Autonomous robots at UT Austin: Mission accomplished

“I am going to remove the lid,” a methodical voice tells the crowd. A robot using artificial intelligence (AI) opens a trash can and lifts out a bag. Students and researchers hold their breath as the robot navigates across the floor of a mock house, avoiding obstacles to its destination. The trash has been taken out. “Mission accomplished,” it says, as the audience applauds.

For the robot designed by a Texas Robotics team for the 2019 RoboCup competition, this is a huge achievement. It may seem like a lot of fanfare for a basic chore, but taking out the trash is a complex task for a machine. The robot’s autonomy and communication skills in a changing environment are key interests for AI experts and the U.S. military. Related research could help future service robots go beyond household tasks to assisting and performing dangerous jobs — such as keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.

In 2018, the U.S. Army selected Austin, Texas, as the headquarters for the Army Futures Command, a new four-star command that is transforming Army modernization. Austin stood out as an ideal location thanks to its technology and science-related industries, the state government and The University of Texas at Austin’s academic reach.

The Army Futures Command’s partnership with UT Austin is putting research into practice on the battlefield more quickly. Together, they are committed to identifying and furthering research and development that can provide new technology quickly to those who need it. Getting new technologies to soldiers has historically been a slow process; the Army Futures Command’s mission is to modernize and speed up that process and “Forge the Future.”

Computing and engineering challenges have vast game-changing potential for how robots could be deployed in several areas. Texas Robotics, a consortium of interdisciplinary researchers led by UT’s College of Natural Sciences and Cockrell School of Engineering, is working to advance the field. Texas Robotics’ collaborative projects explore robotics’ numerous application spaces including social, surgical, rehabilitation, vehicles, drilling, manufacturing, space, nuclear and defense.

Peter Stone, director of Texas Robotics and principal investigator for UT Austin’s robotics research with the Army Futures Command and AI expert on machine learning and dynamic environments, says the university is focusing on two major growth areas. The first is long-term autonomy, the ability for robots to operate self-sufficiently for hours or days rather than seconds or minutes. The second is human-robot interaction that involves autonomous robots interacting with people in an unstructured environment. Whether in a hospital, on a busy street or during a mission, a robot must be able to respond to and communicate with humans.

“Innovation has been happening in the government and in leading research universities for decades,” says Sharon Wood, dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering. “But now that we’re working together to address specific challenges, we can expand our resources and accelerate the speed at which we roll out new technologies. This is a win-win for both UT Austin and the U.S. Army.”

UT Austin is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge robotics research. A principal project in the Army Futures Command partnership is the newly renovated Anna Hiss Gymnasium, the centralized home for Texas Robotics. Both a research lab and public showcase for campus robotics, the space serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration.

“Our commitment to the Army knows no bounds,” said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 2, 2020. “We are a world-class partner and destination for the military, veterans and their families.”