Oussama Khatib

Oussama Khatib is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Robotics Lab. His research focuses on advanced robotics control, human-friendly designs, and interactive systems. Key areas include humanoid robotics, haptic feedback, underwater exploration (e.g., OceanOne), and neuroscientific applications like Haptic fMRI. He leads a lab with over 50 students and alumni, contributing to projects such as the Simulation and Active Interfaces (SAI) framework and hybrid actuation systems.

Research interests span control architectures, human-robot interaction, and applications in healthcare, disaster response, and oceanic discovery. Khatib’s work emphasizes safety, adaptability, and collaboration between robots and humans. Notable projects include OceanOne, a humanoid underwater robot that recovered artifacts from a 17th-century shipwreck, and the development of compliant control frameworks for multi-contact scenarios.

His lab’s contributions include the SAI open-source framework for robotics simulation and control, as well as advancements in elastic planning and real-time motion adaptation. Khatib teaches courses like CS 223-A (Intro to Robotics) and CS 327-A (Advanced Robotics), emphasizing theoretical foundations and practical applications.

Collaborations involve neuroscientists, engineers, and industry partners to bridge robotics with human capabilities. Current efforts explore next-generation human-centered robotics, including safer actuators and systems for surgical and assistive applications.