Stephanie Gil is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics, and distributed systems, particularly addressing challenges in multi-agent coordination, resilience to adversarial attacks, and wireless communication for autonomous systems. She leads the REACT Lab, advancing research in resilient multi-robot networks and cyber-physical systems. Her work integrates machine learning, control theory, and wireless sensing to solve problems such as whale tracking via autonomous robots, proactive multi-robot routing, and decentralized exploration without explicit information exchange. She has received prestigious awards, including the DARPA Young Faculty Award (2024) and the Amazon Research Award (2021). Key research areas include resilient distributed optimization, trust-centered coordination in multi-agent systems, and leveraging wireless signals (e.g., WiFi-CSI) for sensing and bearing estimation. Her contributions span both theoretical frameworks and practical implementations, with a focus on real-world applications like autonomous rideshare routing and environmental monitoring. Dr. Gil’s research also explores trust and cybersecurity in dynamic networks, with publications on crowd vetting, malicious robot detection, and adaptive communication strategies. She collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, such as Project CETI, combining AI and robotics for ecological studies.
Zhibo Pang is an Adjunct Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology's Department of Intelligent Systems (EECS) and Senior Principal Scientist at ABB Corporate Research Sweden. His work focuses on digital transformation in industry and healthcare, spanning robotics, AI, control systems, and wireless communication. He leads projects in embodied intelligence, Industry 4.0, and Healthcare 4.0, with 23 granted patents and over 120 journal papers. Education: PhD in Electronic and Computer Systems (KTH, 2013), MBA in Innovation & Growth (University of Turku, 2012). Key Roles: IEEE Technical Committee Chair, Editor of 6 IEEE journals, ABB Inventor of the Year (2016, 2018, 2021). Research Interests: Robotics safety, wireless automation, federated learning, digital twins, and IoT security. Recent Projects: Cloud-fog automation frameworks, robot skin systems for healthcare, and latency-aware industrial control. His work bridges academia and industry through cross-functional collaborations.
Dr. Xiao Zhou is a Research Fellow affiliated with the Professorship for Consumer Behavior at ETH Zurich. His current position began in 2021. Prior to this, he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Reading (2020-2021) and completed his PhD in Consumer Behavior at the University of Copenhagen (2015-2019). His research focuses on advancing consumer behavior studies through interdisciplinary approaches, combining insights from marketing, behavioral economics, and human motion analysis. Zhou’s work emphasizes understanding decision-making processes and their applications in real-world contexts. Education history includes a PhD in Consumer Behavior from the University of Copenhagen (2015-2019), followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Reading (2020-2021). His academic trajectory reflects a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied research. His research interests span consumer behavior, marketing research methodologies, and behavioral economics. Notably, his recent publications explore cutting-edge technologies in motion capture and computer vision, including real-time human motion tracking and generative models for 3D reconstruction. This reflects a unique intersection of consumer behavior studies with technical advancements in computational methods. Zhou’s research outputs demonstrate expertise in areas such as inertial sensor-based motion analysis, physics-aware tracking systems, and hierarchical modeling techniques. His contributions highlight innovative solutions for challenges in human pose estimation and 3D reconstruction. He is currently based at ETH Zurich’s Department of Consumer Behavior, contributing to both academic research and potential industrial applications of his work.
Dr. Mao Shan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Robotics, part of The University of Sydney. He holds a PhD from The University of Sydney (2014) and has held research positions at Nanyang Technological University (2016-2017) and the Australian Centre for Robotics (2014-2016). His research focuses on autonomous systems, V2X communication, cooperative perception, and sensor fusion. Current students include Yaoqi HUANG, Henry LYU, Zhenxing MING, Nguyen TRAN, Tzu-yun TSENG, and Yupeng WANG. His work spans robotics, intelligent transportation systems, and control systems. Recent publications emphasize 3D object detection, cooperative perception frameworks, and autonomous navigation. He has contributed to the development of the University of Sydney Campus Dataset for robust autonomy testing and led cooperative perception projects funded by iMOVE CRC (2018). His research bridges theoretical advancements with practical applications in autonomous vehicles and multi-robot systems. Labs and affiliations include the Australian Centre for Robotics and the Intelligent Transport Systems Group. His interdisciplinary approach integrates probabilistic modeling, sensor fusion, and machine learning to address challenges in autonomous systems.
