Joining me in today's episode of “Let's talk robotics” is Squadron Leader Kate Yaxley!
Joining me in episode 39 of “Let’s talk robotics” is Squadron Leader Kate Yaxley. Kate, amongst her many achievements is the winner of the Women in Defence category in the inaugural AI in Australia and New Zealand for women held in Sydney earlier in April.
Kate is a Royal Australian Air Force veteran, beginning her career as an avionics technician before commissioning as an engineering officer in 2007. In 2011, Kate completed her Bachelor of Engineering at the University of New South Wales Canberra before completing her Masters at the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2015. Kate’s focus was on electronic warfare before commencing a PhD in autonomous systems and artificial intelligence in 2018.
Kate is a 2021 Sir Richard Williams Scholar and one of the lead researchers on Sky Shepherds for human-autonomy teaming at UNSW Canberra. Kate’s research includes developing models to reflect bio-inspired swarming, mainly sheep and herding agent (sheepdog or drone) interaction. Sky Shepherds focuses on not only delivering autonomous systems and artificial intelligence but articulating the philosophy required to support human swarm teaming. Her contributions to AI, leadership, and innovation as part of the Sky Shepherds team lead to her Women in AI: Defence award.
We talk about
Her career as an avionics technician at the Royal Australian Air force – career highlights
Further studies of a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering at the United States Air Force Institute of Technology, with a major in signal processing - this journey
Kate is currently on a 12-month sponsorship in support of PhD research in shepherding, AI design philosophy, and biologically inspired swarm modelling. What lead an Air Force Electrical Engineer to researching sheep behaviour to develop AI design philosophy?
Kate was the convenor and lecturer for the interdisciplinary course Introduction to Cyber Security: Policy and Operations – tell us more about this.
What do you think Australian manufacturing has to offer robotics and other technology rich industries to the region?
What advice would you offer to any people looking to embark on a career in electrical engineering?
Do you have a mentor?
Do you have any regrets about paths not taken and what were they?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Any advice to our listeners today about lessons learnt along the way?
Follow Kate on Twitter @K8Yaxley to follow her journey!