Tag Archives: david hanson

The School of Arts and Humanities has named ATEC Assistant Professor Todd Fechter the Victor Worsfold Teacher of the Year.

From left: Assistant Professor Todd Fechter, Dean Dennis Kratz and Professor Emeritus Victor Worsfold. Fechter was selected as the Victor Worsfold Teacher of the Year.

Fechter, who has experience working in television and film production, teaches courses in 3D computer animation in the school’s Arts and Technology (ATEC)program. He created the first online ATEC computer animation digital class archive, providing unlimited access to course materials and examples that allow for off-campus learning and review.

“Todd is an inspiring teacher, mentor and more. He has taken a leadership role in developing an animation program of the highest quality. His impact is already and quite literally visible in the superior work that our students are producing,” said Dr. Dennis M. Kratz, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities.

Fechter’s honor was part of the school’s Outstanding Faculty and Teaching Awards, which are presented yearly and are named for Professor Emeritus Victor Worsfold, who taught ethics and philosophy at UT Dallas from 1975 to 2001. Dr. Worsfold was present for the awards ceremony.

The Worsfold Teaching Assistant (TA) of the Year award went to LaToya Watkins, a PhD candidate in aesthetic studies.

Akin Babatunde and David Hanson were named Alumni of the Year. David Hanson received his PhD from UT Dallas in aesthetic studies and interactive arts and engineering. In 2003, he founded Hanson Robotics to pursue character robot research and applications.

Hanson creates androids – humanlike robots with intelligence. Through integrated research in cognitive artificial intelligence, bio-inspired mechanics, material science, sculpture and animation, expressive robotic faces and walking robot bodies, Hanson strives to bring robots to life. The walking, talking robots resulting from Hanson’s efforts have been recognized in various publications, including Wired and PC Magazine.

“David Hanson has helped revolutionize our notion of what a robot is and the possibilities of robotics in education. His robots with human faces are displayed around the world, adding luster to our aspiration of leadership at the intersection of arts and technology,” added Kratz.

Hanson Robotics, Inc., of Dallas, founded by University of Texas at Dallas Ph.D. student David Hanson, received a $1.5 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund grant to help the young company take its new robotics technologies to market, according to an announcement made today by Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Ph.D. candidate David Hanson's robots are noted for having realistic movements, interactions, and appearances.

The grant will enable Hanson Robotics to commercialize its patent-pending robot which has a more lifelike appearance than existing robots and speech recognition software that creates more realistic human-robotic interactions.  The technology promises many potential applications, including in areas such as prosthetics.

Dr. Mihai Nadin, the Ashbel Smith Professor who heads the Institute for Research in Anticipatory Systems at UT Dallas, and colleagues will work with the firm on user interface and interactive design. Personnel from The University of Texas at Arlington’s Automation and Robotics Research Institute will be involved in manufacturing and mechanical design.

The $200 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund was created by the Texas Legislature in 2005 at the request of the governor. Since then, more than $44 million has been awarded from the fund in an effort to keep Texas competitive with other states in areas of new and innovative technologies.

Hanson is pursing a Ph.D. degree as a student in UT Dallas’ Institute for Interactive Arts and Engineering. The institute, headed by Dr. Tom Linehan, is devoted to the study of the effects technology can have on such fields as the arts, computer science, physics, filmmaking, literature and communications. Hanson has received worldwide media coverage in recent years for his breakthroughs in creating lifelike androids.