Basilio Sierra and social robotics
Playing the shovel and playing the muse are the hobbies of the scientist that we will know up close today. But his profession has encouraged him to explore very different worlds. He is Professor of Computer Science, his thesis on artificial intelligence and currently leads the research group on robotics and autonomous systems at the University of the Basque Country.
His goal is to create robots that make life easier for people with mobility problems.
"Hi, I'm Basilio Sierra, Professor at the University of the Basque Country and Head of the Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group."
"I studied Computer Science at the Computer Science Faculty. After finishing my degree, I went to work, but, motivated by my curiosity, I did a master’s degree. Then I was lucky, I got a scholarship and ten months later I got a place. Along with the plaza, I did my thesis pretty quickly and I also became a starter because we got quite a bit of publicity with the thesis. I recently became a professor.”
"The lesson that I liked the most during the student period was artificial intelligence, and I thought about dedicating myself to it. I managed to do my thesis on the methods of artificial intelligence. Applying the techniques we used in medicine, we got some publications and then we saw that here there were some robots in which, in the area called intelligent robotics, the same techniques could be applied, or a variant of these techniques, to improve the mobility of robots. That’s where we started, and we’re still trying to give robots more and more autonomy.”
"When we give autonomy to a robot, what we want is to be able to recognize a place on its own and assimilate and move the map of that place, for example inside a house. And with the app, we want to help elderly or disabled people."
"With a lot of basic research going on, we are launching robots for homes and businesses right now. Among them is the roonba robot, the best-selling robot in the world. Five years from now or so, other robots will come out that will help in a task both at home and at work in companies."
“We see that in a longer period of time – both in Europe and in the United States we are investigating this – there will be more powerful robots that will help in more than one task.”
"To teach a class or give a speech at a congress, you have to have some experience. Other than that, and according to the research we do, at least in our area, creativity is needed."
"I think socially that we are very valued, and then when it comes to achieving projects, for example, because of the crisis it is becoming more and more difficult, but I think we are quite well."
"The worst part of our job is that, on the one hand, we have trouble disconnecting, we always have a problem going through our heads, and it's not easy to get rid of it. On the other hand, to request projects, etc. the role we have to play is not a job we like, but it has to be done, and we do it.”
"The best part of our job is that we have independence. We work on what we want, and we enter into research because we want, and at the same time, if we achieve publicity or success, much better for us."
Buletina
Bidali zure helbide elektronikoa eta jaso asteroko buletina zure sarrera-ontzian
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