The Department of Computing Science at Umeå University is looking for a postdoctoral researcher in Human-Robot Collaboration within a WASP project led by WASP Fellow Zoe Falomir.
Project description and working tasks
This project proposes the implementation of a cognitive agent embodied in a humanoid robot which will collaborate with a human partner or with another humanoid robot to solve a spatial problem (e.g. 3D puzzle). The tasks to be carried out are: (i) scene understanding: detection of objects and relations between objects, and use of these relations to infer new knowledge (i.e. reasoning); (ii) explore object affordances, learn the consequences of the actions carried out and enrich the knowledge base (i.e. learning by interaction); (iii) querying the knowledge base about what was useful in the past to predict actions that might be useful in the present, try them out and update its knowledge base (i.e. update learning).
This postdoctoral position is funded by Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP). WASP is Sweden’s largest individual research program ever, a major national initiative for strategically motivated basic research, education and faculty recruitment.
Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is nearby. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.
The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably.