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SICSA Seminar – Dr Carl Strathearn presents AI-driven Humanoid Robots for Education

Merchiston Campus, Edinburgh Napier University 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh

AI-driven Humanoid Robots for Education: Insights from UK Rapid Technology Assessments with Dr Carl Strathearn Abstract: AI-driven humanoid robots are gradually moving out of laboratories and into factories around the world. However, more challenging domains such as education, domestic environments, and healthcare are significantly more unpredictable and difficult to evaluate in terms of effectiveness, social interaction, and ... Read more

SSBSE 2026 Challenge Track Workshop 2

Merchiston Campus, Edinburgh Napier University 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh

About This workshop series is a hands-on, team-forming sprint. You will meet potential collaborators, shape a concrete research idea and leave with a realistic plan and division of labour toward a Challenge-Track submission for SSBSE 2026. The SSBSE 2026 Challenge Track explores how Search-Based Software Engineering (SBSE) can optimize agentic AI systems (LLM-powered agents with tools, memory, planning, and ... Read more

SICSA Seminar – Can Evolution Develop Public Transport Networks?

Dr Neil Urquhart of Edinburgh Napier University presents

Can Evolution Develop Public Transport Networks?

Public transport networks by their very nature evolve over time to meet the needs of travellers, fit the constraints of operators and meet the aspirations of politicians. This talk examines the use of novelty search to explore changes to the bus network in the centre of Edinburgh. The existing solution has been evolving since 1871 matching the changing nature of the city and transportation technologies. We harness geospatial data to evaluate the existing solution and then use novelty search to find modified solutions and examine their relationship to the existing solution. We are particularly interested in balancing the novelty of proposed changes with the distance from the current trusted solution.

This talk will demonstrate the potential for novelty search to assist with the design and modification of public transport routes and set and agenda for future research which will aim to cover larger areas and encompass multiple transport modes.