John Folkesson is an Associate Professor at the Department of Robotics, Perception and Learning at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. His research focuses on mobile robotics, underwater autonomous vehicles (AUVs), and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), particularly addressing challenges in dynamic underwater environments. He leads the AUV group within the Swedish Maritime Robotics Centre (SMaRC2.0) and supervises multiple PhD projects, including those funded by Ocean Infinity and Vinnova. Folkesson has pioneered work on sonar-based SLAM, bathymetric mapping, and autonomous underwater navigation without human intervention. He teaches courses such as Probabilistic Graphical Models (DD2420) and Applied Estimation (EL2320). Recent projects include developing neural rendering techniques for sidescan SLAM and automatic launch systems for AUVs in collaboration with Purdue University and SAAB. His research emphasizes long-term autonomy, environmental ambiguity, and sensor data interpretation in unstructured underwater scenarios. Education: PhD in Robotics (2005, KTH Royal Institute of Technology) Recent Funding: 2024 projects include ALARS (Vinnova), WASP WARA-PS, and industrial collaborations. Research Interests Folkesson's work spans underwater robotics, SLAM algorithms, and sensor fusion. Key areas include: Underwater SLAM and sonar modeling Bathymetric reconstruction using neural networks Autonomous decision-making in AUV missions Real-time terrain modeling and localization Articles Trends Recent publications emphasize neural networks for SLAM optimization, sonar data processing, and autonomous underwater systems. Themes include real-time bathymetric mapping, sensor fusion in dynamic environments, and neural rendering techniques for improving navigation accuracy. Folkesson's work bridges theory and practice, with applications in marine robotics and industrial surveys. Advising & Grants PhD supervision: AUV perception (2024), SLAM with Ocean Infinity, event-response AUV systems. Collaborations: Purdue University, SAAB, Ocean Infinity. Course responsibilities: Over 10 advanced robotics and engineering courses at KTH. Labs & Teams Lead of SMaRC2.0, KTH's official research center for maritime robotics. Active in developing AUV systems for long-duration missions, including ice-covered and deep-sea exploration.
Maximilian Hilger is a doctoral researcher at the Chair of Perception for Intelligent Systems, part of the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence at Technische Universität München (TUM). He joined the chair in 2024 and specializes in radar perception for autonomous systems. M.Sc. in Automation Engineering (RWTH Aachen, 2023) Doctoral studies previously at AASS, Örebro University, Sweden His research focuses on radar-based localization, mapping, and introspection in challenging environments, with publications addressing 4D imaging radar SLAM, loop closure techniques, and sensor fusion methodologies. Recent work includes evaluating radar odometry algorithms and developing robust mapping systems using intensity-augmented normal distributions transform. Key research themes: Radar perception for autonomous systems SLAM robustness and introspection Occlusion-resistant localization Sensor fusion in dynamic environments He collaborates with team members including Prof. Achim Lilienthal, Valeria Salazar, and Thomas Wiedemann at TUM's Siemens Technology Center campus in Garching, Germany.
Brad Hayes is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Colorado Boulder within the College of Engineering and Applied Science, where he directs the Collaborative AI and Robotics (CAIRO) Laboratory. He also serves as Chief Technology Officer at Circadence, leading efforts in developing AI-enabled products for cybersecurity training and assessment. Undergraduate degree from Boston College PhD in Computer Science from Yale University Postdoctoral Associate at MIT Professor Hayes' research focuses on developing techniques that enable autonomous agents and robots to learn from and collaborate with humans safely, reliably, and productively. His work occurs at the intersection of pervasive and personalized artificial intelligence, human-robot teaming, and decision support. He has made significant contributions to collaborative robotics, dependable explainable AI, and imitation learning, with applications spanning manufacturing, healthcare, disaster response, autonomous vehicles, and space exploration. His recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on human-robot interaction, with particular focus on improving predictability in collaborative tasks, developing explainable AI systems that build trust, leveraging augmented and virtual reality for enhanced collaboration, and creating more efficient learning algorithms from human demonstrations. His work increasingly integrates large language models and advanced neural network architectures while maintaining a strong human-centered design approach. Sustainability Recognition (2025) for computational efficiency in motion planning Best Student Paper Runner-up at AAMAS 2022 Nominated for Best Technical Paper at HRI 2024 Best Technical Paper Runner-up at HRI 2019 Hayes has successfully mentored numerous graduate students through the CAIRO Lab, including multiple PhD graduates in 2024 alone. His lab receives funding from various organizations supporting research in human-robot interaction and collaborative AI. He frequently collaborates with industry partners and has established connections with major technology companies through his research and speaking engagements. The CAIRO Lab, under Hayes' direction, is a vibrant research environment focused on turning theoretical concepts into practical applications through hands-on work with real robots and human participants. The lab's research spans multiple domains including manufacturing, disaster response, autonomous vehicles, and space exploration, with a consistent emphasis on safe and effective human-machine teaming.
