Takeo Kanade
Takeo Kanade serves as director of the Quality of Life Technology Center and professor in computer science and robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. See how NSF has supported his research. Image credit: Takeo Kanade

Modeling Humans
This project, called Grand Challenge, aims to collect data on daily activities such as cooking. Here, a user is monitored with video, accelerometers and motion-capture devices. Eventually this data could help robots recognize human activities and assist, if needed.

A Robot Butler
HERB, the robot butler, is part of the Active Home project. That project combines physical assistance with a "smart" environment, monitoring people and objects. The robot can recognize, grasp and move objects of varying shapes and positions.

More Than a Wheelchair
PerMMA is a project that seeks to allow wheelchair users all the mobility and manipulation of an unimpaired person. It's not just a wheelchair with added intelligence and arms--PerMMA is a mobile robotic manipulator with a seat for a person.