Robotics

At the intersection of multiple fields, robotics harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to push the boundaries of innovation.

The current trend of robotics focuses on imbuing machines with the artificial intelligence necessary for truly intelligent action within society. These autonomous systems leverage AI algorithms to perceive their environment, interpreting data from sensors embedded in robots, smart buildings (as part of the Internet of Things), and even digital services and information streams. The core of the contributions involves designing and deploying AI that enables these systems to make complex decisions and enact actions toward specific goals, ultimately leading to sophisticated applications like autonomous vehicles, the next generation of smart devices, and versatile social and industrial robots with advanced embodied AI. 

Our research

The School's Robotics and Autonomous Systems group’s research theme, led by Professor Charlie (Chenguang) Yang, centres on groundbreaking robotics and AI research. This interdisciplinary initiative addresses the core challenges in creating intelligent and autonomous robotic systems, driving impactful AI-enabled robotic solutions for diverse applications in industry and society. The research spans across the following research directions:  

Autonomous Systems and Human-Robot Interaction

Developing safe, reliable robotic assistants for domestic, industrial, and emergency applications, with a focus on learning-based interaction, collaborative teamwork, and ethical considerations in robotics. 

Mobile Robotics

Designing adaptable and autonomous systems that integrate sensors, actuators, and control mechanisms to operate effectively in diverse real-world environments. 

Control Systems and Optimization

Advancing digital control and power electronics to enhance system performance, with a focus on energy efficiency, sustainability, and embedded system design. 

Embodied AI

Expanding into Embodied AI, the group explores how artificial intelligence systems interact with and learn from physical environments. Embodied AI combines perception, planning, and action to create intelligent agents capable of adapting to real-world scenarios. These systems excel in applications such as robotics, autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and manufacturing by integrating physical sensory input with computational intelligence. This research includes advancements in adaptive sensorimotor skills, allowing robots to navigate complex environments, and human-robot interaction tools for efficient task execution. 

Chemistry Lab Automation

Collaborating with the Department of Chemistry (Materials Innovation Factory, Stephenson Institute of Renewable Energy), this research area focuses on creating the next-generation of robotic chemists in human-centric labs. Key areas include laboratory skill learning, safety-aware robotic chemists, non-invasive sample monitoring using computer vision, failure detection and recovery, and chemist-robot collaboration. This initiative supports both high-throughput experimentation in materials science, pharmaceutical development, formulation, clean energy and chemical engineering, and heterogeneous processes in early-stage scientific discovery. 

This research theme unites expertise in robotics and electronics to address critical societal challenges through interdisciplinary research, driving progress in automation, green technologies, and intelligent systems. 

Research projects 

UKRI - Robot Learning Bimanual Coordinated Compliant Manipulation: from Experience to Exploration

• Chenguang Yang; Chao Zeng 
• July 24 - January 26 
• https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FZ00117X%2F1 

Royal Academy of Engineering - Upskilling Robotic Scientists for Long-term Laboratory Workflows 

• Gabriella Pizzuto  
• August 2023 - July 2028 
• https://raeng.org.uk/programmes-and-prizes/programmes/uk-grants-and-prizes/support-for-research/research-awardees/research-fellowships-awardees/2023-2028/dr-gabriella-pizzuto 

EPSRC - AI Hub in Chemistry (AIchemy) 

• Gabriella Pizzuto (Co-I, ECR Committee Co-Chair) 
• February 2024 – January 2029 
• https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FY028759%2F1 

Royal Academy of Engineering - Google DeepMind Research Ready Programme 

• Gabriella Pizzuto (PI) 
• June-August 2025 
• https://raeng.org.uk/programmes-and-prizes/programmes/uk-grants-and-prizes/support-for-research/research-ready/

Outputs and impact

• Robot Talk Podcast (launched in September 2020 by the EPSRC UK-RAS Network), where Gabriella Pizzuto talked about intelligent robotic manipulators for laboratory automation. https://www.robottalk.org/2024/11/15/episode-98-gabriella-pizzuto/

• AIchemy took part in Pint of Science 2025 with a sell-out event titled Talk Nerdy to Me: AI Edition. Next, we took a deep dive into the future of chemistry labs with Dr Gabriella Pizzuto, Lecturer in Robotics and Chemistry Automation and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow. In Robot, Run My Lab, she introduced us to the world of Autonomous Chemistry Labs, where robotic scientists are already outperforming humans in key areas. Her talk revealed the real-world challenges of integrating intelligent machines into spaces built for people—and why chemistry’s future might just be robotic. https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/talk-nerdy-to-me-ai-edition 

• Dr. Gabriella Pizzuto is working with colleagues in chemistry to deliver a robotics chemistry interactive demo at the British Science Festival. https://britishsciencefestival.org/event/robo-chemist-meet-your-new-lab-partner/. 

Facilities

• Autonomous Chemistry Lab (Digital Innovation Facility) 
• Franka Research 3 Robots 
• Franka Emika Panda Robots 
• 3D Printer 
• Opentrons (OT2) 
• Smart Lab (Digital Innovation Facility): The SmartLab laboratory hosts multiple collaborative robotic arms from industrial vendors including Universal Robotics (UR5), ABB, Robotiq and KUKA. The team are also experienced in developing state-of-the-art robotic planforms including endovascular robots and soft end-effectors.