Autonomous Mobile Robots

Join this once-in-a-lifetime lecture to explore the forefront of autonomous mobile robotics, under the leadership of a visionary researcher dedicated to making robots that not only move—but understand and adapt in human-centered spaces. Seats are limited—don’t miss out!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with cutting-edge developments in autonomous mobile robotics guided by an esteemed expert in the field! Why this lecture matters:

• It offers a rare deep dive into state-of-the-art methods driving autonomy—from perception to mapping, state estimation to semantic understanding.
• Led by Unite! Prof. Tomas Kucner (from Aalto University), whose pioneering work in dynamic, human-aware robot navigation is transforming how robots operate alongside people.

Course Highlights

• Robotic locomotion
• Sensing and perception
• State estimation (Bayesian foundations)
• Localization (with and without infrastructure)
• Mapping & SLAM
• Graph‑SLAM (frontend & backend)
• Semantic mapping
• Mapping in dynamic environments
• Time-dependent maps
• Neural representations

Interactive elements include simulation-based assignments, weekly sessions, and peer feedback loops.

Learning Goals

By the end of the course, participants will:

• Grasp robust theoretical foundations in mobile robotics.
• Apply cutting-edge perception, mapping, and navigation techniques.
• Tackle real-world design challenges through practical projects.
• Present their own design-driven research as part of course evaluation.

Recommended Background

• Linear Algebra
• Probability Theory
• Programming (Python and/or C++)
• Sensor Fusion knowledge

Target Audience

Open to students in:

• M.Sc. Autonomous Systems and Robotics
• M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• M.Sc. Informatik
• M.Sc. Computer Science, for specializations Data Science and Engineering and Visual Computing (specialization)
• B.Sc./M.Sc. computer science electives (AI, Visual & Interactive Computing, Robotics, Computational and Computer Engineering)

Practical Information

• Format: Lecture + exercises, with hands-on simulation and project work
• Assessment: Individual design project presentation plus simulation-based tasks
• Capacity: 80 students total, divided into smaller seminar groups (20 each)
• Alignment with Sustainability: Yes (course contributes to SDG-relevant fields)

About the Lecturer: Unite! Prof. Tomas Kucner

Unite! Prof. Tomasz Piotr Kucner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation at Aalto University, specializing in mobile robotics with a focus on enabling safe and efficient autonomous systems in dynamic, real-world environments. His research prioritizes the integration of high-level cognitive awareness and implicit human cues into robot navigation models. He is prolific author of over 40 peer-reviewed articles, including recent works on trajectory prediction and temporal mapping of dynamics for mobile robots.