Leading Institutes
Following is a list of Leading Laboratories and Centres of Excellence (CoE) in both India and Abroad.
IIT Patna
BRAIn Lab (BioRobotics and Artificial INtelligence Lab): Research in biorobotics, artificial intelligence, SLAM, mobile and humanoid robotics, neuromorphic computing (workshop on Brain-inspired/Neuromorphic Computing for Responsible AI ), embedded biomedical systems, soft robotics (Origami Bots with LiDAR, SMA/SCP actuation) . PHN-IIT Patna Centre of Excellence in Robotics, AI & IoT: Advanced research, academia-industry collaboration, societal/industrial solutions, technologist training (launched with PHN Technology) . Robotics and Automation Laboratory: (Mechanical Eng. Dept.) Equipped with Six Axis Aristo Robot, Four Axis Scara Robot, Fire Bird V Hexapod, Humanoid Robot, Scorbot Robot, Fire Bird Universal Robotic Research Platform . Blockchain Technology and Robotics Lab (CSE Dept.): Research in blockchain and robotics.
https://www.iitp.ac.in/~athakur/ (BRAIn Lab Director)
https://www.unilist.in/news/iit-patna-launches-centre-for-robotics-and-ai-article-151111106
https://www.iitp.ac.in/facilities-6 (Robotics Lab ME)
https://www.iitp.ac.in/cse-facilities (Blockchain & Robotics)
IIT Bombay
ARMS Lab (Autonomous Robots and Multi-robot Systems Lab - Systems & Control Eng.): Robot vision, multi-robot systems, path planning . Robotics and AI Lab (RAiL): (Mentioned as a focus area). Centre for Machine Intelligence & Data Science (C-MInDS): AI/ML for robotics, perception, autonomy, data science . Centre of Excellence in Nanoelectronics (CEN): Micro/Nano robotics and MEMS research.
https://www.sc.iitb.ac.in/robotics/ (ARMS Lab)
https://www.minds.iitb.ac.in/ (C-MInDS)
https://www.cen.iitb.ac.in/ (CEN)
IIT Delhi
Robotics Research Group (Interdisciplinary - CSE, EE, ME, Yardi School of AI): Aerial, soft, underwater, and humanoid robotics; advanced control and perception. Supports M.Tech. in Robotics with specializations in Collaborative, Industrial, Medical, and Autonomous Robotics . Center of Excellence on Biologically Inspired Robots and Drones (CoE-BIRD): Associated with the M.Tech. program. IHFC - I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (DST-supported Section 8 company): Focus on cobotics, over 50 faculty involved.
https://home.iitd.ac.in/show.php?id=286&in_sections=News (M.Tech. Robotics Launch)
IIT Kanpur
Center for Mechatronics (formerly Center for Robotics, Est. 1989): Interdisciplinary (Aeronautical, CSE, EE, ME). Kinematics, Dynamics, Design, Motion Planning, Intelligent Control, AI, Computer Vision . Conducts summer training and short courses.
https://www.iitk.ac.in/robotics/
IIT Kharagpur
Centre of Excellence in Robotics (CER): Autonomous robots, SLAM, underwater robotics, human-robot interaction. CoE in Advanced Manufacturing Technology (CoEAMT): Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, automation, robotics in manufacturing. Agricultural Robotics Lab: Research on robotics for agricultural applications.
https://www.facebook.com/cer.iitkgp/ (CER Facebook)
http://www.coeamt.com/ (CoEAMT)
(Search IIT KGP departments for specific lab pages)
IIT Madras
Autonomous Systems Lab: Multi-agent robotics, motion planning, human-robot interaction, soft and medical robotics. Robotics Laboratory (Dept. of Engineering Design): Various robotics projects, including areas like legged locomotion, exoskeletons. Centre for Innovation (CFI): Student-run lab with projects in robotics.
