Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence 1 | | 2 Content Foreword 4 Introduction 6 PART I Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence 9 1 Mission Statement 10 2 MSRM: An Integrative Research Center of TUM 12 3 Research Focus at MSRM 14 4 Leadership and Boards 17 5 Lighthouse Initiatives 20 6 Highlights from two years of operations 24 PART II TUMs MSRM Community 29 1 Science Board 30 2 Community 42 Location and Contact 45 Acknowledgements 45 Imprint 47 3 | Foreword Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann President of the Technical University of Munich Never waste a crisis – this maxim of former U.S. President Barack Obama should be widely adopted. The corona pandemic defies the international community with transgressive challenges of historic proportions. The zero point has been re-calibrated and the future is being re-written. This global break exposes the weaknesses of the world, but it also reveals the potential for social change. The crisis offers a wide range of opportunities to strengthen Germany’s and Europe’s position as a hub for knowledge and business. However, achieving this will require several things: Unconditional courage for innovation in political decision-making, along with the agility and digital leadership of enterprises. Furthermore, an open- minded and responsible society as a solid foundation for a collaborative approach to innovation, together with the creative and transformational power of the world’s leading universities. | 4 Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence Chartered with such a collaborative the top-level Industrial Advisory Board, mission, the Technical University of which is chaired by Prof. Edward G. Munich (TUM) founded the Munich Krubasik. The board brings along an School of Robotics and Machine overwhelming commitment and passion Intelligence (MSRM) in 2017. As an for taking MSRM to the next level. Integrative Research Center, the school is transcending all technical, departmental Almost three years have passed since and intellectual boundaries. MSRM, led MSRM’s day zero. Although MSRM is still by Prof. Sami Haddadin, has embarked in its infancy, a highly inspirational force on new paths to make machine-based field has been created. In the near future, assistance systems smarter and more this will be intellectually enriched by ad- responsive. To achieve this, gaps ditional research professorships and the between departments have been bridged. translational AI Mission Institute funded Now, the TUM’s leading competences by the Bavarian Government‘s Hightech as well as intellectual and financial Agenda. Despite the unprecedented toll resources from Informatics, Mechanical of the corona crisis, we can count on Engineering, Physics, and Electrical and massive political support as well as the Computer Engineering are connected. ongoing commitment of our strong indus- MSRM’s integrative research approach try and research partners. This combined combines artificial intelligence, robotics, effort presents us with the unique op- and perception. It is geared towards portunity to turn MSRM into the leading real-world applications in such areas as European center for responsible and re- the future of health, work, mobility and liable machine intelligence. Never waste the environment. This ambition has been a crisis! empowered by trustful strategic alliances with leading science and industry partners. In addition, it is supported by 5 | Introduction Prof. Dr. Sami Haddadin Founding Director, Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence Cleary, artificial intelligence (AI) and ro- botics faced a technological quantum leap in recent years and made the multi- modal interaction of humans and machi- Copyright: David Ausserhofer nes possible, ranging from audiovisual to physical interaction. With the recent and undoubtedly rapid developments in intelligent software and the wide range of emerging real-world ap- plications, the term artificial intelligence is today often associated and thus limited with its still rather early form of implemen- tation. With the anticipated advances e.g. in perception, collective intelligence and robotics, future research extends in an increasingly accelerated manner towards intelligent agents with an embodiment that purposefully interact with the physi- | 6 Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence cal world. This evolution from purely di- of us will fundamentally transform our gital artificial intelligence to learning-en- society. Already today, many citizens abled cyber-physical systems will enable feel overwhelmed by the Internet and the humans to live their future everyday lives ubiquitous and seamless interaction via with a wide variety of assistive networked smart devices. Thus, and in particular in machines. times of vast progress and change, it is absolutely crucial for robotics and AI re- One could even say that the next gene- search to make sure we place the human ration of AI is embodied. This machine at the center of our research, technology intelligence – emerging from the scienti- development and translation. We must fic fields of robotics, artificial intelligence therefore ensure that the mission of our and perception – is the science of intel- research is to make people the main be- ligent, adaptive, and networked, artificial neficiaries of our work, both on a small systems that extend to the physical world and large scale. Cutting-edge technical and are able to purposefully interact with science in close cooperation with the so- humans and the environment. This evo- cial sciences and humanities can jointly lution in the relation of humans and ma- develop trustworthy and ethically accep- chines marks a revolutionary milestone ted key technologies that contribute to in technology development as both can solving the major challenges of our time. become true partners. However, while this grand human-cen- tered vision is our goal, the breathtaking technical advances of the last decades and the presumed ones still lying ahead 7 | | 8 PART I Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence 9 | PART I 1 Mission Statement: New approaches to scientific and societal grand challenges The Munich School of Robotics and democratization of physically embodied Machine Intelligence (MSRM) at the Artificial Intelligence (AI). Linking the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is interconnected digital world with the an integrative research center in the physical analog world with networked field of machine intelligence. Research intelligent machines, the MSRM explores and education at MSRM revolve synergistic interactions between people around the future advancement and and machines in everyday life. | 10 Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence 1 Mission Statement: New approaches to scientific and societal grand challenges Finding answers to the grand societal that reaches far beyond the Munich Me- challenges of our time in the fields of en- tropolitan Region. With scientists from a vironment, work, health, and mobility is wide range of disciplines and the tight the driving force behind MSRM‘s research collaboration with institutions in the areas agenda. This agenda is aligned along stra- of philosophy, ethics and law, responsible tegic human-centered research mis- technology development and subsequent sions that aim to develop the reference integration into society are ensured. AI-algorithm and robot system platforms of tomorrow by tackling the underlying To meet the broad need for scientific and scientific grand challenges including the technical talent, MSRM will enable out- most complex real world scenarios. standing young researchers to engage in professional exchange at an interna- Being the crystallization point for re- tional level, empower them to carry out searchers across the TUM, MSRM will their own research agenda, and achieve a enable the strategic definition and execu- visible effect in the field. MSRM wants to tion of these long-term research missions. be the number one reference for teaching This mission-based research approach is and education in the design of integra- supported by aggregating a critical mass tive Robotics and AI study programs. of excellent researchers in large scale MSRM will thus develop a guiding vision lighthouse initiatives within research and coordinate education programs in sectors (robotics, AI, perception) and in- Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (MSc, novation sectors (work, health, mobility PhD, lifelong learning). and environment). The goal is to transla- te breakthrough research into real-world In cooperation with leading scientific ins- applications via field research. The mis- titutions and technology companies in the sion-based approach is nurtured and greater Munich area, the innovation hub enabled by bottom-up (“blue sky”) focus for robotics and artificial intelligence will groups that allow interdisciplinary teams be developed and strengthened. of scientists to team up pursuing high po- tential, fundamentally new approaches. By creating a collaborative environment for the current world-class research and teaching at one of Europe’s leading uni- versities, MSRM aims to become a crys- tallization point for machine intelligence 11 | PART I 2 MSRM: An Integrative Research Center of TUM The Technical University of Munich couple of years after its founding, MSRM (TUM) has founded the Munich School bundles ex per tise across many facul- of Robotics and Machine Intelligence ties,