Neural Networks and Intelligent Systems

Join us at 10:30 AM in MEC 114 for a presentation from Ruthvik Vaila and Stephen Earl.

In this seminar, the speakers would like to discuss Neural networks and Intelligent systems. Breakthroughs in AI have become a regular phenomenon, and given this backdrop, Ruthvik and Stephen would like to highlight how and why the current AI systems achieved seemingly intelligent capabilities. The first half of the talk is focused on the history of the advances in neural networks and how these advances contributed to very deep networks that could be trained stably. The second half of the talk is focused on how to utilize these seemingly intelligent neural networks to automate many aspects of the real world.

Speaker Bios

Ruthvik obtained his EEE undergraduate in 2014 from NIT-Calicut, Kerala, India and subsequently worked at Robotics Research Centre, IIIT-Hyderabad. He moved to the USA in 2015 to pursue his PhD in Neuromorphic Computing, and he was advised by Dr. John Chiasson. During his PhD, he worked on Neuromorphic Computing and graduated in 2021. Currently, he is a Sr. Machine Learning Engineer at Lamb Weston. Previously, he was at On Semiconductor, Bastian Laboratories (Toyota Advanced Logistics) and worked in topics such as Sensor modeling using Neural networks and Perception. Neuromorphic Computing, Perception, Energy efficient computing are his areas of interest/expertise. Ruthvik likes to tinker with vintage power amplifiers and magnetic recording media during his free time.

Stephen graduated from Boise State in 2021 with a BS in mechanical engineering. He started his career as an intern at Bastian Laboratories, a robotics R&D lab and Toyota subsidiary located in Boise Idaho. As an intern, he used FEA and generative design to design manufacture several robot prototypes. These prototypes included projects such as an AGV to be used as a sensor test-bed, a 3D-printed 6-dof industrial arm, and a redundant elephant-trunk arm. After graduating, he transitioned to a software engineering role at Bastian Labs. In this position, he designed automated systems that leveraged industrial robotic arms to replace repetitive and tedious labor positions in distribution facilities. Stephen also implemented novel trajectory-planning techniques to solve difficult robot trajectory missions in constrained environments while at Bastian Labs. Stephen has since shifted to his current role at Lamb Weston as an Intelligent Systems Engineer as of April 2023. This position allows him to apply his experience to create systems that utilize AI to streamline and enhance manufacturing processes. When he is not working, you can usually find him in the Idaho mountains with his fiance and two dogs, enjoying the outdoors.