EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Agri-Food Robotics: AgriFoRwArdS - Haris Matsantonis

Haris Matsantonis

  • University of Cambridge in collaboration with MathWorks

Research Interests

Haris’s research interests include, robot vision and human-robot interaction, with particular focus on geometric algebra.

Publications

Presentations

  • “Automatic Detection of Black Rot in Images of Grapes” (oral) – AgriFoRwArdS CDT Summer School 2021 [June 2021] – Online.
  • “Geometric Algebra and its applications to robotics, and more specifically how it can be used for the reconstruction of a 3D scene structure from images; an active research topic in computer vision” (oral) – University of Cambridge Researcher Development Training Course Session [November 2021] – Cambridge, UK.
  • “New techniques for problems in vision and robotics using Geometric Algebra” (oral) – AgriFoRwArdS CDT Annual Conference 2022 [June 2022] – Lincoln, UK.
  • “Team Toast” (oral) – AgriFoRwArdS CDT Summer School 2023 [March 2023] – Lincoln, UK.
  • “The applications of Geometric Algebra in interpreting visual information for advanced computer vision technologies” (ORAL) – 13th International Conference on Clifford Algebras and Their Applications in Mathematical Physics [June 2023] – Holon, Israel.
  • “A Geometric Algebra Solution to the 3D Registration Problem” (oral) – Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems (TAROS) 2023 / AgriFoRwArdS CDT Annual Conference 2023 / Joint Robotics CDT Annual Conference 2023 [September 2023] – Cambridge, UK.
  • “Characteristic Multivector Fitting of Two 3D Point Sets” (poster) – Towards Autonomous Robotic Systems (TAROS) 2023 / AgriFoRwArdS CDT Annual Conference 2023 / Joint Robotics CDT Annual Conference 2023 [September 2023] – Cambridge, UK.
  • “Responsible Adoption (Ethical, Legal, Social, Environmental Aspects, Considerations)” (oral) – AgriFoRwArdS CDT Summer School: Robotic Phenotyping [July 2024] – Wageningen, The Netherlands.
  • “New Geometric Algebra Techniques for Problems In Computer Vision” (poster) – AgriFoRwArdS CDT Summer School: Robotic Phenotyping [July 2024] – Wageningen, The Netherlands.

Posters

  • The Towards Autonomous Robots and Systems (TAROS) Conference 2023 / CDT Annual Conference / Joint Robotics CDT Conference (September 2023): Characteristic Multivector Fitting of Two 3D Point Sets.

Other Activities and Outputs

  • Took part in the AgriFoRwArdS Summer School 2021 resulting in a co-authored presentation at the AgriFoRwArdS CDT Annual Conference 2021: Automatic Detection of Black Rot in Images of Grapes (in collaboration with Mohammed Terry-Jack, Grey Churchill, YoonJu Cho, Callum Lennox, Haihui Yan).
  • University of Cambridge IB A4 Lab Demonstrator.

About me

Previously my study has focused on the areas of mathematics, having obtained a PgC in Mathematics from the Open University and an MSc in Applied Mathematics from Herriot-Watt University. I have already taken part in a series of research activities in the fields of machine learning and sustainability. I would like to investigate the cross-section between mathematics and robotics and devise new computational tools to table challenging problems in robotic manipulation. I am looking forward to applying my knowledge to the areas of robot vision and human-robot interaction, with particular focus on geometric algebra.

MSc Project

Investigation of the use of Geometric Algebra for robotics kinematic and dynamic analysis with applications in selective harvesting

In this project we will investigate the use of the mathematical framework of Geometric Algebra (GA) in 3D reconstruction based on an autonomous strawberry picking system. Conventionally, linear and vector algebra are used to investigate the challenges arising in 3D reconstruction and pose estimation. However, the solutions are often non-geometric and involve symbolic manipulation to produce derivatives. Using GA, we get a common algebraic framework in which vision and kinematics can be expressed. We aim to produce a robust framework for solving the problems arising in stereo vision for 3D reconstruction, and motion estimation of omni-drive fruit picking systems via advanced GA models.

PhD Project

Design and implementation of a machine vision system to promote precision agriculture innovation using novel Geometric Algebra techniques.

The aim of the project is to develop state of the art autonomous robots (articulated or mobile) for agricultural production systems. This is a complex problem given the varying parameters of any given situation: changing workspace, the robot’s kinematic constraints, variation in the input sensor data.

Haris’s PhD project is being carried out in collaboration with MathWorks, under the primary supervision of Prof Joan Lasenby.