Jenkin, a professor in the computer science & engineering department of York’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, York Professor John Tsotsos (Canada Research Chair in Computational Vision) and McGill University Professor Gregory Dudek, will create the CCFR to serve as a national setting for research in robots allowing, collaboration between industry and academia on complex outdoor vehicles. The CCFR will include:

• Field Robotics Laboratory for research into terrestrial (ground contact) robotic vehicles capable of operating in complex outdoor environments, unmanned aerial vehicles, aquatic (surface) robotics and unmanned underwater vehicles. 
• Robotics Wheelchair Laboratory for research into robotics wheelchairs capable of operating indoors and outdoor urban environments.
• Outdoor Field Robot Test Area for a fully instrumented and networked environment for robot field trials.
• Indoor Aquatic Robot Test Facility for researchers to evaluate autonomous aquatic vehicles.
• Outdoor Aquatic Robot Test Area for experiments with surface and underwater aquatic robots.

“The CFI’s support of cutting-edge research infrastructure has transformed Canada’s research landscape and increased the country’s international competitiveness,” said Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI. “Investments like these have allowed York University to become a destination of choice for some of the world’s top research talent.”

York has a long history of research in robots and sensing in our world renowned Centre for Vision Research, said Stan Shapson, vice-president, research & innovation.

“Professor Jenkin’s ground-breaking research has the potential of impacting areas as diverse as the environment, planetary exploration, national security and the delivery of healthcare. Government investments such as this are crucial in enhancing York’s globally competitive research,” said Shapson.

Funding for this project is part of a major investment of more than $665 million announced today by the CFI to support 133 projects at 41 institutions across the country. Within that, almost $247.7 million was awarded under the Leading Edge Fund (LEF), designed to enable institutions to build on and enhance already successful and productive initiatives supported by past CFI investment. Another $264.7 million was awarded under the New Initiatives Fund (NIF), designed to enhance Canada’s capacity in promising new areas of research and technology development. Finally, $153.7 million was awarded under the Infrastructure Operating Fund, which assists institutions with the incremental operating and maintenance costs associated with the new infrastructure.

A complete list of projects funded today by the CFI can be found at: www.innovation.ca.

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is an independent corporation created by the Government of Canada to fund research infrastructure. The CFI’s mandate is to strengthen the capacity of Canadian universities, colleges, research hospitals, and non-profit research institutions to carry out world-class research and technology development that benefits Canadians.

York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as more than 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 11 faculties and 26 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

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For further information,contact:

Sana Mulji Dutt

Research Communications Officer

York University

(416) 73602100, ext. 21069

mulji@yorku.ca