International Group Travel to IARP Workshops. August 2003 to September 2005

Washington University, Saint Louis MO

Investigators

Abstract

The international Advanced Robotics Project (IARP) is an international organization, consisting of fourteen countries and the European Union, devoted to monitoring and promoting robotics related technology and utilization. The United States helped to formulate this organization and has been an active member participating in technology evaluations, workshops, and joint study missions. Participation involves US technical experts traveling to various functions, and interacting with their colleagues to discuss ongoing research and developing technology relating to intelligent machines. This grant provides the mechanism to insure that the selection process and procedure for selecting participants is fair, efficient, organizationally viable. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS TO BE EMPLOYED Since the IARP meetings are generally technology specific, the selection of US participants must not only reflect the person's expertise but also his or hers ability to communicate and interact with other participants. The selection process will be performed by an ad hoc committee drawn from the IEEE, Robotics and Automation Society. The traveler will receive reimbursement for expense but an honorarium will only be provided in exceptional circumstances. This rule also applies to attendance at the IARP, Joint Coordinating Forum (JCF) which is the management, planning, and policy planning body. The representatives of member and observer countries attend this meeting in one of the host countries. A detailed description of the host country's robotics program is an essential part of the agenda. INTELLECTUAL MERIT OF THE PROPOSAL ACTIVITY Since NSF is the US representative to the IARP it is necessary to seek the best, and most appropriate researchers to contribute to the intellectual output of the meetings. This is a difficult and challenging task because the subjects under discussion at the Workshops and the JCF require participation by a variety of individuals who are knowledgeable of the specific technology. Their intellectual contribution is critical to the success of the event and the ability of the outcome to advance the technology. In the past, contributors have made excellent contributions, but a need now exists to help NSF to select new people in a fair minded and knowledgeable manner. The Robotics and Automation Society, representing 6000 members, is a logical choice to perform this selection by using senior, experienced, and knowledgeable decision makers. BROADER IMPACT RESULTING FROM PROPOSED ACTIVITY The technical areas that the IARP deals with include medical robotics, personal robotics, undersea robotic vehicles, and others having a direct societal impact. Recently new Working Groups have been formed to consider safety and security technology and other applications that are central to society needs. The quality of the United States participation is essential to enhancing these Working Groups so that their deliberations and results will help to promote the advanced concepts needed for success. The impact of this contribution cannot be underestimated.