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En Route to an
Autonomous Robot
Itzik Ben Shabat has developed methods for perceptual
understanding of 3D information represented by point
clouds, which will aid autonomous robotic systems
The student
A major area of research in Prof. 33-year-old Itzik (Yitzhak) Ben Shabat is
The project Anath Fischer’s laboratory for married and has two children. Deferring his
computer aided design (CAD) at the military service, he first joined the faculty
Academy Groundbreaking Research Faculty of Mechanical Engineering as a bachelor’s degree student in the IDF’s
is the geometric analysis of academic reserve program, graduating
information represented by point cum laude. He began his master’s degree
clouds for machine perception, using studies during his military service, and upon
deep-learning methods. The point clouds his discharge, returned to the faculty as a
are sampled on the surface of objects in graduate student, in Prof. Fischer’s lab. He
space, providing a 3D image composed completed his master’s degree summa cum
of discrete points and representing the laude and continued to PhD research under
object’s shape. In the past, because the supervision of Prof. Fischer (Mechanical
of the widely available technology of Engineering) and Prof. Michael Lindenbaum
2D cameras, most of the research and (Computer Science). Itzik’s PhD research is a
applications were based on the analysis of study of perception of 3D information using
two-dimensional information. But today, deep-learning methods. During his graduate
three-dimensional sensors are accurate, studies, he received the Daniel Award and
available, and inexpensive, enabling Jacobs Award for doctoral students. He also won
their extensive incorporation in robotic an award for his research in the Israel Machine
and autonomous systems. Point cloud Vision Conference 2019, and the 2019 Best
analysis is vital when a robot is required Poster Award at the faculty. His findings have
to move freely in an unknown environment been published at the prestigious CVPR 2019
and understand its surroundings. For and IROS 2018 conferences.
instance, an autonomous vehicle must Itzik completed his PhD studies earlier this
first understand the objects in front of it year, and is beginning a postdoctoral fellowship
(vehicles, humans, traffic signs) and the in Prof. Stephen Gould’s research group at
geometry of the surroundings in order to the Australian National University’s Center for
decide whether to slow down, stop, or Robotic Vision. He sees his academic future in
continue moving in the same speed. Israel—including at the Technion.
28 | MEgazine | Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
