Gary McMurray, Ph.D.
Director and Principal Research Engineer, Georgia Tech Research Institute, and Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines

Monday, Feb. 8   -Online Seminar-
Noon - 1:00 pm Eastern Time, U.S. 
MEETING LINK: https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/ztdkzxce 

"Manufacturing in Unstructured Environments"

Abstract: Robotic systems have traditional been very successful in performing tasks where the inputs are well defined and known in advance. Automotive and electronic manufacturing are the classic success stories where robotic systems have demonstrated incredible value for the industry. The tasks performed by the robots almost exclusively involve the manipulation or interacting with objects whose physical properties are known a priori and the objects are rigid and dry. In the many manufacturing sectors, robotic systems must be able to work in an unstructured environment where every product is unique, deformable and even wet. This presentation will discuss various approaches to enable autonomous solutions to these problems. This will include software to minimize manual programming of robots as well systems that integrate advanced perception and control technologies to perform complex tasks like cutting, grasping, and manipulation. 

Bio: Gary McMurray is a Principal Research Engineer and Division Chief for the Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. He is also an Associate Director for the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (IRIM) at Georgia Tech. IRIM serves as an umbrella under which robotics researchers, educators, and students from across campus can come together to advance the many high-powered and diverse robotics activities at Georgia Tech. The Intelligent Sustainable Technologies Division conducts innovative research to improve the human condition through transforming the agricultural and food systems, sustainable use and access to energy and water, and safety of people at work and from pandemics. Mr. McMurray’s research has focused on the development of robotic technologies and solutions for the manufacturing and agribusiness communities, including the protein and the fruit and vegetable industries. He is an expert in visual servoing – the use of vision for the real-time control of robotics, and the author of over 50-refereed technical papers and journal publications in robotics.  

Mr. McMurray serves on the advisory board for Advanced Animal Systems for the Foundation of Food and Agricultural Research. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Robotics Industry Association.