FEIT Research Excellence 2024 Lecture Series - Distinguished Prof. Dikai Liu

Biography : Dist. Prof. Dikai Liu is a distinguished professor at the Robotics Institute of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and an IEEE RAS Distinguished Lecturer, is renowned for his pioneering work in robotics. With a focus on perception, planning, human-robot collaboration, and design methodology, D. Prof. Liu has led numerous industry applications, including autonomous robots for steel bridge maintenance and bio-inspired climbing robots for confined space inspection. His research has received over 20 awards, including the 2019 UTS Medal for Research Impact and the 2019 ASME DED Leonardo da Vinci Award, and has been featured in prominent media outlets worldwide.  More information: https://profiles.uts.edu.au/Dikai.Liu

Abstract : As robotics and AI technologies continue to advance rapidly, the relationship between humans and robots (empowered with AI) is undergoing profound transformations. In this talk, the evolution of human-robot relationships will be reviewed. Technological advances, including the research conducted over the last 20 years at UTS, will be discussed. This talk will then discuss the dynamics of collaboration between humans and robots, examining issues such as trust, role change, human-centered design, computational modelling, and interface. To shape the future of human-robot relationships, many questions about ethical considerations, cultural perspectives, and regulations to govern the development and deployment of intelligent robotics technology will be discussed. By fostering dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders, our aim is to contribute to a more ethical and harmonious human-robot relationship.