Monthly Meeting Announcement
Columbia Chapter of Professional Engineers of Oregon

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 Program
“Understanding Motor Control: From Biology to Robotics”
 
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will deliver the program via our Zoom link. Non-members are welcome to attend at no cost, but there will be a nominal charge if a PDH certificate is desired. The Zoom link is provided below.

Program Abstract: 
Neural control of locomotion is a complex process of sensing, processing, and acting that is not well understood. Much of the control takes place in the spinal cord, without significant intervention from the brain. My work involves modeling biomechanics and neural circuits, and investigating how interactions between the nervous system, the body, and the environment result in effective movement and behaviors. This presentation will give an overview of what we know about the circuits and sensory feedback that are used in locomotion control and how the organization of these spinal circuits provide effective control in the face of perturbations. We will also discuss some recent work in developing mobile robots for concrete climbing and inspection.
Speaker: Alexander Hunt, Associate Professor, Mechanical and Materials Engineering (Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University)

Bio:  
Alex Hunt holds degrees (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.) from the Biologically Inspired Robotics Lab at Case Western Reserve University and heads the Agile and Adaptive Robotics Lab. His primary research interest lies at the intersection of computational neuroscience and robotic systems through the development of neuromechanical models of locomotion. In collaboration with German and US biologists he developed simulations and robotic models that explain how the nervous and biomechanical systems are organized and work together to produce stable locomotion. 

Alex is the recent recipient of the NSF CAREER award and part of the multinational, interdisciplinary NSF NeuroNex team: Communication, Coordination, and Control in Neuromechanical Systems (C3NS) which seeks to understand how biological nervous systems control and execute interactions with the environment.
Register in advance for this meeting with the following link:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
DATE
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
 
TIME 
PEO announcements begin at 6:45 pm
Presentation 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
 
COST 
PEO members – No cost
LOCATIONS
Virtual via Zoom registration link
(above)
 
 PDH certificate
1 PDH will be provided for members attending
(nominal cost for non-members;
Information provided at meeting)
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