Charles Rosen (scientist)

Charles A. Rosen (1917-2002) was a pioneering computer scientist and robotics researcher. He is best known for his work at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI International) in the 1960s and 1970s, where he led the development of Shakey the Robot, one of the first mobile robots capable of reasoning about its actions.

Rosen received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1941. After working in industry, he joined SRI International in 1956. He was instrumental in establishing the Artificial Intelligence Center at SRI in 1966.

Shakey, developed under Rosen's leadership, was a groundbreaking project that integrated several areas of artificial intelligence, including perception, planning, and learning. It used a combination of sensors, including a television camera, to perceive its environment and a STRIPS planner to develop sequences of actions to achieve goals. Shakey's ability to plan its own actions marked a significant step forward in robotics and AI.

Rosen's contributions extended beyond Shakey. He was a strong advocate for the practical application of AI research and worked on various projects involving pattern recognition, image processing, and industrial automation. He also played a key role in promoting the field of robotics through publications and conferences. After retiring from SRI International, Rosen founded Machine Intelligence Corporation, one of the first companies to commercially produce vision-guided robots. He continued to consult and advise on robotics projects until his death in 2002.