Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi), under the EU-funded IRASHUB project, has spearheaded a collaborative effort to enhance robotics education and research in India. Led by Principal Investigator Dr. Jainendra Shukla, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at IIIT-Delhi, this initiative included nine esteemed faculty members from IIIT-Delhi, IIIT Allahabad, and IIIT Hyderabad who participated in a rigorous two-week robotics training program.

The training took place at Università degli Studi di Genova, Italy, and Warsaw University of Technology, Poland, from June 10-21, 2024. Dr. Sanat K. Biswas and Dr. Kalpana Shankhwar from IIIT-Delhi were among the participants. The sessions at the University of Genoa, coordinated by Prof. Fulvio Mastrogiovanni and Prof. Enrico Simetti, covered essential aspects of robotics, such as manipulation modeling, kinematics, dynamics, control, gesture-based robot control, and task motion planning. These areas are critical for the development of advanced robotic systems capable of complex tasks and enhanced human-robot interaction.

At Warsaw University of Technology, the training, hosted by Prof. Teresa Zielinska and Prof. Cezary Zieliński, focused on mobile robotics, robot programming methods, and agent-based robotics systems. These sessions emphasized the creation of autonomous robots that operate efficiently in dynamic environments and collaborate effectively.

Prof. Ranjan Bose, Director of IIIT-Delhi, highlighted the potential of robotics in India, stating, “Robotics holds immense potential for driving innovation and solving real-world challenges in India. This event has been incredibly beneficial in equipping our faculty with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead this transformative journey. We are grateful to our European partners for their support and collaboration in making this training programme a success.”

The training has significantly enhanced the participating faculty’s expertise and laid the foundation for a world-class robotics training program in India. The IRASHUB project aims to emulate successful European models like EMARO and JEMARO, adapting them to the Indian context.

Dr. Jainendra Shukla expressed enthusiasm, saying, “It was an amazing experience to witness the wonderful training facilities and infrastructure available at both partner universities. This exposure has motivated us to develop cutting-edge robotics training programmes in India, leveraging the insights and methodologies we have gained from our esteemed European counterparts. I invite stakeholders from various domains across India to collaborate with us in making India a global leader in robotics.”

The IRASHUB project, supported by 10 partners from five countries, including eight HEIs and one industry partner, aims to advance robotics training and research over 36 months with a budget of 7,97,785 Euros. It represents a significant step forward in enhancing robotics education and research capabilities in India.

The next phase of training will take place at URV, Spain, focusing on Perception and Manipulation, and at TUC, Greece, concentrating on Robot Design and Development. Additionally, the project includes the establishment of three RAS hubs at IIIT-Delhi, IIIT-Hyderabad, and IIIT-Allahabad, equipped with state-of-the-art software and hardware facilities for world-class robotics training.