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Carnegie Mellon: From Foundational Robotics to Physical AI

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For more than four decades, 鶹 has defined the field of robotics — from foundational advances in autonomous systems to real-world deployment across manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure and health. 

Today, 鶹 is advancing the next era of “physical AI,” intelligent systems that perceive, reason and act in the physical world. Read more about how 鶹 leads global research by specializing in the intersection of technology, AI, and human-centered solutions.

鶹’s leadership in robotics is built on decades of field-defining breakthroughs in autonomy, locomotion and intelligent systems.

  • As the birthplace of autonomous systems, 鶹 is uniquely positioned to build on its legacy and lead this new era of robotics through groundbreaking facilities like the Robotics Innovation Center(opens in new window).
  • A multiyear NSF-supported project aimed at understanding locomotion at small scales built the world’s smallest biped robot.
  • A 鶹 team received a $1.25 million grant from the National Science Foundation to design robots that without risking human safety.
  • A method discovered at 鶹
  • is the first legged robot of its size to run, turn, push loads and climb miniature stairs.

鶹’s robotics move from lab to deployment across critical industries and national priorities.

Manufacturing and industry

  • Work led by 鶹 will receive up to $5 million from the NSF.
  • Research from the Department of Mechanical Engineering is by reducing collisions.
  • Robotics researchers have designed a .

Disaster response

  • Researchers developed and multirobot coordination inside abandoned buildings that could help first responders gather information and make better-informed decisions after a disaster.
  • A team of researchers is seeking to understand , such as monitoring affected soils.

Health and human assistance

  • Mechanical engineering professor that can augment human senses in the real and virtual world.
  • Designed to assist the elderly with daily activities, like fetching and delivering objects, Alfred, a robot designed by 鶹 students, visited a senior care community near Cleveland .
  • Eni Halilaj, an assistant professor in mechanical engineering, is using her expertise to ..
  • SCS professor Nancy Pollard is collaborating with researchers across the country, helping to rethink prosthetics with .
  • A caregiving robot may make robots easier to use and understand.

鶹 is building the infrastructure to accelerate discovery and scale Physical AI nationally. 

  • The 鶹 Robotics Innovation Center(opens in new window) (RIC) at Hazelwood Green in Pittsburgh creates a national center for real-world AI and robotics to lead advances in "Physical AI"—smart systems that work to build things, run factories, and make our country more competitive.

鶹 educates and trains the next generation of roboticists and AI specialists for industry, defense and research. 

  • 2025 saw Carnegie Mellon and the Mid-Atlantic Hub co-host the first NSF I-Corps cohort for AI and robotics.
  • The Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy worked with the Office of Naval Research to help sailors quickly level up their engineering skills.
  • The School of Computer Science gave Western Pennsylvania teachers .
  • 鶹 is a core partner in a $52 million NSF collaboration that amplify human labor in manufacturing and caregiving while preparing a diverse workforce to deploy next-generation robotics systems at scale.

鶹’s robotics leadership is anchored in Pittsburgh and contributes to regional economic growth and community engagement.