Artificial Intelligence Robotics and Control Systems Laboratory (AIRoCS)

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence


ROB-701 : Robotic Manipulation & Control
Instructor: Abdalla Swikir · Cesare Stefini When: Fall 2025 (Monday(10:30–11:50), Tuesday(12:00-1:20)) · Room: MBZUAI, Masdar City, Bldg 1B, Classroom 2 · Lecture

This course explores how robot hands manipulate, sense, and learn from in-hand interactions via model-based control, tactile perception, and data-driven learning. Students program goal-directed, highly dynamic dexterous skills by integrating motion/force control, reinforcement learning, and sim-to-real deployment.

Manipulation Control Planning Learning ROS2

ROB-701 : Robotic Manipulation & Control
Instructor: Abdalla Swikir · Cesare Stefini TAs Ashok Kumar Saini When: Fall 2025 (Thrusday(1:00-3:00)) · Room: MBZUAI, Masdar City, Bldg 1B, HPCLab-3· Lab

Students implement and test model-based and learning-based in-hand manipulation on a physics simulator and a dexterous hand platform using tactile and visual feedback. Activities include building goal-conditioned controllers and RL policies, sim-to-real transfer, benchmarking on manipulation tasks, and analyzing performance, safety, and robustness.

Manipulation Control Planning Learning ROS2





  • Collaboration: Discuss ideas; submit your own work and credit collaborators.
  • Late work: 48-hour window with penalty unless pre-approved (see course page).
  • Academic integrity: University rules apply. AI tools allowed only when explicitly permitted; always disclose usage.
  • Accessibility: Contact the instructor for accommodations.
  • Safety: Complete the lab safety briefing before using hardware.

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