Ron Petrick

Ron Petrick is a Professor in the School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, with a secondary position at the University of Edinburgh (2016–2027). His primary research focuses on artificial intelligence, automated planning, knowledge representation, and cognitive robotics. He explores reasoning under uncertainty and develops practical planning systems for robotics applications, including human-robot interaction and social robotics.

Research Interests:

• Automated planning and reasoning mechanisms
• Formal modeling for robot control
• Applications in human-robot interaction, natural language dialogue, and pediatric clinical settings
• Explainable AI and mission specification for underwater robots

Key Contributions:

• Developed the PDSim framework for planning domain simulation and visualization
• Advanced socio-affective models for human-robot collaboration
• Pioneered ethical frameworks for AI in children's healthcare

Awards:

• Best Presentation Award (2021) for work on underwater robot handovers
• Research Team of the Year (2022) for contributions to autonomous robotics

Grants & Collaborations:

• ORCA Hub: Focuses on explainable offshore robotics
• EU-funded projects on social robotics in healthcare
• Industry partnerships for autonomous marine robotics

Labs/Teams:

Leads the Social Robotics and Planning Lab at Heriot-Watt, collaborating with the University of Edinburgh on cognitive robotics systems.