Abstract:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have played a tremendous role in the development autonomous vehicle technologies. Their impact has been even greater in the off-road, mining and construction applications because of the private nature of the applications sites.
In this presentation, Dr. Sam Kherat will overview the role of AI and ML in the adoption of robotics, automation, and operator assist programs in the construction and mining applications where the industry faced fewer skilled operators, increased scrutiny on hazardous or dangerous operations and environmental impacts like operator sound and vibration limits. Dr. Kherat will then show how some of these techniques could be applied for autonomous vehicles.
Short Bio.
Dr. Sam Kherat is Adjunct Professor at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois, responsible for robotics and other mechanical engineering courses. He joined Caterpillar, Inc. in 1996 where he was founding Manager of Caterpillar’s automation center in Pittsburgh, PA, (2007-2011.) Prior to that, Dr. Kherat has been technical lead for Automation and Robotics programs including automated mining trucks, cycle planning, underground mining automation, and automated excavation. He was Caterpillar’s Project Manager for the DARPA Grand Challenges and the 2007 Urban Challenge won by the Caterpillar-Carnegie Mellon University team.
Dr. Sam Kherat received his Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois (1987) and his Ph.D (1994) in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.