Dr. Olga Vysotska is a Researcher affiliated with the Professorship for Robotic Systems at ETH Zurich's Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering. Her work focuses on advancing robotic systems through research in sensor-based navigation, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), and autonomous systems. She holds a doctoral degree and is based in Zurich, Switzerland. Her email is olga.vysotska@inf.ethz.ch. Research Interests: Olga's research spans robotics, computer vision, and autonomous navigation. She specializes in LiDAR-based place recognition, SLAM algorithms, and cross-modal localization using 3D scene graphs. Her work addresses challenges such as environmental changes, sensor fusion, and data association in dynamic environments like agriculture and underground exploration. Key themes include robust localization, loop closure detection, and adaptive algorithms for real-world robotic applications. Publications Overview: Olga's recent work emphasizes diffusion-based LiDAR place recognition (2025), 4D spatial-temporal mapping for agricultural robots (2023), and SceneGraphLoc for cross-modal localization (2024). Her research trends highlight innovation in sensor integration, algorithmic robustness, and practical applications in challenging environments. Earlier contributions include exploration of catacombs with mobile robots (2013) and SLAM enhancements using public map data (2017). Grants & Advising: While specific grants or student advisement details are not listed, her active publication record suggests involvement in funded research projects. Her work often collaborates with industry and academic partners to advance robotic autonomy in complex scenarios. Labs/Teams: As part of the Robotic Systems Professorship, she likely contributes to ETH Zurich's robotics labs focused on SLAM, sensor systems, and autonomous navigation. Her projects may intersect with the Department's broader initiatives in mechanical and process engineering.
John McDonald is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Maynooth University, where he has held a faculty position since 2001. He is affiliated with the Maynooth University Hamilton Institute and the Assisted Living and Learning Institute (ALL). His research focuses on computer vision, robotics, and AI, emphasizing spatial perception and autonomous systems. He has contributed to areas such as visual SLAM, intelligent vehicle systems, and digital holography, with funding from SFI, EU, and other agencies. Currently, he is a Funded Investigator in Lero (SFI Research Centre for Software) and collaborates on the SFI Blended Autonomy Vehicles Spoke. Key research themes include simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), robotic navigation, 3D reconstruction, and applications in autonomous driving. His work integrates cutting-edge techniques in computer vision and machine learning to address challenges in spatial intelligence and perception. Publications highlight advancements in dense mapping, fisheye camera systems, and geospatial analysis. He has held visiting roles at MIT’s CSAIL and the National Centre for Geocomputation. His contributions span academic journals, conferences, and technical reports, reflecting a strong emphasis on both theoretical and applied robotics research. John McDonald has supervised numerous research projects and contributed to initiatives like the John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarships. His work bridges academia and industry, with a focus on real-world applications of autonomous systems and AI-driven robotics.
Robert Piche is a Professor at the Computing Sciences Mathematics Research Centre, specializing in advanced signal processing, positioning systems, and sensor fusion. He holds a Doctor of Science (Technology) and Master of Science from the University of Waterloo, Canada (1986 and 1982, respectively). His research focuses on Kalman filters, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), particle filters, and indoor positioning technologies. He has contributed extensively to fields like satellite orbit prediction, non-line-of-sight (NLoS) positioning, and machine learning applications in biomechanics and robotics. Dr. Piche has authored over 230 publications and received recognition through an invitation/ranking in a 2014 competition. He actively participates in academic activities, including conference presentations and peer-review roles. His work bridges theoretical advancements and practical applications, with contributions to autonomous systems, sensor data analysis, and wearable technology. Collaborations span international institutions, reflecting his global impact in engineering and computer science disciplines.
