Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS)

IRIS was a federally funded Network of Centres of Excellence that brings together top Canadian researchers who collaborate on projects that focus on the essential elements of an intelligent system - the ability to perceive, reason and act. IRIS was, by far, the largest, the most complex and the most productive of the twenty currently funded Networks of Centres of Excellence.   While IRIS has reached the arbitrary 15-year limit under the NCE ‘rules’, the academic network represented by IRIS is a vital component of the successful Precarn collaborative R&D and commercialization model, hence, Precarn is pursuing several initiatives to continue the successful features of IRIS.

IRIS reached the arbitrary 15-year limit under the NCE ‘rules’, hence, the funding for research from the Networks of Centres of Excellence program has ceased.  Precarn was fortunate to receive an additional $250,000 in April 2005 for transition purposes, which is also now exhausted.

The academic network represented by IRIS is a vital component of the successful Precarn collaborative R&D and commercialization model; hence, Precarn is pursuing two initiatives to continue the successful features of IRIS.  First, it is continuing to operate the highly successful Precarn Scholars program this year by funding that initiative directly. Secondly, we are investigating other mechanisms to continue to foster an academic network, and continue to support commercialization, patent protection and research initiatives.

 

 >>Final Report - IRIS

A Brief History of IRIS

The Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (IRIS) is a federally funded Network of Centres of Excellence that brings together top Canadian researchers who collaborate on projects that focus on the essential elements of an intelligent system - the ability to perceive, reason and act. IRIS is, by far, the largest, the most complex and the most productive of the twenty currently funded Networks of Centres of Excellence. IRIS is managed by Precarn Incorporated and together these two organizations have successfully harnessed Canada's capacity for Intelligent Systems innovation.

The IRIS mission is to promote high-quality collaborative applied research in intelligent systems which is of strategic importance to Canadian industry and to strengthen the R &D interaction between universities and industry, thereby improving the competitiveness of Canadian firms.

Phase 1 of IRIS (1990 to 1994) saw the building of capability and infrastructure and the beginnings of real networking. Research results were at a more basic level, and proved to very solid, forming an excellent foundation for the applications to come in Phase 2. Phase 1 comprised 24 research projects, involving over 130 researchers at 18 universities, in three areas of enquiry: computational perception, knowledge-based systems, and intelligent robotics. In addition to the $23.8 million of NCE support, Phase 1 attracted $1 million in industry funding.

Phase 2 (1994 to 1998) consolidated the "network ", established solid linkages, and brought about the beginnings of the integration of research results into industry inspired applications, and the development of prototypes. In Phase 2, IRIS researchers have successfully applied intelligent systems technologies to an array of applications: heavy forestry and mining equipment, geographical information systems, financial forecasting, medical diagnosis, and advanced manufacturing technologies. Phase 2 comprised 29 research projects, involving 138 researchers at 21 universities, in five research themes: intelligent computation, human-machine interfaces, machine sensing, advanced medical devices, and integrated systems in dynamic environments. The four year program received $20.5 million in NCE support and an additional $6.3 million in Canadian industry contributions.

Phase 3 (1998 to 2005) capitalizes on the results of the previous phases and further focuses the IRIS research program. Projects are responding to identified needs in the Canadian economy. Eighteen ongoing projects and nine completed projects bring together over 100 researchers from 25 Canadian universities. The approximately $50 million total research program includes nearly $18 million in support from industry, federal & provincial governments, and universities with $30.6 million granted by the NCE Program.