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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

Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Volatility

Russian stocks finished Saturdays trading session slightly lower overall, with the MOEX Russia Index closing flat at 0.00% in Moscow. Market performance was mixed, as gains in select heavyweight stocks were offset by...

China Industrial Profits Slump Signals Need for More Economic Stimulus

Profits at Chinas industrial firms fell sharply in November, marking the fastest year-on-year decline in more than a year and underscoring the fragile state of the countrys economic recovery. According to data released by...

Japan to Audit Brazil’s Beef System, Paving Way for Market Access

Japan is set to conduct a comprehensive audit of Brazils beef sanitary system in March 2026, marking a significant step toward the possible opening of Japans lucrative beef market to Brazilian beef exports. The...

Wall Street Ends Post-Christmas Session Flat as Investors Eye Santa Claus Rally

Wall Street finished a light-volume, post-Christmas trading session nearly unchanged on Friday, as investors found little fresh news to drive strong market conviction. After a solid five-session rally, all three major U.S....

Argentina Congress Approves 2026 Budget Under Milei, Marking First Legislative Passage Since 2023

Argentinas Congress has approved the countrys 2026 national budget, marking the first budget bill passed by legislators since President Javier Milei assumed office in late 2023. The budget was approved on Friday by a vote...

Politics

Zelenskiy and Trump Meet in Florida as Ukraine Peace Talks Face Major Hurdles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday in a high-stakes effort to advance a U.S.-brokered plan to end the war in Ukraine. The talks come amid intensified...

Kosovo Heads to Early Parliamentary Election Amid Prolonged Political Deadlock

Kosovo is set to hold a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday as Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his nationalist Vetevendosje party attempt to secure a governing majority and resolve a year-long political stalemate that...

Myanmar Election 2025 Faces Global Scrutiny Amid Civil War and Political Repression

Voters in Myanmar began casting ballots in a highly controversial general election on Sunday, marking the first nationwide polls since the military coup that overthrew the elected civilian government in 2021. The election,...

Bolsonaro Undergoes Phrenic Nerve Block Procedure After Surgery-Related Complications

Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro underwent a phrenic nerve block procedure on Saturday as doctors worked to treat persistent hiccups that developed following recent surgery, according to statements from his wife,...

Canada Announces $2.5 Billion Economic Aid Package to Support Ukraine’s Financial Stability

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Saturday that Canada will provide an additional $2.5 billion in economic aid to Ukraine, reinforcing the countrys ongoing support amid the prolonged conflict with Russia....

Science

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission

Blue Origins massive New Glenn rocket marked a major milestone as it completed its first mission for paying customers, sending two NASA satellites toward Mars and successfully landing its reusable booster at sea. The...

Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment

Cogent Biosciences (NASDAQ: COGT) shares skyrocketed over 120% after the biotech company announced groundbreaking results from its Phase 3 PEAK trial evaluating bezuclastinib in combination with sunitinib for patients with...

Technology

China Proposes Stricter Rules for AI Services Offering Emotional Interaction

Chinas top internet regulator has released draft regulations aimed at tightening oversight of artificial intelligence services that simulate human personalities and engage users emotionally, signaling a stronger push to...

Nvidia and Groq Strike Strategic AI Inference Licensing Deal

Reports earlier this week suggested that Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) had agreed to acquire AI chip startup Groq in a $20 billion all-cash transaction. However, updated details clarify that the arrangement is not a traditional...

TSMC Honors Japanese Chip Equipment Makers With 2025 Supplier Awards

Several leading Japanese semiconductor equipment manufacturers have been recognized with 2025 Supplier Awards from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), highlighting their growing importance in the global chip...

Nvidia to Acquire Groq in $20 Billion Deal to Boost AI Chip Dominance

NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) has reportedly agreed to acquire Groq, a fast-growing designer of high-performance artificial intelligence accelerator chips, in a $20 billion all-cash transaction, according to a CNBC report. The...

Texas App Store Age Verification Law Blocked by Federal Judge in First Amendment Ruling

A federal judge in Texas has blocked the enforcement of a new state law that would have required app stores and developers to verify users ages, marking a significant legal win for major technology companies and digital...