BSc Thesis (15HP): Robotic Avatar Platform

Virtual avatars provide a powerful means of human-computer interaction, but are typically constrained to digital environments. Integrating avatars with physical robotic platforms offers exciting possibilities for embodied interaction in real-world settings, with applications in education, healthcare, customer service, and entertainment.

This project focuses on developing and integrating a robotic platform with virtual avatar software to create a physically mobile avatar system. You will work with an existing robotic base, configure the necessary software infrastructure, optimize control frameworks for natural movement, and extend avatar software capabilities to leverage the robot's mobility.

The project bridges the gap between virtual character animation and physical robotics, creating a unified system where the avatar can navigate physical spaces while maintaining its interactive capabilities. This interdisciplinary work combines elements of robotics, computer vision, human-computer interaction, and software integration.

Specific Tasks

• Configure an existing robotic platform with ROS (Robot Operating System) and related packages
• Set up and calibrate ZED stereo cameras and integrate the ZED SDK for environmental mapping
• Optimize the robot's control framework to enable smooth, natural movements
• Analyze and learn the capabilities of existing avatar software
• Develop interfaces between the avatar software and the robotic platform
• Extend the avatar software to incorporate robot mobility
• Design and implement demonstration scenarios showcasing integrated capabilities
• Document the system architecture and integration approaches
• Create user guides for future development and extension

The project is good for a group of two students, interested in robotics and virtual characters.  Strong programming skill in C++ and Python required. JS is a plus.

Contact

Andrey Kiselev (andrey.kiselev@oru.se)