November 2025 - Algorithms for autonomous machines with Sam Wane

We're excited to invite you to join us for Staffs Web Meetup Christmas Special!

Join us for an evening of great talks, discuss the latest and hottest topics and socialising/networking.

🎤 Featured Talk: "Algorithms for autonomous machines" by Sam Wane

Machines that work in the real world need to adapt to the ever changing and unpredictable environment.

They sense these changes through sensors and make changes using motors. This is a continuous feedback loop of sense-think-act, continuous small changes are what enables machines to operate in the real world.

For example, an autonomous car driving on a straight road will need to continuously adjust the steering wheel to keep it on a true course.

This talk, peppered with demonstrations, will explore how these feedback loops operate and will demonstrate some algorithms to enable machines to work in the real world: such as planning a route to a location, how a drone autopilot allows it to maintain a fixed height and location regardless of wind patterns, and how mobile robots find their way around.

Christmas special:
As always we’re being a bit of Christmas cheer to our November meetup with:

• Festive Prize Bingo
• Christmas Cracker Joke Competition
• Christmas Decorations
• Christmas Gift for everyone who attends

🕒 Schedule:
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Arrival, Food, and Networking
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Featured Talk
8:00 PM - 8:15 PM: Short Break
8:15 PM - 8:45 PM: Christmas Prize bingo
8:45 PM - 9:00 PM: Closing Remarks

🎁 Want to Support Our Community?
Make a monetary donation via: https://monzo.me/natashawylie Your support helps cover food, drinks, prizes, and running costs. Every contribution, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated!

📍 Location: Codeweavers Office Unit 16 & 17 Waterfront Way Stafford ST16 2HQ

🚗 Convenient parking available at the nearby Waterfront Multi-Storey Car Park (open until midnight), arrive to the car park after 6pm for a low flat rate fee.

🚉 Short walk from Stafford Station

RSVP now to secure your spot.

P.S. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know when you RVSP