The CoR-Lab: The Research Institute for Cognition and Robotics (CoR-Lab) has been founded at the Bielefeld University in July 2007 to face the enormous challenges implied by creating intelligent systems and robots. CoR-Lab investigates artificial cognition, computer vision, neural networks, and robot learning and runs a Graduate School in Cognitions and Robotics, jointly with the strategic partner Honda Research Institute Europe. More than 100 researchers on all levels are involved in CoR-Lab projects. The CoR-Lab is headed by a directorium (apl. Prof. Steil, Prof. Ritter, Prof. Sagerer, Prof. Körner) and administred by J. Steil (Managing Director) and Dr. Carola Haumann (Manging Director Graduate School). Within CoR-Lab, J. Steil is the head of a research group "cognitive robotics and learning".
Vita: In 1993, I received the diploma in mathematics from the Bielefeld University, and joined the Neuroinformatics Group headed by Prof. H. Ritter. In 1995/96 I stayed one year at the St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University, Russia, supported by a German Academic Exchange Foundation (DAAD) grant. In 1999, I received the PhD. Degree (Dr. rer. nat) with a Dissertation on "Input-Output Stability of Recurrent Neural Networks". In 2002, I was appointed tenured senior researcher (Akad. Rat) and in 2006 my habilitation was accepted by the Faculty of Technology and I was assigned the venia legendi in Neuroinformatics. From March-July 2006 I was on leave as principal scientist at the Honda Research Institute Europe, Offenbach. In 2008, I was appointed apl. Professor for Neuroinformatics at the Faculty of Technology. Since April 2007, I have been managing director of the Research Institute for Cognition and Robotics, CoR-Lab and since Nov. 2007 a member of the scientific board of the center of excellence in Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC). Also in 2007, I started the teutolab-robotics with workshops for school pupils to experience robotics for one afternoon. Since 2010, I am coordinator of the FP7-EU project AMARSi - Adaptive Modular Architectures for Rich Motor Skills. In the academic year 2012-13 I participate in the ZiF research group on "Competition and Priority Control in Mind and Brain".
Research Interests: Learning in artificial cognitive systems, learning and stability in recurrent networks, reservoir networks and nonlinear dynamics, representation in dynamical systems, robot learning, imitation learning, robot learning and system architectures, generative learning
Selected Publication: The following paper introduces online-learning goal babbling algorithm that allows exploration of sensori-motor mappings at human speed.
"Online Goal Babbling for rapid bootstrapping of inverse models in high dimensions", IEEE Int. Conf. Development and Learning and on Epigenetic Robotics (Best Student Paper Award), Frankfurt, IEEE, 08/2011. Tagged XML BibTex Google Scholar Download: RolfSteilGienger2011-ICDL-EpiRob.pdf (1.49 MB)
Selected Publication: The following paper introduces the online-learning algorithm BPDC for reservoir computing and shows that a reservoir approach naturally arises from a constraint optimisation of the standard quadratic error function.
Educational material like tutorial talks, tutorial paper, or poster.
Current Projects in Cognitive Robotics & Learning (CoR-Lab):
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Coordination of AMARSi: Adaptive Modular Architecturs for Rich Motor Skills, large scale FP7-IP project
- Dr. A. Soltoggio, Technical Coordinator: Modulatory Neural Learning
- A. Lemme: Neural Learning of Motion Primitives
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A. Nordmann: Software Architecture for Motion Control of Compliant Robots, co-supervisor Dr. S. Wrede
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FP7-ECHORD experiment MoFTaG: Model-Free Trajectory Generation through kinesthetic teaching of task and configuration for redundant robots in cooperation with OWL-MASCHINENBAU and the Harting Technology Group
- Dr. A. Swadzba, perception and project management
- C. Emmerich, Neural Learning, Kinesthetic Teachig and Systems Engineering
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Spitzencluster it's-owl (leading edge cluster in intelligent technical systems, a regional initiative of industry and academia towards innovation in technical systems). Subprojects:
- Querschnittsprojekt: human-machine interaction (coordinator, with Dr. S. Wrede, Prof. S. Kopp)
- Querschnittsprojekt: self-optimization (researchers Dr. F. Reinhart, K. Neumann)
- Innovationsproject: FlexIMon (Flexibles Montagekonzept) with Harting Technology Group (coordinator Dr. S. Wrede, researcher C. Dreyer)
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further projects:
- Goal-babbling: Online Exploration of redundant inverse mappings (Dr. M. Rolf)
- Reservoir Computing with Output Feedback (Dr. F. Reinhart, its-owl)
- Kinesthetic teaching and robot learning (C. Emmerich, ECHORD)
- Reliability for Extreme Learning Machines (K. Neumann, its-owl)
- Neural Learning of Motion Primitives (A. Lemme, AMARSi)
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Industrial R&D collaboration projects
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“Force Interaction Skill Learning&&rdquo (Dr. Jens Kober), R&D project with industry partner Honda Research Institute GmbH, co-supervisor Dr. M. Gienger
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“Interaktive Bedienhilfe in der ZSVA” (S. Ruether), R&D project with industry partner Miele Professional, Miele & Cie. KG, co-supervisor Dr. T. Hermann, Prof. Dr. S. Kopp
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“ Flexibles Montagekonzept durch Autonome Fertigungsinseln (C. Dreyer), R&D project with industry partner Harting Technology Group with Spitzencluster its-owl coordinator Dr. S. Wrede
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Finished projects
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CITEC (Excellence Center in Cognitive Interaction Technology)
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Task-dependent control of eye movements and mobile visual sensors (Dr. Anna Belardinelli, Dipl. Inf. Marco Wischnewski), co-superviser Prof. W.X. Schneider, Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University
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- 2011-2012 Calibration Free Hand-Eye Coordination (A. Freire), DAAD co-funded PhD grant in cooperation with Prof. G. Baretto, Fortaleza, Brazil
- 2008-2011 Goal-directed imitation learning from humans (Dr. M. Mühlig), co-superviser Dr. M. Gienger, HRI
- 2008-2011, Neural learning of flexible full body motion (M. Rolf), R&D project with Honda Research Institute (HRI) in cooperation with Dr. M. Gienger
- 2006-2011, ALEGRO: Autonomous Learning of Generative Representations of Objects (Dr. A. Denecke), R&D project with Honda Research Institute (HRI) in cooperation with Dr. H. Wersing (HRI)
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2006-2010 project C4 “Adaptive Alignment in Human-Robot-Cooperation” in special
research unit (SFB) 673 “Alignment in Communication” with Prof. Ritter -
“Haptic object classification by recursive networks in anthropomorphic grasping”,
DAAD funded cooperation with Prof. A. Sperduti, Padua, Italy - 04/2003 – 03/2007 “Viola: Visual Online Learning and Action” in cooperation with Honda Research Institute Europe, Offenbachin cooperation with Dr. H. Wersing (HRI)
- 01/2003 – 12/2005 project D6 “Architectures for Learning by Imitation in Speech-action Systems” in SFB 360 “Situated Artificial Communicators” with Prof. Ritter
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CITEC (Excellence Center in Cognitive Interaction Technology)
