Giving Robots Sight : The Anatomy of a Perception Machine

The NDLI (National Digital Library of India) Club of DBCE in association with the Dept. of Electronics and Computer Science, DBCE organized a Talk on “GIVING ROBOTS SIGHT: THE ANATOMY OF A PERCEPTION MACHINE” for the students and staff of DBCE. The session aimed to delve into the fascinating world of machine perception and robotics. Ms. Trima Fernandes, Asst. Professor, Dept. of Electronics and Computer Science, warmly welcomed and introduced the Speaker for the session, Mr. Myron Rodrigues, an accomplished Alumnus and a passionate expert in robotics and artificial intelligence. A total of 55 club members registered for the event.

Mr. Myron Rodrigues began the session with a video, “7 Minutes of Terror”, which illustrated the immense challenges faced by NASA’s Curiosity Rover during its landing on Mars and introduced the core idea of how robots operate: Sense – Think – Act. Mr. Rodrigues explained how robots perceive their environment using cameras, sensors, and Color Filter Arrays (CFA). Attendees learned how pixel values ranging from 0 (black) to 255 (white) form the basis of digital imaging. He stated that to process and interpret visual data, robots rely on various image processing techniques that mimic human vision. He also covered the concept of depth perception with explanations on how technologies like stereo cameras and LIDAR generate 3D representations through point clouds. This was effectively demonstrated through the video “The Magic of Waymo Drivers”, showcasing autonomous driving technology.

The session ended with an interactive activity titled “Where Is My Attention?” which encouraged the participants become more mindful of their focus and improve concentration. Ms. Trima Fernandes concluded the event by presenting a memento and expressing gratitude to Mr. Myron Rodrigues for delivering an enlightening and captivating session. The event was successfully organized and coordinated by Ms. Trima Fernandes, Assistant Professor & NDLI Co-ordinator- Dept. of Electronics and Computer Science along with Ms. Vanessa Fernandes, NDLI Co-ordinator- Library.