The TU Delft Robotics Institute aims at directing the TU Delft’s research towards the field of robotics. The aim of the institute is to introduce new and original robotics technologies that will enable humans and robots to work together in uncontrolled, unpredictable, real-life situations outside of the controlled industrial environment.
In order to achieve this they coordinate and perform research involving multiple academic disciplines to address all the aspects of modern robotics, including the non-technical aspects.
Both the hard* and the soft* robot disciplines are very well established at the university which makes TU Delft the leading center for robotics research in the Netherlands. By combining these disciplines into one central Institute the research will be very efficient, resulting in reliable and productive robot systems.
Examples of areas of expertise are human-robot interaction, cybernetics, machine learning, bio-inspired robot design, functional decomposition, spatial presence and autonomous control.
The institute has chosen to structure their research around three major research themes:
Since the main objective of the TU Delft Robotics Institute is to use their knowledge infrastructure to achieve more in the field of robotics, the institute participates in a series of joint activities with companies and other universities, including joint research, collaborative experimental infrastructure, joint exposure at a national and international level as well as coordinated project proposals and joint platforms for industrial collaboration.
* Explanations:
‘hard’ robot disciplines : mechatronics, artificial intelligence, embedded systems, control, etc.
‘soft’ robot disciplines : man-machine systems, user interaction, architecture and living environments, ethics, etc.
