Nancy Pollard's Home Page (original) (raw)

Research / Projects I am interested in understanding physical interaction with the environment --- how do we select and apply exactly the right forces to maneuver bulky and heavy objects, scramble over large rocks using both hands and feet, or use hand held tools? In robotics, a better understanding of these interaction forces can help us create more dexterous robots that can operate in an environment such as the home. In computer graphics, an understanding of interaction forces can help us to create more natural looking motion when a character climbs, performs athletic maneuvers, or manipulates objects.One of my particular areas of interest in both robotics and graphics is to model convincing hand motion---a difficult task, as the hands have almost as many degrees of freedom as the rest of the body. I also have a specific interest in new techniques for evaluating perceived quality of human or humanoid motion.Please see my publications page for papers and web sites for specific projects. Contact Information Robotics Institute, EDSH 2275000 Forbes AvenueCarnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA 15213-3890412-268-1479 (voice)412-268-6436 (fax)nsp __at__ cs.cmu.edu