Tiago Ribeiro
About Tiago Ribeiro
Tiago Ribeiro is an Animation Scientist with a strong background in robotics and artificial intelligence. He currently works at Soul Machines in Auckland, New Zealand, where he focuses on character animation and human-robot interaction.
Work at Soul Machines
Tiago Ribeiro has been employed at Soul Machines since 2020, where he serves as an Animation Scientist and Senior II Research Engineer. His role involves integrating artificial intelligence with character animation and human-robot interaction. Ribeiro's work aims to enhance the realism of social, interactive robots, making them appear animate and alive, similar to characters in films. His expertise in animation and robotics contributes significantly to the development of advanced interactive systems at the company.
Previous Experience in Data Science and Engineering
Before joining Soul Machines, Tiago Ribeiro worked at kencko as a Data Scientist and Data Pipeline Engineer for seven months in 2019. His responsibilities included data management and analysis, contributing to the company's data-driven initiatives. Additionally, he held a position at Gagosian Gallery as a Robot Animation and Unreal Engine Developer for three months in 2017, where he applied his skills in animation within a creative environment. He also served as a Research Assistant at INESC-ID from 2011 to 2017, focusing on robotics research.
Education and Expertise
Tiago Ribeiro holds a PhD in Robot Animation and Human-Robot Interaction from Instituto Superior Técnico, where he studied from 2014 to 2020. His academic background also includes a Master's degree in Computer Science and Engineering, specializing in Multimedia and Artificial Intelligence, which he completed from 2004 to 2011. Ribeiro's education has equipped him with a strong foundation in both the artistic and scientific aspects of animation and robotics.
Background in Animation and Robotics
Ribeiro developed the concept of 'Robot Animation,' which has become a cornerstone of his career. He combines his artistic skills in animation, photography, cinema, music, and sound design with scientific knowledge in artificial intelligence and robotics. His passion lies in creating intelligent artificial creatures that exhibit the illusion of life, focusing on the integration of computer animation and robotics to enhance human-robot interaction.
Early Education
Tiago Ribeiro completed his secondary education at Escola Secundária de José Estêvão from 2001 to 2004. Following this, he pursued further studies at Instituto Superior Técnico, where he earned degrees in Computer Engineering, including Mestrado Bolonha and Licenciatura Bolonha. His early education laid the groundwork for his future studies and career in technology and animation.