Esa Rahtu is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Aalto University, Finland. His research focuses on computer vision, machine learning, and deep learning applications. He leads projects in image coding, neural networks, 3D reconstruction, object pose estimation, and anomaly detection. Rahtu has contributed to over 98 research outputs since 2017, with recent work emphasizing Gaussian splatting for SLAM, neural radiance fields, and hybrid video codecs for human-machine compatibility. His expertise spans visual-inertial odometry (e.g., ADVIO dataset), LiDAR-based place recognition, and manufacturing quality control systems. Key areas include: 3D scene reconstruction using Gaussian splatting techniques Deep learning models for anomaly detection in industrial processes Hybrid video codecs optimizing human perception and machine processing Multi-sensor fusion for robotic navigation and indoor mapping Notable datasets include ADVIO for visual-inertial odometry and FIORD for 3D reconstruction benchmarking. His research aligns with UN SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) through advancements in smart manufacturing and educational technology. Rahtu has received continuous research funding, including a grant period from April to June 2018. His work emphasizes practical applications, collaborating on real-world challenges like paper manufacturing quality control and smartphone-based 3D reconstruction.
Dr. Todd D. Murphey is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University's Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. He serves as Director of Transformative Research and Director of the Master of Science in Robotics Program at Northwestern, leading initiatives in computational dynamics, control systems, and robotics. His work bridges engineering, neuroscience, and biomedical applications, with a focus on developing systems that interact effectively with humans and their environments. Dr. Murphey received his Ph.D. in Control and Dynamical Systems from the California Institute of Technology in 2002, with a thesis titled "Control of Multiple Model Systems." Prior to that, he earned a B.S. in Mathematics, summa cum laude, from the University of Arizona in 1997. Dr. Murphey's research centers on computational methods in dynamics and control, with applications spanning neuroscience, health science, robotics, and automation. His work in the Interactive & Emergent Autonomy Lab focuses on computational models of embedded control, biomechanical simulation, dynamic exploration, and hybrid control. The group develops mathematical approaches that lead to orders of magnitude improvement in computational efficiency for real-time implementation. Key application areas include assistive exoskeleton control, stabilization of energy networks, bio-inspired active sensing, entertainment robots, robotic exploration, and software-enabled stroke rehabilitation. Analysis of Dr. Murphey's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on human-swarm interaction, algorithmic matter, and control of cyber-physical systems in uncertain environments. His work increasingly integrates information theory with physical systems, exploring how both autonomous and biological systems interact with environments to learn and improve behaviors. Recent trends show growing applications in rehabilitation technology, with particular focus on human-machine interaction in biomedical devices and embodied intelligence. Dr. Murphey has received numerous honors and awards for his contributions to robotics and engineering: Named Director of Transformative Research at Northwestern University (2025) Appointed IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Vice President of Publication Activities (2022) Co-recipient of Best Paper Award for IEEE Transactions on Robotics (2020) Appointed to Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (2019) Recipient of ABB Best Student Paper Award for CPL-SLAM research (2019) Cole-Higgins Award from Northwestern Engineering (2015) Dr. Murphey has supervised numerous graduate students including Taosha Fan, Giorgos Mamakoukas, and Ian Abraham, with research spanning robotic exploration using electrosense and mechanical contact, human-in-the-loop control, and shared control for rehabilitation devices. His lab has secured significant funding from the National Science Foundation, DARPA, and industry partners including Siemens and Ekso Bionics, supporting research in algorithmic matter, emergent behavior, and human-swarm collaboration. The Interactive & Emergent Autonomy Lab, led by Dr. Murphey, investigates how both autonomous systems and biological systems interact with their environments to learn and improve behaviors. Current projects include active learning and data-driven control, active perception in human-swarm collaboration, algorithmic matter and emergent computation, control for nonlinear and hybrid systems, cyber physical systems in uncertain environments, harmonious navigation in human crowds, information maximizing clinical diagnostics, reactive learning in underwater exploration, robot-assisted rehabilitation, and software-enabled biomedical devices. The lab collaborates with researchers across Northwestern and institutions including Georgia Tech, MIT, and industry partners.
