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Michael Milford

Associate professor, Queensland University of Technology

I am a leading robotics researcher conducting interdisciplinary research at the boundary between robotics, neuroscience and computer vision, and a multi-award winning educational entrepreneur. My research models the neural mechanisms in the brain underlying tasks like navigation and perception in order to develop new robotics and computer vision-related technologies, with a particular emphasis on challenging application domains where current techniques fail such as all-weather, anytime positioning for autonomous vehicles. I currently hold the position of Associate Professor at the Queensland University of Technology, as well as Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Microsoft Research Faculty Fellow and Chief Investigator on the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision.

My research has attracted more than twenty-one million dollars in research and industry funding, both in the form of sole investigator fellowships and large team grants from the Australian Research Council, Queensland Government, Microsoft, Caterpillar Corporation and the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development. My papers have won (4) or been finalists (7) for 11 best paper awards including the 2012 Best Vision paper at ICRA2012. My citation h-index is 25, with 2362 citations as of February, 2017. I have given more than 50 invited presentations across twelve countries at top international conferences, universities (including Harvard, MIT, CMU, Boston Uni, Cambridge and Imperial College London) and corporations (including Google Deepmind and Microsoft). I was a finalist (top 3 nationwide) in the 2016 Australian Museum Eureka awards for Outstanding Early Career Researcher.

As an educational entrepreneur, I have written and produced innovative textbooks for high school students for fifteen years, with more than 6000 physical sales and educational website and YouTube views in excess of 1.5 million. I am currently launching the company Math Thrills, an initiative combining mass market entertainment and STEM education. Math Thrills received pre-seed funding on Kickstarter ($2500) and seed funding ($50,000) from QUT Bluebox, further funding ($25,000) from the AMP Foundation and is in initial school trials. The initiative has led to awards including the 2015 Queensland Young Tall Poppy of the Year Award and a 2015 TedXQUT talk.

I have dual citizenship between Australia and the United States, and have lived and worked in locations including Boston, USA and Edinburgh and London in the UK, collaborating with organizations including Harvard University, Boston University, Oxford University, MIT, Edinburgh University, Imperial College London, Caterpillar, the US Air Force and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Avengers: Endgame exploits time travel and quantum mechanics as it tries to restore the universe

Apr 27, 2019 06:21 am UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

At the end of Avengers: Infinity War half the people (including heroes and villains) in the universe were gone in the snap of a finger from Thanos (Josh Brolin). So how can Avengers: Endgame (in cinemas from this week)...

Remember Blockbuster, Nirvana and pagers? The new Captain Marvel lives in the 1990s

Mar 09, 2019 06:09 am UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

Captain Marvel flies into movie theatres from today, and apart from introducing a great new hero who combines the righteousness of Captain America and the humour of Thor: Ragnarok, its also a cultural reference bonanza for...

Robots can learn a lot from nature if they want to 'see' the world

Jul 09, 2018 09:38 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Vision is one of natures amazing creations that has been with us for hundreds of millions of years. Its a key sense for humans, but one we often take for granted: that is, until we start losing it or we try and recreate it...

Terminator 2 in 3D reminds us what we've still to learn about AI and robotics

Aug 28, 2017 14:13 pm UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

The classic science fiction action film Terminator 2: Judgment Day has ticked over its 25th anniversary. To celebrate, director James Cameron went one step further than remastering the original 1991 version and has...

The future of artificial intelligence: two experts disagree

Jul 18, 2017 13:49 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises to revolutionise our lives, drive our cars, diagnose our health problems, and lead us into a new future where thinking machines do things that were yet to imagine. Or does it? Not...

Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2: a scientist's review

Apr 24, 2017 13:08 pm UTC| Insights & Views Entertainment

Star-Lord Peter Quill and the gang are back as Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2 opens in cinemas from today in another outing of the galactic blockbuster. Its one of the most fun films Ive seen in years, combining...

