{"682246":{"#nid":"682246","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Bruce Walker Named Founding Director of New Center to Advance Human-AI-Robot Collaboration","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EImagine a future where robotic guide dogs lead the visually impaired, flying cars navigate the skies, and electric self-driving vehicles communicate effortlessly with pedestrians.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThat future is being shaped today at Georgia Tech\u2019s\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chart.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Center for Human-AI-Robot Teaming (CHART)\u003C\/a\u003E. Led by\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/bruce-n-walker\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBruce Walker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;School of Psychology\u003C\/a\u003E and the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ic.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;School of Interactive Computing\u003C\/a\u003E, the newly launched Center aims to transform how humans, artificial intelligence, and robots work together. By focusing on the dynamic partnership between humans and intelligent systems, CHART will explore how humans can collaborate more effectively with artificial intelligence systems and robots to solve critical scientific and societal challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThere are wonderful Georgia Tech units like the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/ipat\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Institute for People and Technology\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eand the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/robotics\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Institute for Robotics and Machines\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;that do an incredible job focusing on using and creating intelligent systems and technology,\u201d says Walker. \u201cCHART adds value to this ecosystem with our emphasis on the interactive partnership between humans, AI technology, and robots and machines with agency.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBased in the School of Psychology, CHART has built an international and interdisciplinary consortium of researchers and innovators from academia and industry. Its impressive membership includes researchers from five Georgia Tech colleges, 18 universities worldwide, industry,\u0026nbsp;public policy organizations, cities, and NASA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWith expertise encompassing psychology, design, interactive computing, robotics, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, public policy, and business, CHART leverages a wealth of knowledge to help us tackle multifaceted challenges \u2014\u0026nbsp;and we\u2019re adding new members every week,\u201d says Walker.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ETo help shepherd this growth, CHART\u2019s Steering Committee includes School of Psychology Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/christopher-w-wiese\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Wiese\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and Assistant Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/psychology.gatech.edu\/people\/mengyao-li\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMengyao Li\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and School of Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/faculty\/zhao\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYe Zhao\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETomorrow\u2019s technology\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESeveral research programs already underway at CHART showcase its vision of deeply transformative, human-centered research:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003ERobotic guide dogs\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWalker co-leads this research with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/sehoon-ha\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESehoon Ha\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing. The project explores the partnership between a robotic guide dog robot and a human as they navigate the physical and social environment. Key concerns include trust, communication, sharing of responsibilities, and how the human-robot team integrates into social settings. The project also addresses practical design issues like ensuring the robot operates quietly to avoid interfering with auditory cues critical for blind users.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EFlying cars\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis project investigates how humans will interact with emerging flying vehicle technologies. It explores user interfaces, control systems, and human-machine interaction design, including whether traditional steering controls might evolve into joystick-like mechanisms. Broader issues include how flying cars will fit into current infrastructure, impacts on pilot licensing policy and regulation, and the psychology of adopting futuristic technologies.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EPedestrians and self-driving cars\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EResearchers are exploring how driverless electric vehicles and pedestrians can communicate to keep our future streets safe, including how vehicles signal their intentions to pedestrians. Teams are also implications for safety and public policy, including accident liability and the quiet nature of electric vehicles.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EGenerative AI in Education\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis project examines how students use generative AI like ChatGPT as collaborators in learning. The research explores its effects on outcomes, education policy, and curriculum development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMeet CHART Founding Director Bruce Walker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWalker is excited about CHART\u2019s future and its role in improving the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe\u2019ve got an ambitious plan and with the caliber of researchers we have assembled from around the world, the possibilities are limitless,\u201d says Walker. \u201cI see Georgia Tech leading the way as a center of gravity in this space.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EHis background renders him well-suited to the interdisciplinary nature of the Center. Walker brings a wealth of experience in psychology, human-computer interaction, and related fields, with research interests spanning sonification and auditory displays, trust in automation, technology adoption, human-AI-robot teaming, and assistive technologies.\u0026nbsp;In addition to CHART, he\u0027s the director of the\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/sonify.psych.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Georgia Tech Sonification Lab\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWalker\u2019s academic research has resulted in more than 250 journal articles and proceedings, and he has consulted for NASA, state and federal governments, private companies, and the military. He is also an active entrepreneur, founding startups and working on projects related to COVID diagnosis, skin cancer detection, mental health monitoring, gun safety, and digital scent technology.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EReflecting on the journey ahead, Walker says, \u201cWe\u2019ve come out of the gate strong. I look forward to the innovations ahead and continuing to cultivate a community of future leaders in this field.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s new Center for Human-AI-Robot Teaming (CHART) looks to revolutionize the collaboration between humans, AI, and robots.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s new Center for Human-AI-Robot Teaming (CHART) looks to revolutionize the collaboration between humans, AI, and robots."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2025-05-05 19:41:56","changed_gmt":"2025-05-06 21:43:44","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677030":{"id":"677030","type":"image","title":"CHART Founding Director Bruce Walker","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECHART Founding Director Bruce Walker\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1746474149","gmt_created":"2025-05-05 19:42:29","changed":"1746474149","gmt_changed":"2025-05-05 19:42:29","alt":"headshot of a man","file":{"fid":"260890","name":"09P1012-P1-904.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/05\/09P1012-P1-904.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/05\/09P1012-P1-904.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1675524,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/05\/09P1012-P1-904.jpg?itok=LkS90eit"}}},"media_ids":["677030"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"151","name":"Policy, Social Sciences, and Liberal Arts"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"152","name":"Robotics"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193266","name":"cos-research"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"192258","name":"cos-data"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"},{"id":"39521","name":"Robotics"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}