A voice-controlled vehicle. A shape-shifting probe designed to squeeze inside aircraft. A blood-suctioning surgical assistant.
These were just some of the innovations on display at this month’s Toronto Robotics Conference, where more than 300 researchers, students and industry partners gathered at the University of Toronto Mississauga to explore the future of intelligent machines.
Co-hosted by UTM and the U of T Robotics Institute, the two-day event featured talks, lab tours and hands-on demos highlighting how robotics is being applied to solve complex problems from the operating room to the far reaches of space.
That breadth of impact has made robotics a key research focus at U of T, bringing together experts across disciplines to rethink how machines interact with and shape the world around us, said Alexandra Gillespie, vice-president, U of T, and principal, UTM.
“This is a great opportunity for us at UTM to host this conference to discover, along with you, what’s possible when we bring the most important fields for our future together.”
She noted that robotics and its related fields are an area of strength at UTM, citing significant growth in computer science enrolments, the launch of new co-op programs and enhanced facilities like UTM’s Undergraduate Robotics Teaching Lab.
“Robotics researchers at UTM are tackling grand challenges in sectors like health care, manufacturing, sustainability and autonomous driving,” said Tim Barfoot, director of the U of T Robotics Institute. “Their work reflects the strength of our tri-campus collaborations to advance robotics solutions, and I’m grateful to UTM for helping us showcase that collective impact.”