The Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition is a not-for-profit research institute of the State University System of Florida, with locations in Pensacola and Ocala, Florida. IHMC scientists and engineers investigate a broad range of topics related to building technological systems aimed at amplifying and extending human cognitive, physical and perceptual capacities. These include artificial intelligence, robotics, human-centered computing, agile and distributed computing and many related areas.
History
1990—IHMC is founded as a research institute by Dr. Kenneth M. Ford and Dr. Alberto Cañas on the campus of the University of West Florida, growing primarily out of the computer science and psychology departments. 2004—The Florida Legislature, under the K-20 Education Code, establishes IHMC as an independent, statewide research institute. IHMC maintains affiliations with several Florida universities. 2007—IHMC is recognized by the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the institute's impact on downtown Pensacola. 2008—IHMC director becomes chairman of the NASA Advisory Council. 2010—IHMC opens a new research facility in downtown Ocala in central Florida. 2013—A team from IHMC competes in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Robotics Challenge, placing first in the Virtual Robotics Challenge and second in the DRC Trials. 2014—An IHMC robot sets a new land-speed record for legged robots. Also that year, DARPA awards IHMC scientists a $3 million grant to research Big Mechanisms, using computers to analyze vast amounts of research and identify underlying mechanisms in complex systems. 2015—IHMC's team of robotics scientists places second and is awarded $1 million in the final round of the DARPA Robotics Challenge. The competition pitted bipedal robots from 23 teams from around the world on a course that emulated a disaster area where humans could not safely go. The robots had to drive a car, open a door, turn a valve, throw a switch, cut a hole in a wall, walk over rubble and climb stairs. Also this year, IHMC breaks ground on a 30,000-square-foot building in downtown Pensacola, with expanded laboratories, research areas and offices. Also this year, IHMC senior research scientist Jerry Pratt is named to the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.
Current research
IHMC’s human-centered research is focused on the development of technological systems designed to amplify human cognitive, physical, and perceptual abilities. Research areas include biologically-inspired robotics, including humanoids and exoskeletons; human-centered interfaces and displays; artificial intelligence; adjustable autonomy; knowledge modeling and sharing; human-machine teamwork, collaboration and coordination; communication, information management and dissemination in challenging networked environments; software agents; expertise studies; computer and network security; natural language understanding; work-practice simulation; knowledge representation; agile and distributed computing; trust in autonomy; and concept mapping. IHMC has received research funding from government and private-sector sources, including DARPA, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Institutes of Health, and other agencies, foundations and companies.
Scientific and technical (S&T) staff
IHMC is home to more than 100 researchers and technical staff, many of whom are leading figures in their research fields. Six researchers associated with IHMC have been named fellows at the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Four people affiliated with IHMC have been inducted as fellows into the National Academy of Inventors.
Facilities
IHMC has research facilities at both its Pensacola and Ocala locations.
Outreach
IHMC sponsors a number of outreach efforts in the local community, including a public Evening Lecture Series in both Pensacola and Ocala. The series has hosted dozens of notable speakers and in 2011 was recognized by STEMflorida Inc., a not-for-profit group that promotes science, technology, engineering and math education. IHMC also supports local education through programs such as its Science Saturdays, I LOVE Science, and robotics open houses and summer camps.
