Contributing Research Labs

Laura Rodriguez and Travis Smith at the Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines

Exercise Physiology Lab

Improving human health, well-being, and performance

The overarching research goals within the Exercise Physiology Laboratory are to seek nutritional and exercise interventions that can improve human health, well-being, and performance. This unit has been particularly focused on the importance of hydration to delay fatigue and maintain safety during exercise, especially in conditions of heat stress. The physiological responses and efficacy of specific interventions related to nutrient composition and dosage (e.g. during and following physical activity) have been studied. Health and work performance issues that relate to body fluid balance and provision of optimal macronutrients have implications for a variety of populations during exercise that may be specific to fitness level, age, and gender.

Research Opportunities

Undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in exercise physiology may assist with various ongoing research projects. In addition, the School frequently recruits students as subject volunteers for exercise physiology studies.

School of Applied Physiology

Research in the School of Applied Physiology spans levels of biological organization from cellular mechanisms to motor behavior and human performance, and this research encompasses many of the body's organ systems. Specific emphases include the control of motor activity by the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems, the cellular mechanisms of plasticity in muscular performance, fluid balance and exercise performance in thermally challenged environments, and approaches to rehabilitation that include prosthetic and orthotic devices as part of the treatment plan. This research is propelled by an enthusiastic faculty and by the natural synergies that arise from our common interests in motor systems, prosthetics and orthotics, and other areas of systems physiology.

Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (RIM@Georgia Tech)

Innovating the Future of Robotics

"RIM@Georgia Tech serves as the flagship for Georgia Tech's robotics efforts, coordinating the university's capabilities in this field under one roof." –Henrik Christensen, PhD, director of Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines, Distinguished Professor of Computing, and KUKA Chair of Robotics

The Center for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (RIM@Georgia Tech) is helping define the new face of computing through a unique emphasis on education and research in robotics. The Center positions Georgia Tech to become a world leader in these promising, revolutionary new technologies.

RIM@Georgia Tech's activities leverage the strengths and resources of Georgia Tech by reaching across traditional boundaries to embrace a multidisciplinary approach. The College of Computing, College of Engineering, and the Georgia Tech Research Institute play key, complementary roles through Tech's traditional expertise in interactive and intelligent computing, control, and mechanical engineering. Emphasizing personal and everyday robotics as well as the future of automation, faculty involved with RIM@Georgia Tech help students understand and define the future role of robotics in society.

In addition, well-established industry relationships provide a path for technology transfer and commercialization, a crucial objective for RIM@Georgia Tech projects.

Research with a Purpose

Basic and applied research is at the heart of RIM@Georgia Tech. The study of basic engineering problems in robotics is central to our work, but equally important is the integration of innovation and discoveries into real-world systems and applications. The exceptionally high quality of our programs, faculty, and research are rapidly positioning RIM@Georgia Tech with an international reputation for excellence and innovation in robotics. Our research activities embrace an array of diverse yet related fields including:

• Advanced Sensors
• Aerial Robotics
• Air Vehicle Navigation and Control
• Artificial Intelligence
• Autonomous and Mobile Robotics
• Behavior-Based Robotics
• Computerized Industrial Controllers
• Emergency Response Robotics
• Human-Robot Interaction
• Machine Vision
• Modeling Social Systems and Human Activity
• Motion Control and Haptics
• Multi-Robot Systems
• Neurally Controlled Robots
• Wearable Computing