Robotics Laboratory Opens at HSE University

© HSE University

A new project-based learning robotics laboratory has been established at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science. Its creation stemmed from a robotics group formed at the faculty in 2021 on the initiative of alumni. The laboratory's activities will focus on developing autonomous robots capable of operating in complex and dynamic environments.

Work on educational projects will also continue, including a simple robot for testing control algorithms (CartPole), a model vehicle (Truck) capable of navigating indoors in autopilot mode, and a manipulator robot (Mr. Handy) designed to play table tennis.

Andrey Bondarev, head of the Robotics Laboratory, believes its opening is a significant step in addressing modern challenges in high-tech fields. ‘To work effectively in industry and academia, it is essential to combine theoretical knowledge in mathematics, programming, and machine learning with specialised skills that can only be developed through experience in real-world projects. The creation of this laboratory will provide students with an opportunity to gain these skills and give a boost to their professional development,’ he said.

Andrey Bondarev

The laboratory plans to collaborate closely with industrial and technological partners in the fields of autonomous transportation, warehouse robotics, and general-purpose robots. Additionally, Andrey Bondarev emphasised that the laboratory will actively participate in HSE's educational processes. This includes creating specialised and optional courses on topics such as dynamic systems control, navigation and planning for mobile robots, reinforcement learning, and the basics of digital electronics. According to Andrey Bondarev, these courses will be beneficial for those who want to try their hand at robotics but have not yet explored the field. They will help students understand whether they are genuinely interested in this area and want to pursue it further. ‘In the near future, we will also focus on attracting new experts and researchers to the laboratory, which will allow us to more evenly distribute the mentoring workload for students,’ he added.

Talking about long-term goals, Andrey Bondarev noted that one of the laboratory's key objectives is to create a walking robot, a popular field in modern robotics. To achieve this, research will focus on control algorithms for dynamic systems, environmental perception, navigation, and motion planning. However, he added that the laboratory staff would approach this goal gradually, building expertise and studying the necessary technologies along the way. The educational projects—CartPole, Truck, and Mr. Handy—will help in this process. These relatively simple tasks, concentrated in specific areas, will make it easier for students to immerse themselves in robotics.