VRAS – Vision for Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Vision for Robotics and Autonomous Systems (VRAS)

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Open positions

We are opening several PhD and PostDoc positions during 2024. Topics:


Requirements

For PhD students: Excellent grades, experience in the relevant fields, good programming skills.
For PostDoc positions: We seek highly motivated applicants with a PhD in robotics, AI, or related fields and a proven track record relevant to the topic – publications in top journals or conferences (e.g. computer vision (CVPR/ICCV/ECCV), machine learning (NeurIPS/ICML), or robotics (ICRA, IROS, RSS, CoRL).


How to apply

Please send your application or inquiries to Ms. Petra Ivaničová (ivanipet@fel.cvut.cz) with “VRAS – Open positions” in the subject and include the following, preferably in a single pdf file:

  • CV
  • Full publication list
  • Motivation letter
  • List of at least two referees, PostDoc applicants, add at least one recommendation letter to the package
  • PhD applicants: your most interesting research paper and your master thesis (if applicable)
  • PhD applicants: transcript of grades of master/bachelor

The positions are open until filled.


Prague

There is currently a very lively international ecosystem in the areas of robotics and AI – at the Department and in Prague in general. See, for example, prg.ai and the Practical Guide
Prague was TripAdvisor’s #7,#8, and #11 world’s top destinations in the years 2017-19. Beautiful mountain landscapes and historic cities are within reach. Owing to Czechia’s Schengen-area membership, numerous exquisite European destinations can be reached from Prague with no border restrictions or delays.

We are interested in machine learning for robot perception. We research algorithms that map RGB, depth, Lidar, and thermal data onto robot behavior. We work with outdoor tracked robots, humanoid robots and also collaborate with automotive – autonomous cars.

We are always looking for strongly motivated Ph.D. students as well as undergraduate students. We often have an opening for post-doc positions. If you are interested in what we are doing and want to join us, send us your resume to Tomas Svoboda.

The group is also a part of Center for Machine Perception, CMP, and involved in Center for robotics and autonomous systems, CRAS. Humanoid and cognitive robotics group also belongs to us.

Group related news, demos.

github/ctu-vras, VRAS YouTube channel, VRASleaflet.pdf



http://cyber.felk.cvut.cz/vras

Group members:
NameTeamRank Phone Office email position
Agishev Ruslan MSc. VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 5757 E225B 09
Bauerová Justýna VRAS External 20
Ing. Brož Bohumil VRAS External 20
Cachová Johanka VRAS External +420 775986645 20
Ing. Cvrček Vojtěch VRAS External +420 22435 5732 G103 20
Ing. Číhala Valentýn VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 5757 E227 09
D´Angelo Giulia Ph.D. VRAS Researcher +420 22435 7576 E220 08
Bc. Fiala Ondřej VRAS Bc/Mg. student 19
Gama Filipe VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 7609 E209 09
Bc. Grasland Jehanne VRAS Research Fellow 11
Ing. Himmel Bedřich VRAS Researcher +420 22435 7391
+420 602252337
E225B 08
doc. Mgr. Hoffmann Matěj Ph.D. VRAS Associate professor +420 22435 7387 E211 06
Hrynevich Yana VRAS External 20
Bc. Chalupníková Tereza VRAS External 20
Chen Haofeng Ph.D. VRAS Researcher 08
Khoury Jason MSc. VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 7609 E209 09
Kolembusová Bianka VRAS External +420 421948770108 20
Lehmann Hagen Ph.D. VRAS External 20
Marcel Valentin Ph.D. VRAS Researcher +420 22435 7576 E220 08
Mgr. Moravec Jaroslav VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 7344 G103 09
Muzikář Matthew VRAS External 20
Patni Shubhan Parag MSc. VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 7583 E209 09
Mgr. Pecka Martin Ph.D. VRAS Researcher +420 22435 7269 E225B 08
Ing. Rozlivek Jakub VRAS Internal PhD student +420 22435 7576 E220 14
Ing. Rustler Lukáš VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 7576 E220 09
Ing. Straka Zdeněk Ph.D. VRAS External +420 22435 7583 E209 20
Prof. Ing. Svoboda Tomáš Ph.D. VRAS Full Professor +420 22435 7448 E226 02
doc. Ing. Šára Radim Dr. Tech. VRAS Associate professor +420 22435 7203 G103A 06
Ing. Šíp Roman VRAS Researcher 08
Tcaci Popescu Sergiu Ph.D. VRAS Researcher +420 22435 7576 E220 08
Ing. Tichý Tomáš VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 7391 E225B 09
Ing. Vacek Patrik VRAS Researcher and Internal PhD +420 22435 5757 E227 09
Bc. Walzová Lucie VRAS External 20
doc. Ing. Zimmermann Karel Ph.D. VRAS Associate professor +420 22435 5733 E226 06

Videos

More at VRAS YT Channel, and group’s YT Playlist

Demos

Learning for Active 3D Mapping

Paper of authors K. Zimmermann, T. Petricek, V. Salansky, and T. Svoboda was accepted as oral presentation at ICCV 2017! We propose an active 3D mapping method for depth sensors, which allow individual control of depth-measuring rays, such as the newly emerging solid-state lidars. The method simultaneously (i) learns to reconstruct a dense 3D occupancy …read more

Non-rigid object detection with local interleaved sequential alignment

The successively evaluated features used in a sliding window detection process to decide about object presence/absence also contain knowledge about object deformation. We exploit these detection features to estimate the object deformation. Estimated deformation is then immediately applied to not yet evaluated features to align them with the observed image data. In our approach, the …read more

Data fusion for localization and mapping

We design and evaluate a data fusion system for localization of a mobile skid-steer robot intended for USAR missions. We exploit a rich sensor suite including both proprioceptive (inertial measurement unit and tracks odometry) and exteroceptive sensors (omnidirectional camera and rotating laser rangefinder). To cope with the specificities of each sensing modality (such as significantly …read more

Adaptive traversability

Adaptive traversability we understand by means of autonomous motion control adapting the robot morphology—configuration of articulated parts and their compliance—to traverse unknown complex terrain with obstacles in an optimal way. The robot measures its state (like: orientation angles, flipper mode, …) and the terrain (digital elevation model). We learn the optimal policy from loosely annotated …read more

Robot dogs and humanoids from FEE on Czech television

Sorry, this entry is only available in Česky.

