George Nikolakopoulos

George Nikolakopoulos is a Professor in Robotics and Automation at the Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden. He also holds a Chair in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence and has been affiliated with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for collaborative research on Aerial Planetary Exploration.

• Academic Rank: Professor
• Department: Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering
• Collaborations: NASA JPL, COSTAR Team

Research Interests

• Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Field Robotics
• UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)
• Automatic Control Applications
• Learning and Reasoning
• Networked Embedded Systems
• Cyber-Physical Systems
• Mechatronics
• Adaptive Control
• System Identification

Publications and Research Trends

His recent publications focus on autonomous aerial robotics, deep mineral exploration, and AI-driven control systems. Key trends include the integration of reinforcement learning for UAV stabilization, path planning in subterranean environments, and cloud/edge-assisted control architectures for collaborative robotic systems.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions

• Team's work included 4 times in a row at the IVA Top 100 list (Royal Academy of Engineers in Sweden)
• Won the second stage of the DARPA Grand Challenge on Sub-T exploration with the COSTAR team in February 2020

Leadership and Innovation

He established the Digital Innovation Hub on Applied AI at Luleå University of Technology and founded two spin-offs, including FieldRobotix, which joined the IVA REACHME Silicon Valley accelerator. His lab, the Robotics Team, actively participates in cutting-edge projects like autonomous mining inspection and aerial additive manufacturing.