Ivor Rendulić · Researcher · Max Robotics

About

Ivor Rendulić is a leading researcher in underwater human-robot interaction (HRI), with a focus on enabling natural, vision-based communication between divers and autonomous robotic systems. His work addresses the unique challenges of operating in complex, low-visibility underwater environments where traditional sensors and communication devices are impractical. Rendulić’s most cited paper, “Visual diver detection using multi-descriptor nearest-class-mean random forests” (2015, 19 citations), introduces a robust classification method that uses multi-descriptor image features to detect divers, forming a critical foundation for safe diver-robot collaboration. He further advanced the field with “Hand gesture recognition from multibeam sonar imagery” (2016, 9 citations), a pioneering approach that allows divers to communicate with robotic “diving buddies” using natural hand gestures, even in murky waters. This work was conducted under the European Union’s FP7 CADDY project, which aims to develop cognitive robotic assistants for divers. Rendulić’s contributions are essential for the future of underwater exploration, search-and-rescue, and marine science, demonstrating how computer vision and machine learning can bridge the gap between humans and machines in extreme environments.