Strategic Partners
Institute of Information and Communication Technologies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT-BAS) conducts fundamental and applied research in computer science, information and communication technologies (ICT). Scientific topics of the institute are harmonized with European research programs Horizon 2020 and 7th Framework Programme, and research programs of NATO. Conducting research at the institute is focused in such contemporary, fields of ICT as advanced computing, intelligent interfaces, intelligent control and optimization, and analysis of large datasets. The developed methods, algorithms, models and systems are applied to solve a wide class applied problems of very high dimensionality in problem areas such as physics, environmental protection, finance, forecasting, decision making, strategic planning, transport systems, robotics and others.
IICT-BAS is a preferred partner for research in various international projects, as within the 7th Framework Programme it has completed 26 projects. The Institute participates in a number of projects at national level supported by government agencies and the National Science Fund of Bulgaria.
The support unit of Bulgarian Research and Education Network is situated in IICT-BAS, which is part of the optical ring GÉANT 3 connecting European research and academic networks. The Institute maintains a National Grid Infrastructure, which includes 8 BAS institutes and 5 universities. The Institute is a high-performance cluster with more than 500 logical CPUs and more than 120 TB disk space. Unique to south-eastern Europe laboratory equipped with industrial computer tomography, 3D scanner and printer, infrared camera, fast camera, laser measurement of particles, etc. is built in IICT-BAS.
IICT-BAS have a supercomputer system, including 150 estimating servers HP SL250s Gen8 with 2 processors Intel Xeon E5-2650v2 each and 2 estimating accelerators Intel Xeon Phi 7120P, connected with non-blocked link Infiniband 56 Gb/s FDR. The theoretical max productivity is 410.82 TFlop/s for calculations with double accuracy.
SMARTLAB, GRID, the Cluster and the Supercomputer are included in the National Road Map for Scientifical Infrastructure
In Embedded Intelligent Technology department of IICT-BAS, research and development of innovative intelligent ICT for control of service robots and embedded systems is conducted. The methods of tele-control of cyber-physical systems, by voice, gestures and user interface are being studied. Devices and computer interfaces for people with disabilities, medical robots, 3D models and the restoration of cultural heritage sites are also being created.
Department Embedded Intelligent Technology of IICT-BAS is a successor of the Department “Robotics Systems” of the former Institute of Technical Cybernetics and Robotics in which was developed an EMBLEMATIC – Family of Educational Robots ROBCO (including: Robco 01, Robco Scara, Cylindrical Robco, Spherical Robco, Robco 9, mini mobile Robco, educational Flexible Automated Production Systems, etc.).
Currently Department Embedded Intelligent Technology of IICT-BAS is a project coordinator of the projects: KP-06-М27/1 “Research and development of innovative, intelligent information and communication technologies for service robots” and DN 17/21 – 2017, 3D Digitalization of Objects from National Cultural-Historical Heritage (using drones for large objects – buildings, sculptures, etc), funded by national science fund.
Team members have rich experience in the field of industrial and service robotics, rooted in the Bulgarian tradition in robotics since the dawn of the field in Easter Europe. They are developed and enhanced by collaboration with the major institutions in robotics in EU. The work of the team leads to two inventions in the field of robotics that are patented by the Patent office of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Institute of Information and Communication Technologies is a lead member of the newly created RILab i2030 (Research and Innovation Lab for industry 2030), which objective is to provide support for research and development for small and medium enterprises and high-tech industry by:
- modelling of industrial components, modules, assemblies, systems
- simulation
- prototyping, experimental research and development, testing
- Virtual production and training for industrial personnel
Assoc. Prof. Dr. techn. Nayden Chivarov received his PhD degree from the Institute of Handling Device and Robotics, TU-Vienna, Austria. Currently he is head of Research and Industry Laboratory for industry 2030 – RILab i2030 from the Institute of Information and Communication Technologies – BAS and Lecturer at European Polytechnical University. His research interests are: Cyber-physical systems, service robots, mechatronics, human-robot interaction, Industry 4.0, IoT, smart home. Currently he is coordinator of the project № DN 07/23 “Tele-controlled Service Robots for Increasing the Quality of Life of Elderly and Disabled”, funded by Bulgarian National Science Fund and Management Committee Member of the COST Action CA16116 – Wearable Robots for Augmentation, Assistance and Substitution of Human Motor Functions. He has previous experience as national coordinators of the 7th Framework Program (FP7) project “Multi-Role Shadow Robotic System for Independent Living (SRS)” THEME [ICT-2009.7.1], PROJECT № 247772 and Project coordinator of the Project: “Increasing the efficiency and quality of education and research potential in the field of System Engineering and Robotics” № BG051PO001-3.3.06-0002, funded by Operational Program “Development of Human Resources”.
Nayden Chivarov is inventor and owner of the Patent No. 66853 B1 “Autonomous Personal Service Mobile Robot”, issued by the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria.
In the last few years he published a number of articles in the referenced journals and international conferences, such as:
- “Multi-channel software infrastructure for remote control of service robots”, S. Chivarov, D. Chikurtev, K. Yovchev and N. Chivarov, 2019, 6th International Conference on Control, Decision and Information Technologies (CoDIT), Paris, France, 2019, pp. 1283-1288.
- Indoor Navigation Using Existing Infrastructure for Professional Service Robots, Chikurtev D., Yovchev K., Chivarov N., Rangelov I. 2019, Advances in Service and Industrial Robotics. RAAD 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 980. Springer
- Usability study of tele-controlled service robot for increasing the quality of life of elderly and disabled – “ROBCO 17”, Nayden Chivarov, Denis Chikurtev, Ivaylo Rangelov, Emanuil Markov, Alexander Gigov, Nedko Shivarov, Kaloyan Yovchev, Lyubomira Miteva, RAAD 2018, 2019 Mechanisms and Machine Science 67, Springer, Advances in Service and Industrial Robotics, pp. 121-130.
- Exploring human-robot interfaces for service mobile robots, Chivarov, N., Chikurtev, D., Pleva, M., Ondas, S., DISA 2018 – IEEE World Symposium on Digital Intelligence for Systems and Machines, Proceedings.
- Cost Oriented Tele-Controlled Service Robot for Increasing the Quality of Life of Elderly and Disabled – ROBCO 18, Chivarov, N., Chikurtev, D., Markov, E., Chivarov, S., Kopacek, P. 2018IFAC-PapersOnLine.
- N. Chivarov, N. Shivarov, A. Gigov, D. Chikurtev, I. Rangelov, Control of service robot via voice commands, PROBLEMS OF ENGINEERING CYBERNETICS AND ROBOTICS, Vol 69, Sofia, 2017, p. 62-67, ISSN 0204-9848, Online ISSN: 1314-409X.