yih and I. N. Tansel.

A tour of FIU facilities and labs included the followings:

• University Park Campus at Tamiami Trail and SW 107 Avenue: Lunch at the Faculty Club, Walk of Campus, New Library, Robotics and Automation Laboratory in ECS.

• Center for Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) at Flagler and SW 107 Avenue: Tour of Engineering Departments and Center for Advanced Technology and Education (CATE).

DEADLINES

Important deadlines for the conference are indicated as follows:
(from the CALL FOR PAPERS announcement)

Please mark them on your calendar.

WHERE TO SUBMIT PAPERS

Prospective authors should submit four copies of their papers not exceeding eight pages to the Program Chair:

Sabri Tosunoglu
Florida International University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Miami, Florida 33199


E-mail: tosun@fiu.edu
WEB: Robotics & Automation Lab

The authors should use the IEEE standards to format papers. Typical examples may be found in the Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

• Conference Chair: Sabri Tosunoglu, FIU Miami
• Conference Co-Chair: Tachung Yih, FIU Miami
  
  Technical Committee:
  
  
• M. Adjouadi, FIU Miami
• C. Crane, UF Gainesville
• J. Duffy, UF Gainesville
• M. A. Ebadian, FIU Miami
• S. Kalaycioglu, Canadian Space Center, Quebec
• P. Larochelle, FIT Melbourne
• C. Levy, FIU Miami
• O. Masory, FAU Boca Raton
• R. Roberts, FSU/FAMU Tallahassee
• W. Rogge, FIU Miami
• R. Schoephoerster, FIU Miami
• A. Shahin, UM Miami
• I. Tansel, FIU Miami

MORE ON FIU

For more information on FIU, you can visit the FIU pages or see directions to get to FIU. Note that the College of Engineering is located at the University Park Campus, but the Roz and Cal Kovens Conference Center, where the conference will be held, is located at

      FIU North Campus

      N.E. 151 Street and Biscayne Blvd.
      (off of US 1 and NE 151 St.)
      North Miami, Florida 33181

      Phone: (305) 919-5000

LOCAL HOTELS BY THE BEACH

Here is a list of hotels close to the Kovens Conference Center.

MORE ON MIAMI

You can reach the latest activities in Miami at the Miami Homepage, Daytime.

Thank you for visiting this page. Hope you can join us and help make the next robotics conference even a bigger success.