Research group

Vision, Learning and Control

A person having their eye scanned

Our group explores the theory behind technological areas including control, machine learning and computer vision.

About

As part of the Department of Electronics and Computer Science, our research includes: 
 

Computer vision 

Our image processing and computer vision ranges from techniques in pre-processing, to feature extraction and image analysis. VLC researchers have a long record in biometrics, developing work in gait and facial recognition. 
 
VLC are developing soft biometrics, learning from human labelling to augment or even replace the automatically derived measures. We are also working in new areas related to deep convolutional neural networks and feature learning, which cross the boundary with machine learning. 

Machine learning 

Machine learning in our group covers a broad range of areas ranging from developing new classification and clustering tools for big data sets, to mathematical modelling of complex systems and optimisation.

Application areas include: 

  • biological sequence analysis 
  • gene regulation 
  • text analysis 
  • computer vision 
  • recommender systems 
  • combinatorial optimisation 

Control 

VLC researchers’ work includes behavioural approaches to: 

  • system theory 
  • system identification - particularly using structured low-rank approximations 
  • multidimensional systems theory 
  • robust nonlinear control 
  • iterative learning control 
  • adaptive control 
  • flow control 

They use a variety of techniques from linear algebra, functional analysis, partial differential equations and commutative algebra.

People, projects and publications

People

Dr Jo Grundy DPhil, MRSC

Senior Teaching Fellow

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Jonathon Hare BEng (Hons), PhD, FHEA, MIET

Professor

Research interests

  • My main research interests lie in the area of representation learning;
  • The long-term goal of my research is to innovate techniques that can allow machines to learn from and understand the information conveyed by data and use that information to fulfil the information needs of humans.  

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Kate Farrahi

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • the intersection of machine learning and digital health
  • developing machine learning methods for human sensing using vision- and wearable-based technologies

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Ms Katy Warr

Research interests

  • neuromophic
  • artificial intelligence
  • low power
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Professor Mahesan Niranjan

ISIS Chair
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Dr Rahman Attar SMIEEE, MIET, FHEA, PhD, MPhil, BEng

Lecturer

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Sasan Mahmoodi

Associate Professor
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Dr Srinandan Dasmahapatra

Associate Professor
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Professor Tony Bagnall

Professor

Research interests

  • Time series classification, regression and clustering
  • Ensemble methods
  • Classification of EEG signals

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Xiaohao Cai

Lecturer in Computer Science

Research interests

  • Image/signal/data processing
  • Computer vision
  • Machine learning

Accepting applications from PhD students

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My research is at the intersection of machine learning and digital health. I am interested in developing machine learning methods for human sensing using vision- and wearable-based technologies.
Associate Professor