Dr. Jose Luis SANCHEZ LOPEZ is a Research Scientist at the Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) of the University of Luxembourg, leading the Aerial Robotics Lab (AeRoLab) within the Automation & Robotics Research Group (ARG). He joined SnT in 2017 as a Postdoc Research Associate, promoted to Research Scientist in 2021. His research focuses on autonomous robotics, particularly aerial systems, emphasizing situational awareness, SLAM, and trajectory planning. Education: Ph.D. in Robotics (2017), M.Sc. in Automation & Robotics (2012), and Engineering degree in Industrial Engineering (2010), all from the Technical University of Madrid. Visiting Research: Arizona State University (2012), LAAS-CNRS (2014–2016). Research Interests: Multi-agent robotic systems, sensor fusion, localization/mapping, computer vision, machine learning, and trajectory control. He has authored over 56 peer-reviewed publications, with an h-index of 18. Projects: Leads projects like DEUS (PI), NEDA, ÄerdFly (PI), and RoboSAUR. Contributions span European, Luxembourg, and Spain-funded initiatives, focusing on autonomous systems, 5G integration, and construction-site robotics. Teaching: Lectured in MICS, BiCS, BING (Uni.lu) and GITI (UPM). Actively involved in academic service as a reviewer, editor, and competition participant (e.g., IMAV, IARC). Outreach: National Coordinator for Luxembourg’s Robotics European Week, promotes robotics education in schools and public events.
Xieyuanli Chen is an Associate Professor at the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), China. He holds a Dr.-Ing. (summa cum laude) from the University of Bonn (2022), a Master's in Robotics from NUDT (2017), and a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from Hunan University (2015). His research focuses on robot learning, perception, and navigation, with an emphasis on LiDAR-based SLAM, autonomous systems, and semantic perception. Education: PhD: University of Bonn, 2018-2022 (supervised by Prof. Cyrill Stachniss) Master's: NUDT, 2015-2017 Bachelor's: Hunan University, 2011-2015 Research interests include robotics, autonomous systems, computer vision, and LiDAR perception. He has authored over 90 papers in top venues like TRO, RSS, ICRA, and CVPR. He serves as an Associate Editor for IEEE RA-L, ICRA, and IROS, and is a member of the RoboCup Rescue Robot League Technical Committee. Awards include the RSS Pioneer Award (2021), Best-in-Class RoboCup awards, and recognition as a World’s Top 2% Scientist (2024). His work spans LiDAR localization, moving object segmentation, and efficient semantic mapping. He advises students in robotics and autonomous systems. Labs/Teams: Active in the PRBonn group (University of Bonn) and leads research at NUDT on LiDAR-based perception systems.
Joshua D. Bard is an Associate Professor and Associate Head for Design Research at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Architecture. His work bridges traditional craft and cutting-edge robotics, focusing on human-machine collaboration in construction domains. He leads Archolab, an award-winning research group exploring digital fabrication methods like 'Morphfaux' (robotic plaster techniques) and 'Spring Back' (parametric steam bending). Education: M.Arch (Distinction) from University of Michigan; B.A. in Literature & Philosophy from Wheaton College. Professional affiliations include the Manufacturing Futures Institute and rob|arch. Research emphasizes reviving historical crafts through digital tools, such as augmented reality interfaces for architectural education and thermal-tuned concrete panels via robotic processes. His teaching includes generative modeling and architectural robotics labs. Awards: Architect Magazine R+D Award, Canadian Wood Council Merit Award Key Projects: Plaster ReCast AR app, Thermally Informed Robotic Concrete Panels Collaborators: Dana Cupkova, Garth Zeglin, Steven Mankouche Current courses include 62-225 Generative Modeling and 48-555 Introduction to Architectural Robotics. His work is featured in venues like the Carnegie Museum of Art and academic journals like International Journal of Architectural Computing .
