Travels from Texas, USA
James McLurkin's speaking fee falls within range: $15,000 to $20,000
One of the world’s most respected robot engineers, James McLurkin is at the forefront of artificial intelligence’s growing role in everyday life. With over 20 years experience in the field, the AI thought leader has overseen the design and construction of 2 different swarms, each one made up of over 100 robots.
McLurkin’s specialty of swarm technology aims to create an ecosystem of robots equipped to take on difficult and dangerous tasks such as search and rescue after an earthquake or during a fire. His work has been featured in Time and Black Enterprise magazines as well as on the PBS television series, Nova. Additionally, his expertise and counsel have been sought out by world-class companies such as Walt Disney Imagineering and Micro Display Corporation.
While still in graduate school, McLurkin served as the Project Manager of the DARPA-funded Swarm Project. For six years he furthered the knowledge and application of algorithm and systems design as the Director of the Multi-Robot Systems Lab at Rice University. Currently, he is developing new gizmos at Google, where he is a Senior Hardware Engineer.
ʺI donʹt remember a time when I wasnʹt building something.ʺ
As a child, James McLurkin was constantly building with LEGO bricks, cardboard boxes, or any other materials he could get his hands on. Today, McLurkin continues this tradition. Using Mother Nature as a model, his core research is developing distributed algorithms for multi‐robot systems: the software for large swarms of autonomous robots. Inspired by the behavior of ants and bees, the SwarmBots perform individual tasks that collectively contribute to the goals of the group. They were originally created during his five‐year post as Lead Research Scientist at iRobot, one of the worldʹs leading robotics companies.
Since 1995, McLurkin has lectured extensively at companies and universities such as the Smithsonian Museum, Harvard University, Infosys, IBM, and Honda. He is dedicated to illustrating the fun and excitement in science and engineering, and teaches classes to students of all ages, from elementary school to graduate school. He cherishes his “Nerd Pride”, and uses it to help excite the next generation of engineers and scientists.
McLurkin is a native of New York, where his parents encouraged his inventiveness and engineering prowess at a young age. From Lego bricks to BMX bicycling to programming self‐designed video games, he quickly became consumed by his passion for engineering. He built his first robot, Rover, in 1988, and quickly followed it with many other designs, including the Robotic Ants created at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab for his undergraduate thesis. McLurkin recounts, ʺI remember when I was in the 7th grade and saw the MIT Mechatronics (2.70) Design Competition on a NOVA television special. I thought, wow, thatʹs the coolest thing on the planet.ʺ The program featured a behind‐the‐scenes look at students working in a machine shop, using huge tools to build robots. ʺI was amazed at the machines they were building and the intensity of the competition… and I realized thatʹs what I wanted to do, and that’s where I wanted to go to school.ʺ
In 2003, McLurkin received the Lemelson‐MIT Student Prize, which is awarded to burgeoning MIT student inventors. Also in 2003, he was recognized by Time Magazine as one of five leading robotics engineers in their ʺRise of the Machinesʺ feature, and by Black Enterprise magazine as a ʺBest and Brightest Under 40.ʺ In 2002, he was featured in the Lemelson Centerʹs nationwide interactive traveling exhibit, Invention at Play, which began at the Smithsonianʹs National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
McLurkin is currently a Research Associate at the University of Washington in Seattle. He holds a S.B. in electrical engineering with a minor in mechanical engineering from MIT, a M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a S.M. and Ph.D. in computer science from MIT.
You may have heard that robots are set to take over the 3D’s – jobs that are dangerous, dirty, and dull. James McLurkin is adding a fourth D to that list - distribution. The roboticist explains how his work focuses on problems that can be solved by deploying swarms of robots, such as warehouse flow, fighting fires, and searching for survivors after natural disasters.
In a live demonstration, he showcases the capacity robots already have to cooperate and relate to one another while touching on the algorithms that bring them to life. Comparing their dynamic to the operational systems of ant or bee colonies, McLurkin reveals artificial intelligence owes a great deal to the field of biology. “These ideas come from nature,” he discusses the programming and resulting behaviors of his robot swarms. “We can’t often copy nature, but we can be inspired by nature.”
Robotic literacy has quickly become an invaluable competitive advantage for the 21st century as A.I. makes its way out of science fiction into mainstream business and culture. One of the foremost technical experts in his field, James McLurkin is a down-to-earth ambassador for it, as well, breaking down robotics into entertaining and educational bits for general audiences. McLurkin takes you past society’s conceived notions to a deeper understanding of the technology that makes A.I possible.
All presentations require a laptop projector, and the robot demos require a minimum floor space of 10’ x 10’. If the robots are to be demoed on a stage, then a one‐inch high barrier must be placed around the boundaries of the demonstration area to prevent robots from plummeting to their doom.
Dances with Robots: The Story of One Engineer, 112 Little Robots, and the Toys, Insects, and Star Wars Movies that Made it all Possible The presentation starts with a lighthearted look at societyʹs views on robots, Hollywoodʹs portrayal of them, the current state of the art, and the future of the technology. Philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence are discussed, as they pose serious problems for the creation of artificially intelligent devices. The final conclusion? Robots are phenomenally stupid and we should be more concerned about global warming than a robotic rebellion. In spite of their limitations, robots are still useful, and swarms are the future of robotics. McLurkin motivates the need for swarms of robots, and explains the technology required to produce group behaviors on one hundred robots. Fundamental multi‐robot distributed algorithms are demystified using video clips, live robot demonstrations, and audience participation and to punctuate the main points. The presentation concludes with an autobiographical sketch that traces the events, ideas, and toys that have influenced McLurkinʹs career, from cardboard boxes and tape, to LEGO bricks and video games.
Extreme Lesson Plans: Adventures in Technical Education James McLurkinʹs teaching style can be summarized as follows: ʺWhat can I bring to class that will be so interesting that they wonʹt even taste the science?ʺ This classic technique of bait‐and‐switch teaching can be especially helpful when introducing technical concepts in science and mathematics. The trick lies is in finding the right demonstration, real‐ world application, or story to motivate the theory. This presentation pulls from McLurkinʹs lectures in physics, engineering, and computer science. The highlights of the presentation are on‐stage demonstrations of BMX physics, a radio‐controlled helicopter, and a small swarm of 15 robots. This presentation also has a mini‐session of ʺSwarm Schoolʺ, to illustrate how complex concepts in distributed algorithms for multi‐robot systems can be explained to high school students.
Extreme Lesson Plans Workshop: Bringing More of You to Your Classroom This workshop covers more of McLurkinʹs lesson plans in detail, featuring hovercraft piloting lessons, and a hands‐on robot programming exercise. The focus of the workshop will be to develop Extreme Lesson Plans for as many of the participants as possible. Participants are encouraged to bring small demos or other artifacts representing their hobbies or interests.
The End of the World and Other Misconceptions: The Truth About Robotics A lighthearted look at societyʹs views on robots, Hollywoodʹs portrayal of them, the current state of the art, and the future of the technology. Famous movie robots are used as examples of dream systems. Biological systems provide examples of “robotic” systems that we are just beginning to understand, but cannot hope to duplicate. Philosophical questions about the nature of intelligence are discussed, as they pose serious problems for the creation of Artificial Intelligence. The end result: Robots are phenomenally stupid and we should be more concerned about the next asteroid strike than a robotic rebellion.
The Future of Robotics and Swarm Robot Applications Swarms are the future of robotics. This presentation motivates the need for swarms of robots, and explains the technology required to produce group behaviors. It usually includes robot demos and audience participation with one of the Swarm School lecture topics below.
“Engineering Creativity”: Exercises for the Right Brain McLurkin’s unconventional approach to the creative design process is an inspiration to professionals of all disciplines. This presentation starts with examples from the far‐reaching passions that have shaped McLurkin’s career, including insects, LEGO, trains, and Star Wars. It continues with a tour through a gallery of brilliant design, sources of inspiration, and examples of exceptional creative thought, often found in the most common places. The conclusion looks at the “logistics of creativity” and leaves participants with ideas on how to structure their environment and plan their activities to enhance creative thought.
“Lifting as You Climb” and Other Every Day Responsibilities of the Minority Professional Gilbert Young’s painting, “He Ain’t Heavy”, perfectly embodies the sentiment of this presentation – you didn’t get where you are by yourself, and it’s your responsibility to reach back to the next generation. Not later, after you’ve made your millions, but right now, even during the struggle to forge ahead. While true for all, it is especially critical for minority professionals and students to support the next generation of scholars, professionals, and of course, engineers. “We underestimate our power to influence the next generation. Having a grand plan to educate and uplift is not necessary. You already embody a powerful existential proof of success, an illumination of the path not taken, and a map to a destination never conceived. All that is required is acceptance of the job of role model and mentor”.
Raising an Engineer: Not Your Typical Childcare Guide Are things being disassembled in your house? Has your protégé discovered the magical properties of duct tape? Is the TiVo connected to the iPod, which is connected to the computer with a wireless ethernet data link? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be living with a young engineer. Fear not, this presentation will help explain the inner workings of a growing engineer’s mind, and provide useful educational advice, toy suggestions, and other resources to help you raise this alien creature in comfort and (relative) safety.
Playing Engineer: The Toys of the Trade Invention and Play often go hand‐in‐hand. During this presentation McLurkin takes the audience through an inside look at the kind of play that has shaped his inventiveness, from kindergarten to the present day.
How Do Robots Work? Using his SwarmBots as a case study, this is a guided tour through the sensor systems, processing, and output effectors common to all robotic platforms. Students list the components they think the robots have, then look for these parts as McLurkin disassembles one of the robots. This presentation is designed for middle school and high school students, but is appropriate for college students when coupled with another topic and a Swarm School lecture.
