John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
The basement beneath the Packard Electrical Engineering Building at Stanford University has transformed into a collaborative space for robotics research. After years of planning and development, the new Stanford Robotics Center officially opened on November 1.
The facility features multiple research bays where diverse projects are underway. One project involves digitizing a dancer's movements, while another uses robotic arms to perform tasks like making beds and preparing meals. Medical students also have access to advanced equipment for practicing surgeries.
Oussama Khatib, director of the new center, emphasized the importance of uniting various fields under one roof: “Robotics cannot really be successful unless we bring all the different research areas of robotics together: mechanical engineering, computer science, materials science, electrical engineering, artificial intelligence.”
Khatib is known for his work on robots like OceanOne, a humanoid submersible that explores shipwrecks without risking human divers. He shared this vision with Mark Cutkosky, a professor of mechanical engineering known for inventing Stickybot. Cutkosky highlighted the center's potential to facilitate large projects: “There will be many new opportunities.”
Jeannette Bohg, an assistant professor specializing in domestic robots like TidyBot, praised the new space for allowing her team to expand their work. Allison Okamura from the Collaborative Haptics and Robotics in Medicine Lab noted how proximity fosters collaboration among researchers.
Brian Carilli played a crucial role in designing and managing the construction of this vibrant space. The center includes unique features such as simulated windows and specialized suites for medical and domestic applications.
Looking ahead, Khatib envisions further expansion with an aquarium for testing underwater robots like OceanOne. Despite challenges, he remains optimistic about realizing this goal.
“The Stanford Robotics Center today is so beautiful,” Khatib said. “Everyone – the dean, the faculty, the students, our partners in industry and academia – is really excited to see it come to life.”
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