https://ed.iitm.ac.in/~asl/ (Autonomous Systems Lab)
https://ed.iitm.ac.in/roboticslab/ (Robotics Lab ED)
IIT Roorkee
Robotics Laboratory / Mechatronics Lab (Mechanical & Industrial Eng. Dept.): Swarm, aerial, and autonomous robotics; embedded control systems, mobile robots, robot manipulators.
https://www.iitr.ac.in/me/pages/Laboratories.html (See Mechatronics Lab)
IIT Guwahati
Centre of Excellence for AI, Robotics, and IoT (Jointly with Times Professional Learning): Focus on industry-driven research and upskilling in Robotics, AI, IoT. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Lab (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering): Research in various robotics domains.
https://www.iitg.ac.in/mech/robotics-and-artificial-intelligence-laboratory/ (Mech Eng Lab)
(Search IITG news for CoE with TPL)
IIT Hyderabad
Robotics Research Center (KPHB - Kandi Campus): Autonomous and soft robotics, human-robot interaction, embedded systems, medical robotics. Autonomous Navigation and Data Acquisition Lab (ANDA): Research in navigation for ground and aerial vehicles.
https://robotics.iith.ac.in/ (Robotics Research Center)
https://anda.iith.ac.in/ (ANDA Lab)
IIT Gandhinagar
Robotics and AI Lab / Centre for AI and Robotics: Autonomous systems, swarm robotics, human-robot interaction, machine learning for robotics.
https://robotics.iitgn.ac.in/
IIT Ropar
Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Lab: Focus on industrial automation, smart manufacturing, robotic applications in manufacturing.
(Search IIT Ropar Mechanical Eng. Dept. for lab details)
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
Robotics and Automation Lab (Dept. of Mechanical Eng.): Industrial robotics, mobile robotics, control systems.
(Search IIT ISM Dhanbad Mechanical Eng. Dept. for lab details)
IIT Indore
Robotics and Mechatronics Lab: Research in various areas of robotics and automation.
(Search IIT Indore for specific lab pages)
IIT Mandi
Robotics and Control Lab: Focus on control systems for robotic applications, HRI.
https://faculty.iitmandi.ac.in/~rajesh.singh/robotics-control-lab
IIT Palakkad
Robotics and Control Systems Lab: Research on robotic systems, control theory, and applications.
https://pal.iitpkd.ac.in/research-lab/rcsl
IIT Bhilai
Robotics and AI Lab: Machine learning, AI applications in robotics, control systems.
https://www.iitbhilai.ac.in/index.php?pid=research_robotics
IIT Goa
Research in areas like control systems, AI, and embedded systems which are foundational to robotics.
(Search IIT Goa relevant department pages)
IIT Dharwad
Research in mechanical engineering, CSE, EE including topics relevant to robotics and automation.
(Search IIT Dharwad relevant department pages)
IIT Tirupati
Motion and Control Lab / Robotics Research: Research in robotic manipulation, control, path planning.
https://www.iittp.ac.in/dr-suresh-chandra-patil (Faculty with robotics focus)
IIT Jammu
Research in areas like mechatronics, AI, and control systems relevant to robotics.
(Search IIT Jammu relevant department pages)
IIT BHU (Varanasi)
Advanced Robotics Lab / Mechatronics Lab (Dept. of Mechanical Eng.): Industrial robotics, mobile robots, AI in robotics.
(Search IIT BHU Mechanical Eng. Dept. for lab details)
IISc Bangalore
Robotics & Autonomous Systems Lab (Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber-Physical Systems): SLAM, swarm robotics, aerial systems, AI, machine learning, control systems. Various Departmental Labs (ME, EE, CSA): Research in specific robotics areas like microelectronics, VLSI design relevant to robotics, biomechanics.
https://www.rbccps.org/robotics-autonomous-systems/
NITs (National Institutes of Technology)
Various NITs (e.g., NIT Patna - Robotics & Automation Lab, NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, NIT Surathkal, etc.): Interdisciplinary robotics research, embedded systems, automation, specific application areas.
