Mechanical Engineering Frank W. Otto Distinguished Lecture Series
Emboided AI for Human-Centered Perception, Understanding, and Action
Karthik Ramani, Ph.D
Donald W. Feddersen Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Professor Educational Studies, College of Education (By Courtesy)
Head Coach, Purdue Table Tennis Team
Purdue University
Abstract:
For much of human history, we have learned and created through our hands and bodies—yet computational tools have often separated us from this embodied intelligence. Today, advances in sensors, spatial interfaces, and vision-language models are reconnecting the digital and physical worlds. This talk explores Embodied AI as a frontier where new forms of spatial artificial intelligence and human embodiment converge to augment perception, creation, and action.
I will present three themes from our research on human-centered Physical AI systems. First, I will introduce agentAR and ARify, an authoring platform that empowers non-programmers to build immersive, spatial learning experiences using voice and gesture—demonstrated through applications in training, production, and education. Second, I will discuss designfromX and JustShape, a platform for human-AI co-creation, where sketches and verbal prompts are transformed into 3D design concepts using vision-language models. Third, I will highlight avaTTar and table tennis playing humanoid, an extended-reality and embodied coaching system pipeline for table tennis that merges immersive feedback with embodied AI, offering a glimpse into intelligent physical agents. This work extends into visuo-haptic interfaces and smart tools for training in design and manufacturing contexts.
Together, these systems envision a future where Physical AI enhances how we learn, train, and build, defining a new class of accessible, real-time, and spatially aware general engineering systems.
Bio:
Karthik Ramani, directs the Convergence Design and Manufacturing Lab, where his research
integrates human-centered AI, spatial computing, and embodied interaction to advance
the vision of Physical AI for design, manufacturing, sports, and learning. His work
spans AI-driven authoring tools, design, manufacturing, and skill augmentation systems.
He has recently published in top-tier venues across computer vision (CVPR, ECCV, ICCV),
human-computer interaction (ACM CHI, UIST), AI (NIPS, ICLR), and robotics (ICRA),
in addition to leading engineering design journals.
He was a visiting professor at Stanford University (Computer Sciences), Oxford University
(Maths), a research fellow at (Xerox) PARC, and visiting professor at MIT MECHE in
2025. A serial academic entrepreneur, he co-founded VizSeek and ZeroUI, and pioneered
educational innovations such as Purdue’s Toy Design, Product Design and Intellectual
Property course. He also is the head coach for Purdue’s Table Tennis Team ranked #11
in the nation.