| Publish Date: Saturday,26 May, 2007, at 12:49 AM Doha Time |
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Seema Patel and Quasi |
QUASI, an expressive and intelligent robot that features an innovative behaviour control system, is to be one of the attractions of the Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP) TECHtalks - The 2007 Conference, being held on May 30 at the Ritz.
Developed by a group of graduate students at Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), Quasi has already been brought to Doha by Seema Patel, the CEO of Interbots LLC, which develops interactive animatronic and digital characters.
“Quasi could either be controlled by a human actor or allowed to be autonomous with limitations,” Patel told Gulf Times yesterday.
Using a guided performance interface software, the robot’s movements can be controlled by a human actor, from behind the screen, who also speaks for it.
Through a video camera and microphone, the sound and visual of those who are interacting with Quasi is relayed to the controller, who then makes the appropriate responses.
If left in the autonomous mode, the robot would depend on its pre-recorded responses and pre-programme gestures.
“The first version of Quasi, created in the Spring of 2004, was fully autonomous, but not portable like this one,” explained Patel, whose team is currently building a sister to Quasi, for the Singapore Science Centre.
Quasi’s mission is described as to create compelling interactive and memorable experiences with people and ultimately to make them smile.
The robot was selected to be the mascot of the World’s Fair for Kids, and has made numerous television appearances including the Super Bowl, CBS Evening News’ Eye on America, the Science Channel, and the Discovery Channel.
Patel obtained a BS in Physics and a BS in Psychology from Harvey Mudd College where she first merged her interests in robotics and psychology by conducting research on emotion-based controllers for planetary rovers.
In graduate school she focused on affective robotics and human-robot interaction, earning a Master’s in Computer Science.
Her academic pursuits then led her to ETC where she joined the Interbots Initiative - a student-led research team dedicated to creating interactive, entertaining, and emotionally expressive animatronic characters.
It was in April 2005 that Patel and several of her university colleagues started Interbots LLC.
After receiving her Master’s in Entertainment Technology, Patel became the CEO of Interbots and published several papers describing Interbots’ research findings, and delivered talks at academic conferences. She often chaperones Quasi around the world.
The QSTP event is bringing together leading economists, technologists and entrepreneurs from the region and elsewhere to share their views and expertise through panel discussions and interviews.
Issues such as intellectual property rights, the talent market and venture capital are to be covered at the conference, which aims to unravel innovative strategies for organisations to seize opportunities and overcome challenges of the new technology-business environment.
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