(Search individual NIT department websites, e.g., NIT Patna Robotics & Automation Lab)
IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology)
Various IIITs (e.g., IIIT Hyderabad - Robotics Research Center, IIIT Bangalore): Strong focus on AI, machine learning, computer vision, and their applications in robotics.
https://robotics.iiit.ac.in/ (IIIT Hyderabad)
IISERs (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research)
Various labs in electronics, embedded systems, AI, Physics, Biology: Foundational and interdisciplinary research that contributes to robotics (e.g., sensor development, bio-inspired mechanisms, computational modeling).
(Search individual IISER department/research group pages)
Leading Global Robotics Research Universities & Institutes
This list highlights some of the world's most renowned institutions for robotics research.
MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
USA
CSAIL (Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory): Broad robotics research including AI, manipulation, locomotion, HRI. Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE): SLAM, embedded systems, HRI, AI-driven robotics. Media Lab: Innovative HRI, social robotics.
https://www.csail.mit.edu/research/robotics
https://www.rle.mit.edu/
Stanford University
USA
Stanford Robotics Center: Interdisciplinary research across field, medical, collaborative robotics. Stanford AI Lab (SAIL): AI, autonomy, robot learning, perception (e.g., HumanPlus).
https://robotics.stanford.edu/
https://ai.stanford.edu/
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)
USA
Robotics Institute: One of the largest and oldest robotics research centers; autonomous vehicles, SLAM, multi-sensor fusion, computer vision, embedded systems, field robotics, manipulation, space robotics.
https://www.ri.cmu.edu/
ETH Zurich
Switzerland
Autonomous Systems Lab (ASL): Aerial robotics, motion planning, mobile robotics, legged locomotion, SLAM. Robotics Systems Lab (RSL): Legged robots, manipulation, inspection robotics.
https://asl.ethz.ch/
https://rsl.ethz.ch/
Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Germany
Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI) (formerly Chair for Robotics & Embedded Systems): Industrial robotics, real-time control, advanced automation, medical robotics, AI for robotics.
https://www.mirmi.tum.de/
National University of Singapore (NUS)
Singapore
Advanced Robotics Centre (ARC): Healthcare robots, navigation, AI perception, service robotics. NUS Lab for Soft Robotics Research: Soft materials, actuators, marine-inspired soft robots.
https://www.eng.nus.edu.sg/arc/
https://www.softroboticslab.info/
University of Maryland
USA
Maryland Robotics Center (MRC) incorporating labs like: Motion and Teaming Lab (MOTES): SLAM, multi-robot systems. Space Systems Lab: Spacecraft design, hypersonic propulsion, space robotics.
https://robotics.umd.edu/
https://motes.cs.umd.edu/
https://www.ssl.umd.edu/
Imperial College London
UK
Dyson Robotics Lab: Visual SLAM, dense mapping, robot learning. Robot Intelligence Lab: Various robotics and AI research.
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/dyson-robotics-lab/
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)
USA
Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) Lab (incorporating SAIR - Stanford AI Research is likely a typo, should be Berkeley AI Research): Robot learning, SLAM, perception, manipulation, deep learning for robotics.
https://bair.berkeley.edu/
University of Cincinnati
USA
Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Systems Lab (IRAS): Multi-robot collaboration, human-robot interaction, swarm robotics.
https://ceas.uc.edu/research/centers-labs/intelligent-robotics-autonomous-systems.html
University of Tokyo
Japan
JSK Laboratory (Jouhou System Kougaku Lab): Humanoid robotics, AI, life support robotics. Various other labs across engineering and information science.
https://www.jsk.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
USA
Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (IRIM): Broad research in mobile manipulation, HRI, AI, bio-inspired robotics, control.
https://robotics.gatech.edu/
University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
USA
GRASP Laboratory (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception): Legged locomotion, aerial robotics, manipulation, vision, machine learning.
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