The Nickelodeon Columbia, SC
Dr. Jason O'Kane
Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of South Carolina
Robot & Frank— Current State of Robotics
Program Description
A discussion of the current state of robotics and whether robots could realistically be used to rob a home (they can’t).
Presented At
The Nickelodeon Columbia, SC
Film Synopsis
In the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team.
In the near future, Frank (Frank Langella) is a retired catburglar living alone, while his successful son, Hunter (James Marsden), tries to care for him from afar. Finally, Hunter gets him a robot caretaker (voiced by Peter Sarsgaard), and Frank soon learns that the robot is useful as a burglary aide. As Frank tries to restart his old profession, the uncomfortable realities of a changing world and his worsening dementia threaten to go beyond what any robot can do for him.
About the Speaker
Dr. Jason O'Kane is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Carolina. Professor O'Kane's research is in planning algorithms for robotics and autonomous systems. His interests span sensor-based algorithmic robotics and related areas, including planning under uncertainty, artificial intelligence, computational geometry, sensor networks, and motion planning. He received a BS from the Taylor University, and an MS and PhD from the University of Illinois.