Robots To Transform Our Lives In The 21st Century

Robots to Transform our Lives in the 21st Century

Robotics and autonomous systems will be one of the most important and transformational technologies in the future of this country. It's not a question of how robots will infiltrate our everyday lives but when.

Leading the robotic charge in the 21st Century is world acclaimed robotics expert Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte. He will present The Robots are Coming The Robotics Revolution in Australian Industry - at The Warren Centre's annual Innovation Lecture commencing on June 8, 2010 at the Powerhouse Museum and then at various locations around Australia.

During Professor Durrant-Whyte's lecture he will transport audiences into the amazing world of robots and explain how these exceptional inventions are evolving and shaping the way we will live in the future.

According to Professor Michael Dureau, Chairman and Executive Director of The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering, "Unbeknown to most people, Australian researchers are leaders in developing field robotic technology. The use of robotics is not just contained to science labs or Hollywood movies. Robotics is already applied in an impressive array of Australian industries including cargo handling, mining, defence, and agriculture. Their applications will only increase in the future and we will soon see robotics used in remote health care, marine industries, infrastructure maintenance and management of disasters including bush fires."

Rio Tinto's Head of Innovation, Mr John McGagh said, "The ground breaking work of Professor Durrant-Whyte has already revolutionised mining. Through his leadership at the Rio Centre for Mine Automation we have been able to apply automated robotic mine technology in our operations. This is already adding value and providing an exciting platform for our mine of the future program."

Professor Durant-Whyte has always been at the forefront of robotic exploration and development beginning his career in 1983 with a Thouron Scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania where he developed his first work in sensing and data fusion for robotics.

Since then, he has enjoyed a stellar career that has lead him to become of the world's leading robotic experts with a number of international teams working under his direction to develop human robot interfaces and a variety of machines and systems.

Recently elected as a Fellow of The Royal Society (FRS) Professor Durant-Whyte's passion for robotics and clear insight into how their applications can benefit the world now and in the future is unabated.

Professor Durrant-Whyte is currently the Research Director of the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) , the Rio Tinto Centre for Mine Automation and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Autonomous Systems. He has twice been awarded and ARC Federation Fellowship and is also a Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering Innovation Hero.

Join Professor Durrant-Whyte and learn more about the fascinating world of robots at The Warren Centre's Innovation Lectures to be held around Australia as follows:

Powerhouse Museum, Sydney June 8

The Long Room, Customs House, Brisbane June 10

The RACV Club, Melbourne June 16

Hotel Intercontinental, Adelaide June 17

Commencing at 5.45pm for 6.15 pm; post-lecture networking concludes at 8.30pm at
all venues.

The Innovation Lectures will also feature the announcement of The Warren Centre
for Advanced Engineering's Heroes Innovation Awards 2010.

Further information and media passes available from Fiona Hearne,
[email protected] or 02 9351 7205

Background

The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering is an independent institute committed to fostering excellence and innovation a. It is a self-funding, not-for-profit body, staffed by volunteers, driven by industry and operating within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney. For further information visit www.warren.usyd.edu.au or contact Robert Mitchell on 02 9351 4048.

The 2010 Innovation Hero Awards are proudly sponsored by AusIndustry, Rio Tinto, Shelston IP, The University of Queensland, Industry and Investment NSW, Victorian Government, Innovate SA and Adelaide University ECIC & Media Partner ABC Big Ideas.

SOURCE: The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering