The Innovation Centre of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (RIS) is the hub of creativity and innovation at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. With the main focus on social robotics, the undergraduates of the Department of Computer Science are constantly encouraged to carry out research on a wide variety of modern trending technologies under the guidance of Dr. Ravindra De Silva, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Human-Robot Interaction is a field of study dedicated to understanding, designing and evaluating robotics systems for use by or with humans. It includes the topics of gesture, natural language communication, perceiving emotions and expressing their own artificial emotions, establishing social relationships, an exhibition of different personalities and characters and recognition of interaction. Some exclusive research works carried out at the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Lab were shared with the public at the Knowledge 1st TV program broadcasted on Rupavahini, last Thursday on the 30th of July 2019, along with the Harry Potter Sorting Hat.
Out of the numerous projects carried out at Robotics and Intelligent Systems Lab, the Harry Potter Sorting Hat is one of the most unique ideas brought to life by a team of undergraduates of the Department of Computer Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Adhisha Gammanpila, Tehani Wanniarachchi, and Asela Wijesingha inspired from the book Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, developed the concept of Sorting Hat as a brain wave interface to detect brain wave patterns of small children. The natural emotion extraction using brain waves could yield data with a higher rate of accuracy and thus can be utilized for various other researches concerning mental health medication of children.
Creativity and innovation are both equally challenging and cannot be achieved overnight. It is more than clear that the Innovation Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura is well serving its purpose producing young innovators and scientists who are capable of reaching greater heights, expanding humanity to novel experiences that it has not encountered yet.