What Do Robots Do? This presentation is specially designed for the youngest audiences, grades 3‐6. It introduces the concept of practical robotics by starting from Hollywood robots, then moving to real systems. A brief discussion of multi‐robot swarms follows, with a demonstration of the Swarm’s basic behaviors. The presentation concludes with a look at some of the toys that have helped guide McLurkin towards a career in engineering.
ROBOT DEMONSTRATIONS
Most presentations include one or two robot demos of 15‐30 robots. The “Swarm 101” and Swarm Choir demonstrations work well for large groups, while the interactive demos are the ultimate in hands‐ on experience – participants get to drive the robots via remote control and even reprogram them to solve puzzles! For this reason, they are only effective in groups of approximately twenty participants. The robot demos require a minimum floor space of 10’ x 10’. If the robots are to be demoed on a stage, then a one inch high barrier must be placed around the boundaries of the demonstration area to prevent robots from driving off the stage to certain demise.
Swarm 101: Basic Behaviors The Swarm is programmed by combining many simple group behaviors to form more complicated programs. These basic behaviors include follow‐the‐leader, clustering, dispersing, orbiting, navigation, clustering into groups, and flocking.
Swarm Choir This demo is a simple version of a robotic Swarm Marching Band. It uses distributed algorithms to elect one robot to be the conductor, synchronize all the robots to the same downbeat, and divide the robots into instrument sections. These sections play music together, with their combined output producing the complete composition. If your organization has a musical request in the MIDI file format, the Swarm can probably play it!
”SWARM SCHOOL” WORKSHOPS The “Swarm School” series of mini-lectures are designed to introduce key concepts of robotics and distributed algorithms to audiences of all ages. Each lecture is an interactive demo, with the participants playing the part of the robots and trying to solve the problem presented to them. Solutions require creative problem-solving and out-of-the-box thinking. Once the humans think they have solved the problem, the robots demonstrate their solution to the same problem.
Be the Robot When students are forced to act like robots, they can fully understand why robots are so profoundly stupid. Two different styles of robot control software are demonstrated, planning-based control and behavior-based control. A “robot” is made by having three blindfolded students link arms and pretend to be three key robotic systems: sensors, processors, and output effectors. The class ends with a discussion of the current state and future of robotics.
Message Passing This is the most basic program the robots run, and is the foundation for many other behaviors. One participant in the source for a piece of information. Structured local communications are used to spread information across the entire group, in a process similar to the game of telephone. As the message spreads, it creates structure within the group that can be used to estimate the number of participants, to navigate, and to elect a group leader.
Leader Election (Prerequisite: Message Passing) Swarms often need to elect one robot to be a leader. But when all the robots are the same, it can be surprisingly hard to develop a procedure that can accomplish this simple task reliably and efficiently. Participants are challenged to develop a procedure to accomplish this task using their knowledge of message passing.
Distributed Navigation (Prerequisite: Message Passing) Can robots navigate without a map of their environment? Yes, as long as they act as landmarks for each other. Participants work together to develop an algorithm to direct one brave (blindfolded, if very brave) volunteer to the source of the message, using only neighboring “robots” as landmarks.
Averaging (Advanced Topic – limited to eight participants) The ability to compute global averages is useful in robotics swarms and honeybee colonies. Armed with simple calculators, participants are challenged to compute the average of eight numbers, but without adding them together. If honeybees can do it, it can’t be that hard, right?
Counting (Advanced Topic – Prerequisite: Message Passing) Message passing can be used to estimate the number of participants, but what if the number needs to be known exactly? This lecture demonstrates a standard distribution algorithm for counting. It introduces the computer science topic of “trees,” and is best suited for grades 7 and up.
Lemmings Programming Workshop Help program a band of adorable, but cerebrally challenged, robots to escape from a maze to freedom. Inspired by the 1980s video game of the same name, this activity introduces behavior-based programming and swarm group behaviors. Participants use magnetic programming pieces to develop software for the robots, type it in, and test their designs ton the real swarm. Initial environments are simple to solve, but McLurkin has many challenging maze designs up his sleeve, including the dreaded double-constrictor-super-twister…
Jennifer Dahlgren, Organization Development, Honda R&D Americas, Inc.
“Thanks a million for doing such an dynamite job on Saturday night. What a terrific send‐off for our InvenTeams!! Those kids were completely riveted to your remarks from start to finish. Actually, so were all the adults; one parent remarked that you connected with every single person in the room (and itʹs hard to do that following two days of presentations). Your energy, passion, wit, savvy and off‐beat advice were a perfect mix for our audience.” Kristin Finn, Executive Director, Lemelson‐MIT Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful presentation to the STARBASE ROBINS robotics academy. I knew since the first time that I heard your presentation that you have the gift of relating to kids. It is a gift that many think they have but that few truly possess. The work that you are doing with robotics is very interesting and will lead us into the future.” Wesley Fondal, Jr., STARBASE ROBINS, Director, Warner Robins, Georgia
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