Professor Sethu Vijayakumar delivered the keynote address at Automatica 2025, the world’s largest trade fair for smart automation and robotics.
His talk, “From Automation to Autonomy: Machine Learning for Next-Gen Robotics,” was part of the Autonomy and Interaction in Robotics session at the munich_i Hightech Summit, a major highlight of the event.
In his keynote, Professor Vijayakumar emphasized the shift from traditional, rule-based automation to adaptive, learning-driven robotics. He outlined how machine learning is enabling robots to operate more independently, respond to uncertainty, and collaborate more naturally with humans across a range of applications—from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare and autonomous mobility.
“Moving from automation to autonomy is not just a technical shift—it’s a paradigm change in how we design, deploy, and interact with intelligent systems,” he said.
Automatica 2025 brings together global leaders in robotics, AI, and smart manufacturing, showcasing the latest innovations driving the future of human-machine collaboration. Professor Vijayakumar’s talk positioned the UK as a key player in advancing safe, reliable, and intelligent robotic systems.
Professor Vijayakumar Joins Panel on AI-Powered Robotics
Professor Vijayakumar took part in a key panel discussion, hosted by the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG). The panel, titled "Science and Engineering of AI-Powered Robotics - Bridging Research Gaps" addressed the challenges of translating advanced AI robotics research into practical engineering solutions.
During the session, Professor Vijayakumar emphasized the need to close the gap between innovation research and real-world applications to accelerate the development of intelligent, autonomous robots.
The panel was held on the dedicated RIG stage, which also featured live robot demonstrations and other expert discussions from leading German robotics laboratories. The event highlighted the importance of collaboration across disciplines to drive innovation and ensure responsible deployment of AI in robotics.
Automatica
