University of Toronto’s hub for multidisciplinary robotics research and innovation

Located in downtown Toronto, in the heart of Ontario’s innovation supercorridor, the University of Toronto Robotics Institute is headquarters of the largest and most diversified robotics program in Canada.

ROBOTICS TRAILBLAZERS

SPOTLIGHT ON ANDREW GOLDENBERG

In 1982, Professor Emeritus Andrew Goldenberg became the first robotics professor at the University of Toronto’s Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering. Goldenberg would go on to become a robotics trailblazer in academia and industry and drive robotics breakthroughs in research, development and job creation.

Learn more about Goldenberg's leadership in robotics teaching, research and innovation »

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INsauga: Students explore latest in AI-robotics at University of Toronto Mississauga

From surgical robotics to self-driving vehicles—the University of Toronto Mississauga displayed the latest AI-robotics research this month.

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3 robots that turned heads at the 2025 Toronto Robotics Conference

From the OR to outer space, the conference spotlighted how UTM researchers are building intelligent machines to solve real-world problems

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‘Robotics as a field has never been more exciting’: Professor Tim Barfoot named new director of the University of Toronto Robotics Institute

Tim Barfoot, a global expert in autonomous systems, will lead the Robotics Institute for the next five years

Field Robotics

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Navigating unknown environments

Professor Tim Barfoot’s (UTIAS) Autonomous Space Robotics Lab develops visual odometry and teach-and-repeat strategies to guide robots in unknown environments.

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Robots that see & understand

Professor Steve Waslander’s (UTIAS) TRAIL Lab designs deep learning and computer vision principles to help autonomous vehicles detect objects and estimate their dimensions, orientation and pose.

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Learning from experience

Professor Angela Schoellig’s (UTIAS) Dynamic Systems Lab uses controls and machine learning to enable mobile robots to learn from past experience and from each other.

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Power-on-and-go

Professor Jonathan Kelly’s (UTIAS) STARS Lab designs robust systems that can operate safely and robustly from day one, without human intervention.

Healthcare Robotics

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Cellular-level surgeons

Professor Yu Sun’s (MIE) Advanced Micro and Nanosystems Lab generates AI-powered micro- and nano-sized robots to revolutionize cancer research and clinical cell surgery.

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Robot companions

Professor Goldie Nejat’s (MIE) Autonomous Systems and Biomechatronics Lab uses assistive and social robots to help people age in place, and support them in hospitals and long-term care facilities.

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Stroke rehab

Professor Alex Mihailidis’ (IBBME) Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Lab creates light-weight and easy-to-use robotic glove that improves hand function in stroke survivors.

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Stretchable e-skin

Professor Xinyu Liu’s (MIE, IBBME) Microfluidics and BioMEMS Lab develops flexible and stretchable electronic components, circuits and biosensors for soft robotic systems.

Advanced Manufacturing

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Smart materials

Professor Hani Naguib’s (MIE, IBBME) SAPL Lab develops smart material that can sense its environment and respond by changing into shapes it has been programmed to remember.

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Tiny robot factories

Professor Eric Diller’s (MIE) Microrobotics Lab develops tools and techniques for accessing small and confined environments.

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Jointless robots

Professor Jessica Burgner-Kahrs’ (CS) Continuum Robotics Lab develops snake-like robots that can traverse confined spaces, manipulate objects in complex environments, and to conform to curvilinear paths in task space.

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From objects to data

Professor Yu Sun’s (MIE) Advanced Micro and Nanosystems Lab creates robotics systems and 3D vision algorithms that can inspect auto parts, identify defects, and quickly improve quality control.

We offer undergraduate and graduate students unparalleled opportunities to expand their robotics knowledge

We support the U of T Engineering undergraduate studies minor in Robotics & Mechatronics, an Engineering Science Major in Robotics, and a graduate studies emphasis in Robotics & Mechatronics. Our comprehensive course offerings prepare students to launch their careers or further their research studies in this growing field.

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