TRACLabs, Inc. Robotics and Automation

TRACLabs wins Navy contract

David Kortenkamp — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:34:20 +0000

TRACLabs has just started work on a new Navy contract focused on developing autonomy software for controlling multiple unmanned vehicles. This work will leverage our existing NASA research on planning, scheduling, and execution. TRACLabs personnel will be attending the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Command Decision Making and Hybrid Human Computer Systems Program Review in early June to present our research.

DARPA Robot Challenge

David Kortenkamp — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 22:25:33 +0000

The virtual robot to be used in the DARPA Virtual Robot Challenge

Four TRACLabs scientists just returned from Washington DC where they attended the kick-off of the DARPA Robot Challenge (DRC). The DRC involves either building a robot that can perform disaster relief functions (Track A) or writing software that allows a DARPA-provided robot to perform the same disaster relief functions (Track B). TRACLabs was given a Track B award by DARPA, one of only eleven institutions world-wide to receive an award, potentially worth over $2 million dollars. TRACLabs is partnered with SUNY-Buffalo for this work. TRACLabs will need to compete with other Track B awardees in a Virtual Robot Challenge (VRC) conducted in simulation. The VRC involves a simulated robot driving a cart, walking through a rubble field, and connecting a hose or cable to a socket. The VRC will take place in June 2013. The popular press is already covering the DRC, including:

NY Times
IEEE Spectrum
PC Magazine

DARPA Robot Challenge

David Kortenkamp — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:30:55 +0000

TRACLabs has just signed a two-year, $2 million dollar contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to design software for a disaster response robot. The software will be used for tasks such as driving vehicles, climbing ladders, using tools, opening doors, manipulating equipment, and clearing rubble. While mostly autonomous, the robot will have supervision from and interaction with a remote operator. TRACLabs is teamed with SUNY-Buffalo on this contract.

New Army contract

David Kortenkamp — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:27:00 +0000

The US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC) recently announced that it was awarding TRACLabs a $730,000, two-year contract entitled “PROWL: Perception for Robotic Operation over Widespread Lighting.” The goal is to develop a thermal imaging stereo system that can provide robot navigation information even in the dark. TRACLabs is teamed with iRobot on this award.

TRACLabs summer interns

David Kortenkamp — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:23:03 +0000

TRACLabs was pleased to have four interns this past summer at our Houston location and one intern located in Buffalo NY. Shown below from left to right are: Brian Lemke from Texas A&M, Jeff Johnson from Indiana University, Joshua James from the University of Texas, and Nicholas Barrash from Georgia Tech. These interns worked with our robot (also shown below) as well as our procedure assistance software.

TRACLabs summer interns

TRACLabs receives Air Force award

David Kortenkamp — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:56:25 +0000

The Air Force has announced that TRACLabs will be awarded a Phase I SBIR for “I-HAMMER: Interactive Autonomy for Control of Space Assets.” TRACLabs will perform this work with SIFT LLC in Minneapolis Minnesota.

TRACLabs receives DARPA award

David Kortenkamp — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:53:34 +0000

The Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced that TRACLabs will receive a Phase I STTR award for “Design of Robot Operator
Interaction for Disaster Situations.” TRACLabs will work with Dr. Robin Murphy at Texas A&M on this research.

TRACLabs receives NSBRI grant

David Kortenkamp — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:50:05 +0000

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) has announced that TRACLabs will receive a three-year grant to study “Automation in Procedures: Guidelines for Allocating Tasks for Performance.” Click here to see the announcement. TRACLabs will be assisted by researchers from San Jose State University and NASA Ames Research Center.

AFRL Researchers visit TRACLabs

David Kortenkamp — Fri, 18 May 2012 22:53:27 +0000

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) researchers and their contractors visited TRACLabs for a Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) that focused on technologies for on-board satellite autonomy. The one-and-a-half-day meeting discussed topics such as planning, execution, fault detection, and flight experiments. TRACLabs has contracts with AFRL to provide on-board autonomy technology.

AFRL and contractor employees watching the NASA JSC Centaur robot go through its paces.

Texas A&M researchers visit TRACLabs

David Kortenkamp — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:32:20 +0000

Dr. Robin Murphy, Raytheon Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University, and her student Zach Henkel recently visited TRACLabs. Dr. Murphy is collaborating with TRACLabs on a robotic system for the Army that will evacuate wounded soldiers from the battlefield. Dr. Murphy is a leading expert in the use of robots for search and rescue operations and directs the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue. Dr. Murphy and her student are shown in the picture below with the TRACLabs dual-arm manipulation robot with a Texas A&M survivor interface.

Texas A&M professor Robin Murphy and her student Zach Henkel