Shaping the Future of Human-Robot Collaboration

Oussama Khatib

Director, Stanford Robotics Center

Location: Stanford Robotics Center, Packard Electrical Engineering Bldg, Basement

Abstract

Central to our efforts in robotics is a strong focus on human-robot collaboration — an area

where robotics can profoundly extend human capabilities, especially in environments that are

hazardous, remote, or otherwise inaccessible. By physically distancing humans from danger

while still enabling their skills, intuition, and experience to guide robotic systems, we aim to

redefine the future of work and remote operations. A striking example of this vision is

OceanOneK, a state-of-the-art robotic diver developed at Stanford. Equipped with advanced

autonomous capabilities for physical interaction and a sophisticated haptic/stereovision

interface, OceanOneK allows human experts to intuitively control and collaborate with the

robot in real time. During a series of archaeological expeditions in the Mediterranean,

OceanOneK successfully operated at extreme depths, demonstrating how the fusion of human

cognition and robotic precision can unlock unprecedented exploration and intervention

capabilities. These developments illustrate the powerful synergy made possible through

human-robot collaboration. From accessing new natural resources and delivering medical care

in remote regions, to maintaining distant infrastructure and executing disaster response in

extreme environments — whether deep underwater, underground, atop mountains, or in space

— robotics research is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Bio: 

Oussama Khatib received his PhD from Sup'Aero, Toulouse, France, in 1980. He is Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Robotics Laboratory at Stanford University. His research in robotics focuses on novel control architectures, algorithms, sensing, and human-friendly designs for advanced capabilities in complex environments. With an emphasis on enabling robots to interact cooperatively and safely with humans and the physical world, these studies bring understanding of human movement for therapy, athletic training, and performance enhancement. This work on understanding human cognitive task representation and physical skills is enabling transfer for increased robot autonomy. With these core capabilities, we are exploring applications in healthcare and wellness, industry and service, farms and smart cities, and dangerous and unreachable settings – deep in oceans, mines, and space. He is President of the International Foundation of Robotics Research (IFRR) and a Fellow of IEEE. He is Editor of the Springer Tracts in Advanced Robotics (STAR) series, and the Springer Handbook of Robotics, awarded the American Publishers Award for Excellence in Physical Sciences and Mathematics. He is recipient of the IEEE Robotics and Automation (IEEE/RAS) Pioneering Award (for his fundamental contributions in robotics research, visionary leadership, and life-long commitment to the field), the IEEE/RAS George Saridis Leadership Award, the Distinguished Service Award, the Japan Robot Association (JARA) Award, the Rudolf Kalman Award, the IEEE Technical Field Award, and the Engelberger Award. Professor Khatib is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.