Meet the Developer

Charlie Street

Charlie Streeet is postdoctoral research fellow at UoB.

Background and Expertise

Charlie Street is a postdoctoral research fellow at the School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham. He completed his PhD at the University of Oxford in 2022, where he focused on "Multi-Robot Coordination Under Temporal Uncertainty." His thesis explored how to model and plan for multiple robots, considering the temporal dynamics of their interactions. During his PhD, Charlie led Oxford’s RoboCup team, guiding them to compete in global competitions that challenged robots to perform domestic tasks. His research interests span robot planning under uncertainty, multi-robot coordination, formal methods in robotics, and continuous-time Markov models.

Role at CONVINCE

As the technical lead for the "Task and Motion Planning in Dynamic Environments" work package within the CONVINCE project, Charlie’s work is crucial in enhancing robot behaviour for greater robustness in unpredictable environments. His focus is on developing methods to efficiently navigate and cover areas where conditions are not easily predictable, ensuring that robots can adapt and perform optimally even when faced with uncertainties.

Interesting facts

Before embarking on his academic journey, Charlie was set on becoming a chef—a dream that he pursued to the extent of earning a professional chef's qualification.

Inspiration and enjoyment

Charlie’s passion for robotics was ignited during his undergraduate studies, a time when the potential of AI in robotics became a tangible and exciting field for him. His PhD at Oxford provided an ideal platform to delve deeper into the intricacies of multi-robot systems. What excites Charlie most about robotics is the physical, real-world application of AI.

Charlie particularly enjoys watching his work materialise in the real world, with robots executing interesting behaviours that were once confined to simulations, even if they are sometimes flawed.

Looking ahead, Charlie is particularly excited about the potential for AI and robotics to significantly reduce human involvement in hazardous environments, such as areas with high radiation or the aftermath of natural disasters. There are potentially life-saving implications of robotic advancements in this area.

Hobbies and Interests

Outside of his professional life, Charlie nurtures a variety of interests. Cooking and baking remain close to his heart, a nod to his early aspirations. He is also an avid guitarist and enjoys exploring new and unusual instruments. More recently, Charlie has ventured into filmmaking, writing and directing his first short film, adding a creative outlet to his set of hobbies.