Honors Student Shiven Patel Wins Top Award for Guide Dog Robot Research at Tapia 2024
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Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) third-year honors computer science student Shiven Patel received the top prize in the Undergraduate Research Poster Competition at the 2024 Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference in San Diego, California, for his work on "Enhancing Guide Dog Robot Navigation Safety Through Dynamic Audio-Based Obstacle Tracking."
Patel's research focuses on improving the navigation safety of guide dog robots for the visually impaired by integrating audio-based obstacle tracking. This approach allows robots to detect and classify multiple sound sources, overcoming the limitations of vision-only systems, which can be prone to occlusions and challenging lighting conditions.
“Our goal is to develop a highly reliable system capable of making safe and rational decisions in real-world environments,” explains Patel.
The Tapia Conference is a leading event promoting diversity in computing, offering participants the opportunity to engage with experts, network with peers, and gain valuable professional insights.
“Winning this award is not just a personal academic achievement; it underscores the vital need to develop advanced robotic aids for the visually impaired. Our mission is to enhance their lives by providing reliable and intelligent assistance,” says Patel. “I am truly grateful for the unwavering support from my graduate mentor, Hochul Hwang, and professor Donghyun Kim; without them, this work would not have been possible.”
Patel, who is also a member of the 13th cohort of the UMass Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program, describes his experience at the Tapia Conference as “incredibly inspiring,” making note of the direct access to networking with experts who offered “valuable feedback” on his research.
“I firmly believe in the power of organic networking, where professional stories are shared authentically rather than feeling transactional,” he says. “Conferences like Tapia are the perfect breeding ground for such meaningful interactions.”