Peter Nordin

Peter Nordin
File:PN Chalmers 300.JPG Nordin, with robots Elvis, Elvina, and Priscilla The Humanoid Project (Chalmers 2001)
Born	August 9, 1965 Helsingborg, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Alma mater	Dortunds University Chalmers University of Technology
Scientific career
Fields	Evolutionary Robotics
Institutions	iRobis

Peter Nordin b. August 9, 1965 in Helsingborg, Sweden is currently (as of 2007) VP of Research at Institute of Robotics in Scandinavia AB.

His work in artificial intelligence and robotics, short summary ...
Nordin was born in 1965 in Helsingborg but moved to Gothenburg in 1967. He began studies at Chalmers Technical University in 1984 and completed the civilingenjörsexamen in computer science in 1988. He then worked as a knowledge engineer for Europe’s largest AI company, Infologics AB, focusing on research and development of knowledge-based systems and complex system configuration. Projects often involved cooperation with Swedish Institute of Computer Science (SICS). Peter began research and published while at Infologics and was responsible for monitoring the field of evolutionary algorithms. His work led to several European research projects (ESPRIT), including projects in machine learning (autonomous vehicles for example) and AI system development methods. He met with 12 other researchers in the summer of 1993 for the first workshop on genetic programming (GP), which is regarded as the event that established GP as a field of international research. GP is a type of evolutionary algorithm and the first general automatic programming method that generates Turing complete algorithms – i.e. computers that write their own programs. In 1993, he started Dacapo AB, a research and development company that grew to employ 80 people before it was sold in 1999. Peter spent a large portion of 1995 and 1996 at Dortunds University, where he completed is doctoral studies under Hans-Paul Schwefel och Wolfgang Banzhaf at Europe’s most renowned centre for the study of evolutionary algorithms. There, Peter initiated research in evolutionary robotics and demonstrated that GP can be used for real-time training and control of robotic systems. In 1996, he took the initiative to create the first textbook on genetic programming, which is now the most popular GP textbook in the world. By this time, Peter Nordin was already the second most cited researcher in the field of GP, after founder John Koza. In 1999, Peter created search engine company VILL AB and AI-company Tiffic AB and received the year’s Sten Gustaffson prize for entrepreneuring, awarded by the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering Science. In 2000, Peter was offered a faculty position in Chalmers’ CAS group. He completed studies in complex adaptive systems the same year. Peter started Chalmers’ most popular international master’s degree program: complex adaptive systems, and developed a number of courses, including courses in autonomous systems and humanoid robotics which attracted students from around the world. He led the master’s program for several years and managed construction of hundreds of GP-based robots. During this time, he also started Chalmers’ Humanoid Project with among other accomplishments, Sweden’s first full-scale humanoid robots; ELVIS, ELVINA and PRISCILLA, which currently reside in Stockholm’s science and technology museum. Robots from the Humanoid Project have even participated in “World Cup” soccer matches for humanoid robots before 200,000 spectators in Japan. Several of the robots were developed to the level of commercial quality prototypes. Much of this earlier work focused on evolutionary robotic training methods for: problem solving, sound and image processing, perception and advanced non-linear low-level control. Robots have also learned to walk on two legs without having foreknowledge by simulating the behaviour. Intense media interest in the robots resulted in over 100 interviews and debates in newspapers and on television in Sweden and elsewhere. The robot ELVIS, for example was seen by the public in more than 15 countries. The popular science book; “Humaoider, intelligenta robotar och A.I.,” (Humanoids, intelligent robots and A.I.) published by Liber, was one result of this public interest. During his time at Chalmers, Peter started another 5 spin-off companies based on his research, produced 80 publications, led several international conferences in Gothenburg, was reviewer for several international journals, and a popular invited speaker. He has 3 patents approved in the USA and several patents pending, all related to genetic programming and evolutionary methods. In 2004, he worked for AstraZeneca on scientific method, scientific communication, and scientific reasoning. Since 2005 he has worked full-time on commercialisation of AI and robotics. Peter’s greatest experience is in commercialisation of AI software in Sweden with more than 10 successful start-ups. He lives with wife Carina and 5 children outside Gothenburg in Askim.

Career summary, research

• Degree in computer science from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden (1988)
• Ph.D. in Computer Science from Dortunds University (1997)
• Research positions at -- and --
• Faculty position at Chalmers University of Technology

Current research:

• software architecture for a complete cognitive system for robots
• evolutionary approach to robotic imagination

Previous research:

• --
• --

Corporate Spin-offs

• Institute of Robotics in Scandinavia AB
• AiTellu AB
• Tific AB
• Dacapo AB
• RML Inc.

Publications

Books:

Book chapters:

Papers:

Conference presentations:

Other Contributions

• Program Cochair of EuroGP99, Second European Workshop on Genetic Programming
• Editorial board of the Journal of Genetic Programming and Evolvable Hardware

External links

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