Robotics Pathways and Careers Speaker Series

Abstract

How do I decide what career to pursue? What options do I have? When you think "career" it can feel like a big commitment, but what if we could see work differently – as a temporary gift? Along with navigating career path decisions and giving a framework for life outside the University, Michka will highlight KUKA robotics work in automation for the last 120 years. The talk will include what makes KUKA a great company to join,  and a deep dive into the surgical robotics space where Michka spends most of his time.

Bio

Michka graduated from Mercer University with a BSE and MSE in Biomedical Engineering, he joined KUKA Robotics as a sales application engineer supporting R&D development in medical device manufacturers. Today, working as an Account Manager, he continues to help companies implement robotics into medical devices and release new products into the market. Michka lives outside Detroit with his wife and three kiddos where he enjoys many activities including working on another master’s degree in his free time.

Grant Gibson is a Senior Robotics/AI Engineer on the Locomotion Controls Team at Figure AI. His work focuses on the autonomous locomotion and navigation of their next-gen humanoid robot, Figure 02. He earned his Ph.D in Robotics from the University of Michigan while working with Prof. Jessy Grizzle in the Biped Robotics Lab. Prior to this, he received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Title: FFRDCs and Robotics Problems of Public Interest

Abstract: MITRE is a not-for-profit organization the operates six Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) aligned with different government agency sponsors. By law, FFRDCs can’t manufacture produces or compete directly with industry, but MITRE serves in the public interest to bridge government and industry to solve complex national challenges. This discussion will illuminate the unique role FFRDCs span within and across the government, and provide examples of otherwise unsolved problems in robotics and autonomy that MITRE leads. The first case study discusses Digital Copilot, a prototype information system designed to supplement information for general aviation applications. The second case study highlights justified assurance and the process to evaluate if machine learning-enabled capabilities should be designated safe for public use.

Short Bio: John B Wurts is an autonomous systems engineer at the MITRE corporation and local to Ann Arbor. John primarily supports work programs related to the Department of Defense, but has supported projects related to Federal Aviation Administration and National Science Foundation. Prior to joining MITRE, he completed his PhD from UMich – Mechanical Engineering in 2020 under Prof Tulga Ersal and Prof (Ret) Jeffery Stein. His research focuses on nonlinear optimal control with applications to parallel and GPU-enabled computations. Previously, John was an automotive engineer local to Detroit with interests in active and passive crash safety.