The Programmable Automation Laboratory (abbreviated Automation Lab) is a research unit within the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Engineering. IRIS is an interdisciplinary, school-wide institute, whose Director reports to the Dean of Engineering.
The Automation Lab was founded in late 1986 when Aristides A. G. Requicha joined USC as a Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Professor Requicha came from the University of Rochester, where he was associated for thirteen years with the Production Automation Project (PAP). The PAP is known for its contributions to the theory and practice of geometric modeling, and especially for the development of the PADL solid modelers, which have been used widely. Several commercial modelers have been built upon PADL-2.
The Automation Lab conducts theoretical and applied research in the field of programmable automation, which encompasses computer-aided design (CAD) of mechanical and electromechanical products, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and industrial robotics. Industrial collaboration is an important component of the laboratory’s program and follows the successful patterns developed over a decade at the PAP. The laboratory, in collaboration with faculty associated with IRIS, also takes an active role in graduate education through special research projects, as well as regular courses in robotics and automation.
The steady-state roster of lab personnel typically consists of the director, an administrative assistant (part-time), a visiting scientist, five graduate research assistants, and two undergraduate assistants.
NOTE: This description was written in the mid-1990s.
