INsauga: Students explore latest in AI-robotics at University of Toronto Mississauga

This story was originally published by INsauga

By Karen Longwell

From surgical robotics to self-driving vehicles—the University of Toronto Mississauga displayed the latest AI-robotics research this month.

The Toronto Robotics Conference was at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus on July 15 and 16. The conference has been at the downtown campus for the last two years and this was the first time at the Mississauga campus.

UTM has the space for large labs, which are needed for the research work, said Lueder Kahrs, assistant professor in the university’s department of mathematical and computational sciences.

The school started to add robotics courses about seven years ago, Kahrs said. Students in engineering or computer science programs have the opportunity to study robotics courses at UTM.

“We are working at making the program bigger,” Kahrs told INsauga.com.

The conference highlighted UTM’s Medical Computer Vision and Robotics Lab and the Continuum Robotics Labs.

In addition to talks from industry experts and researchers, the conference showcased graduate student work.

Kahrs is excited about AI robotics applications in surgery. Surgical robots allow surgeons to operate with enhanced precision, control and accuracy.

“We are trying to help physicians,” he said.

Right now, medical robotics allow surgeons to operate with enhanced precision, control and accuracy, resulting in smaller incisions and improved patient outcomes. Typically, the surgeon is present and in control of the robot’s movements.

But much like autonomous vehicles, surgery could be done without a doctor present in the room. This could be beneficial in remote areas where doctors are not easily accessible.

If a patient were close to death and the nearest surgeon is five hours away, an autonomous surgery could save a life.

“Would you take robotic treatment rather than no treatment?” Kahrs said.

In the same building, students work with continuum robots, which have a jointless, continuous structure. These robots are ideal for navigating tight, complex spaces.

Continuum robots can be used in industrial inspection and minimally invasive surgery. They are valuable for tasks in hazardous or inaccessible environments, such as inside jet engines or the human brain, where they enable safer, more precise procedures.

An example on display was a robot that could enter an aircraft wing and scan for mechanical issues.

As the UTM program grows, Kahrs has received more questions about the courses.

“People are getting fascinated about robotics,” Kahrs said.