Recent News

	(07/12/08) A group of students in the department's two term course, Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS), are designing an online system for reporting and returning lost pets for the Upper Valley Humane Society. Read more.
	(06/09/08) Nick Christman `08, a senior majoring in computer science and mathematics, was a valedictorian this year and spoke at Commencement. Nick completed a high honors thesis under the direction of Prof. Prasad Jayanti, the department Chair. He also maintained a 4.0 GPA, started in all 18 soccer games this season, and won an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Listen to Nick's Valedictory Address.
	(06/09/08) We are pleased to announce the winners of the 40th Annual John G. Kemeny Computing Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Computing.

Recent Technical Reports

• July 2008: Lighting and Optical Tools for Image Forensics
• June 2008: Key Management for Secure Power SCADA
• June 2008 : Anchor-Free Localization in Mixed Wireless Sensor Network Systems
• June 2008: Making RBAC Work in Dynamic, Fast-Changing Corporate Environments
• June 2008: Linkability in Activity Inference Data Sets

Featured Research

Exact Optimal Trajectories for Robots

Prof. Devin Balkcom

Robot control algorithms, like computer algorithms, allocate resources to accomplish tasks; resources include time, energy, degrees of freedom, steps of computation, and precision. A fundamental problem is to determine the minimum resources required -- the physical complexity of of the task. The optimal trajectories provide insight into the capabilities of a mechanism, independent of compromises introduced by particular planning or control techniques.

The exact optimal trajectories were previously known for two vehicles: the Dubins car, and the Reeds-Shepp car. We have discovered the optimal trajectories for a third vehicle; the common differential-drive (wheelchair-like) robot, and work on two more vehicles is nearing completion.

Read more...