Stanford robotics research dates back more than 50 years. The first Stanford robot, aptly named Shakey, looked like a wobbling tower of computer parts. Over time, designs have grown more slick and sophisticated. Today, Stanford robots include a humanoid deep-sea diver, a gecko-like climber, and a soft robot that grows like a vine.

 

This fall, the new Stanford Robotics Center opened, providing a space for robotics research to continue to blossom at Stanford Engineering. The center includes six bays for testing and showcasing robots, including areas that resemble kitchens, bedrooms, hospitals and warehouses. Stanford Engineering faculty are eager to use the space not only to advance their designs, but to work closer with colleagues. “We will be conducting our research side by side in an open space,” says Karen Liu, a professor of computer science. “We will have more research collaboration, because now we’re neighbors.”

 

This Stanford Engineering article provides a brief glimpse into the work some faculty are doing in this space.