How to make a driverless car 'see' the road ahead

Mar 16, 2017 05:33 am UTC| Technology

Microchip manufacturer Intel has invested heavily in the driverless car race with the latest US$15 billion (A$19.5bn) purchase of Israeli tech company Mobileye. Mobileye develops sensors and intelligence technology...

Economy

European Stocks Slip as Earnings, UK Inflation and ECB Decision Keep Investors on Edge

European stock markets traded slightly lower on Wednesday as investors assessed a fresh wave of corporate earnings while awaiting key economic and policy events, including the latest UK inflation data, the European Central...

Japan Yen Slides Past 163 as Middle East Tensions Lift US Dollar, Oil Prices

The Japanese yen weakened beyond the 163-per-dollar level on Wednesday, hovering near its weakest point since 1986 as higher U.S. Treasury yields and rising oil prices boosted demand for the U.S. dollar. Investors also...

Gold Price Surges Above $4,100 as Middle East Tensions Boost Safe-Haven Demand

Gold prices extended their rally on Wednesday, climbing above the key $4,100-an-ounce level as investors sought safe-haven assets amid escalating Middle East tensions and growing concerns over global energy supplies....

US Stock Exchanges Face Earnings Test as Trading Boom Meets Crypto Competition

U.S. exchange operators are set to begin reporting quarterly earnings this week, with investors expected to focus on whether strong trading activity can offset mounting concerns over regulatory changes and rising...

India FMCG Q1 Earnings Preview: Higher Input Costs Likely to Weigh on Profit Margins

Indias leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are expected to report weaker first-quarter profit margins as rising raw material costs, driven by the Iran conflict and higher crude oil prices, offset the...

Politics

US-Iran War Enters 11th Day as Costs Climb to $37.5 Billion, Trump Warns of More Strikes

The U.S.-Iran conflict intensified after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had completed an eleventh consecutive night of military strikes targeting Iranian assets. The operations are aimed at weakening Irans...

Rubio Urges Global Isolation of Nicaragua After Ortega Vows to End Elections

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the international community to increase pressure on Nicaragua after President Daniel Ortega announced that the country would no longer hold elections, a move that has drawn...

US-Backed Pediatric HIV Treatment Drops After Foreign Aid Changes, Study Finds

Around 77,000 fewer children worldwide received HIV treatment supported by the United States in the fiscal year ending October 2025 compared with the previous year, according to research presented at the AIDS 2026...

US, Solomon Islands Deepen Ties as Peace Corps Set to Return After 25 Years

The United States is strengthening its relationship with the Solomon Islands by reviving the Peace Corps program and expanding development assistance, signaling Washingtons continued focus on the strategically important...

US Sends First Humanitarian Aid Flight to Cuba Under $100M Assistance Plan

The United States has launched the first humanitarian aid flight to Cuba under a newly announced $100 million assistance initiative, marking a significant step in Washingtons effort to provide direct relief to the Cuban...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Samsung Eyes Up to $1.14 Billion Investment in AI Startup Mistral

Samsung Electronics is reportedly in discussions to invest as much as 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in French artificial intelligence startup Mistral, a move that could strengthen the South Korean tech giants position in...

Wistron Opens $700M Texas AI Factory to Build Nvidia Superchips in U.S.

Taiwan-based Wistron Corp. (TW:3231), one of Nvidias leading manufacturing partners, has officially opened its first U.S. production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of...

Wistron Opens $700M Texas AI Factory to Build Nvidia GB300 Superchips

Taiwan-based Wistron Corp., a major Nvidia supplier, has opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, investing $700 million to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure production as global...

Super Micro Computer Stock Jumps 20% After Record AI Orders and Margin Surge

Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI) stock soared about 20% in after-hours trading on Tuesday after the AI server maker released a stronger-than-expected preliminary update for its fiscal fourth quarter, highlighting a...

US, China to Hold AI Talks Ahead of Xi’s September Visit

The United States and China are preparing to hold high-level artificial intelligence (AI) talks in September, marking the first official AI dialogue between the two countries under President Donald Trumps administration....