Introduction - Nandeeka Nayak

Hi everyone,

My name is Nandeeka Nayak and I am a sophomore studying Computer Science at Harvey Mudd. I am very interested in machine learning and its applications to computer vision. I am excited by the possibilities this project offers in that area.

I am also thrilled to be getting the opportunity go to Malta for four weeks. I have always wanted to spend that longer than a couple weeks immersing myself in another culture.

I can't wait to meet everyone!

Introduction - Kolton Yager

Hello everybody, my name is Kolton Yager and I'm a 3rd year at Cal Poly SLO. I'm majoring in computer science and minoring in mathematics with the intent of focusing on geometry and topology. As such I'm excited to delve into the data and tech of this project and hopefully offer new insights and strategies for both.

It's been an unfortunately long time since I've had the opportunity to venture outside of the United States. I could hardly be more excited to spend some time abroad especially within a context as cool as this project. As someone who has spent a fair amount of time on the water, I'm eager to see what the Maltese shores and depths have to offer. I think with any luck this will be a productive and fun endeavor for all of us, and I can't wait to meet each of you in person. 

Introductions - Makoto Nara

Hello Everyone,

My name is Makoto Nara and I'm a second year engineering student at Harvey Mudd College. I am currently trying to decide between focusing on electrical or mechanical engineering (and most likely fluid dynamics within mechanical). I am looking forward to seeing what it's like to work on a complex research problem in the real world and seeing what sorts of problems we will encounter. I am also excited to learn more about machine learning and its applications in image processing.

I am definitely quite psyched to visit Malta, I've never been there before and it certainly seems to be a really cool place! I'm looking forward to meeting those of you from Cal Poly SLO and working together as team this upcoming year

(This is the best picture of me I could find from recently, sorry it's not that great. Being average height in the US is a bit of a pain in Japan)

Introductions - Samantha Ting

Hi everyone!

My name is Samantha Ting, and I am a sophomore engineering major at Harvey Mudd.  I am very excited to be a part of the 2018 ICEX team and learn more about the AUV algorithms and robots!  I’m looking to pursue a career in robotics, so I am looking forward to learning more about the field while working on this project.

This will be my first time traveling overseas, and I am super excited to explore a new country (and try lots of new food).  I can’t wait to meet all of you!

Introductions - Mitchell Keller

Hello,

My name is Mitchell Keller and I'm a fourth year computer science student at Cal Poly SLO. I recently started falling in love with graphics after taking Zoë's graphics course last year. I eventually hope to have a career in the field of computer graphics.

This will be my first time in Malta or even Europe so I am very excited to be experiencing these new places.I am eager to see what our research will lead to and I am looking forward to meeting and working with all of you!

Introductions - Chris Clark

Hello Everyone!

I have been running the ICEX program with Zoe Wood and Timmy Gambin for many years and I am just as excited as ever. We have a great bunch of students, our one year old AUV equipped with sidescan sonar, and an unexplored part of the ocean that is likely riddled with undiscovered archaeological sites. Seems like a great way to begin the year.

As the robotics lead on the project, I hope we push the envelope on signal processing and AUV trajectory generation. Specifically, I think we can build from last year's success in the application of  image processing and machine learning to sidescan sonar data. Strengthening our techniques for automatically detecting archaeological sites like plane wrecks from sonar data will be one of our goals this year, and I am interested to see what the students can accomplish in this area.

Introductions - Zoë Wood

I am looking forward to another great ICEX team trip to Malta in 2018.  The excitement of research and successful deployments, learning new things, the tedium and peace of field work, cultural exchange (awkwardness and growth), failures and witnessing the creativity of students as they overcome hurdles, and team work + team work + team work are all of what make ICEX so special to me.  I look forward to building new stories as a team together this year.  - Zoë

ICEX 2018

Hello!

  Welcome to ICEX 2018!  Students from Harvey Mudd College and Cal Poly will be heading to Malta in summer 2018 with faculty members to deploy underwater robots with the purpose of mapping coastal shipwrecks and developing new technology for marine archeology.  Being located in the Mediterranean Sea between continental Europe and northern Africa, the island nation of Malta and its coastal waters are home to a large number of historical wrecks.  Organized through a joint International Computer Engineering Experience (ICEX), the students will collaborate with Dr. Timmy Gambin, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta and faculty members from Cal Poly and Harvey Mudd College in addition to further international partners.  The project goals are to develop an Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) system for intelligent shipwreck search, mapping and visualization. The 2018 ICEX team includes Harvey Mudd students: Russell Bingham (Engineering, 2nd year), Makoto Nara (Engineering, 2nd year), Nandeeka Nayak (Computer Science, 2nd year), Sam Ting (Engineering, 2nd year)  and Cal Poly students: Bonita Galvan (Software Engineering, 4th year), Mitchell Keller (Computer Science, 4th year) and  Kolton Yager (Computer Science, 3rd year) joined by  Harvey Mudd College faculty member, Professor Christopher Clark of Engineering and Cal Poly faculty member, Professor Zoë Wood of Computer Science. And new this year, the team will include Harvey Mudd faculty member Ambereen Dadabhoy, Assistant Professor of Literature.

Some related links:
http://www.hmc.edu/lair/
http://users.csc.calpoly.edu/~zwood/
https://www.um.edu.mt/profile/timmygambin

Last year's blog:

http://icex2017-malta.blogspot.com/