'Robopocalypse' Author Returns

He authored the New York Times bestselling novel "Robopocalypse" — which is currently being adapted for film by Steven Spielberg — and seven other books, including "How to Survive a Robot Uprising," "A Boy and His Bot" and "Amped."

Daniel Wilson (CS'05), who received his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, returns to his alma mater to give a talk in celebration of National Robotics Week. He'll speak at noon on April 18 in the Rashid Auditorium in the Gates and Hillman centers. Pre-registration is requested.

National Robotics Week, April 6–14, is geared toward inspiring the next generation of innovators to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Wilson will draw on his experience in both real-world robotics and in science fiction as he presents the annual Teruko Yata Memorial Lecture. Titled "Sci-fi Destroys the Future, Science Builds It," he'll examine the exchange of ideas between Hollywood and academia — the strong influence that science fiction has had on real-world research and development as well as the ways that new advances have, likewise, worked to shape authors' sci-fi imaginings.

CMU's School of Computer Science will host the 19th annual Mobot Races from noon to 2 p.m. on April 19. Participants, including undergraduates and alumni, will race small autonomous vehicles through a slalom course on the paved walk outside Doherty and Wean halls. The award ceremony is at 3 p.m. in Rashid Auditorium.

Also on April 19, the Robotics Institute will host exhibits and demonstrations from noon to 4 p.m. in the Planetary Robotics Laboratory on the first floor of the Gates and Hillman centers. Tours of two additional labs are available for a limited number of participants who pre-register.

These public events coincide with the university's annual Spring Carnival.

CMU's excellence in robotics has helped convince such companies as Disney, Intel and Caterpillar to establish offices in Pittsburgh. The university's Robotics Institute was the first of its kind in the world and remains as the world's leader in research, education and innovation in the field of robotics.

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