Intelligent Robotics Group

The Intelligent Robotics Research Group at UCL East Campus and HereEast is a world-leading research centre of excellence dedicated to Cognitive Robotics & AI, for real-world applications.

Dimitrios Kanoulas demonstrating a 4-legged robot to students

About us

Our group covers areas from mechatronics and control to robot vision and learning, with more than 20 faculty members and over 30 PhD students.

The aim of our group is to turn UCL and the local area into the leading international centre of expertise, innovation, and enterprise in autonomous robots. Since UCL East is on the border of Tech City, there is a natural synergy between academic activities in robotics – both research-led and ideas from taught students – and a local environment that encourages the development of such ideas into deliverable products.

Given the profound effect that robotics is likely to have on all aspects of our lives, we actively seek to develop further collaborations. Colocation with a critical mass of relevant companies and the consequent accessibility of capital and business support are key enablers in this process.

Our research

Our research spans several key areas including:

Safe and Efficient Industrial Inspection and Operations
Towards Sustainable Environment and Agriculture
Autonomous Search & Rescue
AI for Minimally Invasive and Robot-Assisted Surgery
Adaptive Simulation Frameworks Using Generative AI for Robotic Systems
Multimodal Perception for Robust Autonomous Vehicles
Retrofitted Service Robots for Scalable Health Monitoring

We work collaboratively with other departments and centres across UCL, including the UCL Robotics Institute.

Projects

RoboHike: Autonomous Quadrupedal Robot Navigation and Hiking in Challenging Rough Terrains.

External Engagement

Industry Collaboration

We work closely with industry partners to bridge the gap between cutting-edge robotics research and real-world applications. Our collaborations provide companies with access to state-of-the-art robotics expertise, while enabling our researchers and students to tackle industry-led challenges.

Opportunities include:

Joint research projects that drive innovation in robotic automation.
Industrial placements and internships for students, equipping them with practical experience.
Knowledge exchange through the Industry Exchange Network (IXN) and Next-Step Experience Internships (NXI).
Consultancy and bespoke training to help businesses integrate robotics into their operations.

Community & Policy Engagement

As robotics becomes an integral part of society, we are committed to fostering public understanding and shaping policy in the field. We engage with policymakers, the public, and local communities to ensure robotics development aligns with societal needs.

Key initiatives include:

Collaborations with policymakers to influence standards and best practices for safe, ethical, and sustainable robotics.
Public engagement activities at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, turning the area into a ‘living laboratory’ for real-world robotic solutions.
Co-location with partners such as the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and the People and Nature Lab, ensuring our technology is both inclusive and environmentally responsible.

Investment and Funding

Our research group welcomes collaboration and investment to further advance robotics research and training.

We offer a variety of funding opportunities, including:

Capital funding to support specialist lab spaces, including facilities for robotic testing and automation research.
Scholarships and funded positions to develop the next generation of roboticists, including support for postdocs, PhD researchers, and MSc/MEng students.
Project partnerships with industry leaders to catalyse research breakthroughs, develop talent, and create impact-driven solutions.

Work with us

We welcome engagement from businesses, policymakers, and community organisations looking to collaborate on robotics innovation. Whether through research partnerships, student placements, or funding opportunities, we are keen to explore how robotics can drive progress in diverse sectors. Get in touch to discuss potential collaborations.

Our people

Name	Title
Prof Dimitrios Kanoulas	Professor in Robotics & AI (Head of Research Group)
Prof Simon Julier	Professor of Situation Awareness Systems
Dr Sophia Bano	Lecturer in Robotics & AI
Dr Pian Yu	Lecturer in Robotics & AI
Ziwen Lu	Associate Lecturer (Teaching) in Robotics & AI
Dr Valerio Modugno	Associate Lecturer (Teaching) in Robotics & AI
Dr Chengxu Zhou	Associate Professor in Robotics & AI
Dr Yasemin Bekiroglu	Associate Professor in Robotics & AI
Dr Lorenzo Jamone	Associate Professor in Robotics & AI
Dr Xiaoxuan Lu	Associate Professor in Robotics & AI
Dr Saeedi Sajad	Associate Professor (Teaching) in Robotics & AI
Erin Nolan	Associate Lecturer (Teaching) in Robotics & AI
Dr Daniel Tozadore	Lecturer (Teaching) in Robotics & AI
Dr Yunda Yan	Lecturer (Teaching) in Robotics & AI
Dr Amir Patel	Associate Professor in Robotics & AI
Dr Igor Gaponov	Associate Professor in Robotics & AI
Dr Zezhi Tang	Lecturer (Teaching) in Robotics & AI

Related courses

Intelligent robots will form a part of any conceivable future for society. Our taught programmes draw together teaching from Computer Science, AI and Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, combining theory with practical experience. Our goal is to help you become future engineers, leaders and researchers in intelligent robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), technology, engineering, and finance.

Our research group’s academic staff contribute to the teaching of two innovative programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Our students are taught by academic experts at the forefront of robotics research, and benefit from practical, hands-on experience through lab sessions and project work, preparing them for careers in academia, industry, and beyond.