Abstract
This seminar will provide an overview of the programs within the Dynamics, Controls, and Cognition (DCC) Cluster, namely the Dynamic, Control, and Systems Diagnostics (DCSD), the Mind, Machine, and Motor Nexus (M3X), and the Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR). These programs support fundamental research on the modeling, analysis, diagnostics, measurement, and control of dynamical systems, encompassing sensorimotor interactions between humans and synthetic actors. Supported projects are expected to yield new theories, methods, and engineering applications with broad societal impacts. Interdisciplinary and convergent proposals are encouraged.
The seminar will cover various topics, including a clarification of the concept of innovation within the cluster's programs, with specific reference to the instructions given to reviewers during review panels, and a brief overview of all three programs. Specifically, for the DCSD program, the seminar will address the relative importance of modeling, analysis, diagnostics, and control of dynamical systems. For the M3X program, it will clarify the meaning of human-machine sensorimotor interaction within the context of the recently published program description. Finally, within the FRR program, the seminar will clarify the importance of new or substantially enhanced robotic functionality, as well as the FRR interpretation of human-robot collaboration. Ample time for Q&A will be reserved to address any specific questions or additional topics of interest.
About the Speaker
Alexander Leonessa holds the position of a permanent program officer at the National Science Foundation (NSF). In this role, his primary responsibilities include managing the Dynamics, Control, and Cognition cluster within the Directorate for Engineering's Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI). Additionally, he is responsible for overseeing the CMMI’s involvement with the Major Research Instrumentation program.
Prior to his current position at NSF, Alexander Leonessa served as a professor at Virginia Tech in the Mechanical Engineering Department. During his tenure at Virginia Tech, he held courtesy appointments in several other departments, including Industrial Systems and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics. His research focus at Virginia Tech revolved around the design and control of humanoid robots and exoskeletons, with applications in both rehabilitation and human augmentation. Over the course of his career, he has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers.
Furthermore, from 2014 to 2016, Alexander Leonessa completed a two-year rotation at the National Science Foundation, during which he supervised the General and Age Related Disability Engineering (GARDE) program. Additionally, he actively participated in various NSF programs, including the Major Research Instrumentation program, the National Robotic Initiative, the Partnership for Innovation program, and the Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems program.
Host: Professor Naira Hovakimyan