Computer Science Labs

The Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab here at Connecticut College supports exciting and innovative research on artificial intelligence, robotics,  cognitive science and genetic algorithms.

Facilities include standard UNIX and PC labs as well as specialized labs in robotics, networks, virtual reality and digital signal processing. The robotics lab is equipped with Sun workstations, PCs, robots, and overhead cameras. The virtual reality and signal processing lab (which is also part of the Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology) has high-end graphics PCs, head-mounted displays, 3D trackers, force feedback devices, spatialized audio devices, and software for producing high-end animations and graphics. Students who are in advanced courses or who are doing research projects have access to these labs.

Current research in robotics includes student-faculty projects on colony robotics, learning walking patterns for six-legged robots using cyclic genetic algorithms to generate gaits for hexapod robots, and more.

An 8x8-foot robot colony space has been constructed in the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Lab to set up the learning system environment. The focus of the research conducted in the lab is on learning techniques used in artificial intelligence and their application to learning the control of legged robots.

Although other universities and colleges have developed colonies, few have legged robots and none of these have this College's means of providing a continuous power supply.

The Connecticut College Robot Colony is a unique space where experimentation in robot cooperation, coordination, and emergent behaviors can take place.

Last Modified: Friday, January 25, 2008 15:57