Patrik Vacek defended his Ph.D. thesis

Patrik Vacek successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis: Improving 3D perception from Unlabeled Data  and was awarded the Ph.D. title in the Artificial Intelligence and Biocybernetics doctoral study program. Supervisor: prof. Ing. Tomáš Svoboda, Ph.D. Supervisor specialist: doc. Ing. Karel Zimmermann, Ph.D. Congratulations!

Matěj Hoffmann´s comments on the new model of Humanoid robot by Figure AI

The content of the news is only available in Czech at Seznam zprávy at this link

Succes in the Czech Science Foundation GAČR competition for three projects from our department

The Czech Science Foundation (GACR), the largest Czech grant funding provider for basic research, will fund 357 scientific projects being launched next year in the Standard Projects and POSTDOC INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIP grant schemes. These projects will receive CZK 2,75 billion over the next 3 years. The projects receiving funding cover a wide range of basic …read more

Valentin Marcel became two times world champion in Chessboxing

Congratulations to Valentin Marcel from the Humanoid group, who won his second consecutive world title in Chessboxing. After a very tied confrontation at the World Championship in Italy, Valentin won and defended his title of middleweight category champion (WCBO league). Chessboxing is a sport combining boxing rounds with a game of rapid chess, in alternate, …read more

Robot dogs and drones as part of a security camera system?

The Axis Demoshow meeting for about a hundred security managers and experts from major Czech companies and institutions took place on 21 September 2023 in the premises of the Všetice Farm near Benešov u Prahy. The programme included demonstrations of experimental systems assembled by teams led by Professor Tomáš Svoboda and Associate Professor Martin Saska …read more

Petr Švarný defended his Ph.D. Theses

Petr Švarný successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis Perirobot space representations for safe human-robot interaction Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Matěj Hoffmann, Ph.D. Congratulations!

News report in Nový Prostor about visit to the humanoid lab

Sorry, this entry is only available in Česky.

Martin Pecka and SPOT on Czech TV

Sorry, this entry is only available in Česky.

Discussion about autonomous cars on the Czech radio

Interesting discussion about the challenges of autonomous cars with prof. Tomáš Svoboda, David Hurych /valeo.ai/ and Vladimír Rybecký /Autoweek/ on the Czech radio. The whole record is only available in the Czech language.

Robodog SPOT on TV NOVA morning show

Sorry, this entry is only available in Česky.

Four-legged robot SPOT on a mission to explore the Prague underground

The latest addition to the robot team is the four-legged autonomous SPOT robot from Boston Dynamics with a robotic arm. The RBG camera and a depth sensor are integrated into the gripper, which enables the robot to gather more information and expand utilization. 3D mapping and data gathering in the Prague underground and cooperation with …read more

Vojtěch Šalanský defended his Ph.D. Thesis

Vojtěch Šalanský successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis Robot Learning and Perception in Sensory Deprived Environment Supervisor:  doc. Ing. Karel Zimmermann, Ph.D. Congratulations!

(Česky) Robopsi SPOT provedou středoškolačky a středoškoláky technologiemi budoucnosti

Zájemci o studium elektrotechniky a informatiky na FEL ČVUT budou mít opět příležitost seznámit se s technologiemi, které výrazně ovlivní způsob, jakým budeme pracovat, odpočívat či cestovat v následujících desetiletích. Fakulta elektrotechnická (FEL) ČVUT zpřístupní v pátek 25. února 2022 během dne otevřených dveří svá pracoviště v Dejvicích a na Karlově náměstí. Od autonomně řízených …read more

Interview with Matěj Hoffmann and Karel Zimmermann

Sorry, this entry is only available in Česky.

Christmas Video Success 2021

The Christmas video “Happy Holidays from the Robot Nativity” was very popular in the last days of this year. – on YouTube – almost 17 500 views, 735 likes, 28 comments – on Facebook – more than 16,200 views, reach among 46,000 people, 1,100 positive reactions only (thumbs up, hearts, etc.), 192 shares, 65 comments …read more

Our robots wish everyone a Merry Christmas

An empty lecture hall bathed in blue evening light. Silence reigns, only on the blackboard we see a complex pattern over which is written “Merry Christmas”. Then a Scarab wrapped in Christmas lights walks across one of the tables, soon a robot emerges from behind the door, shrouded in darkness, and the slow strains of …read more

iCub presentation in the Czech media

Sorry, this entry is only available in Česky.

Rector of the CTU awarded medals for extraordinary performances during the coronavirus

Dne 30. listopadu 2021 se uskutečnilo v Betlémské kapli slavnostní předání Medailí k ocenění odborníků ČVUT za mimořádné výkony v době krize. Rektor ČVUT doc. Vojtěch Petráček udělil 106 medailí výzkumníkům a dalším osobnostem, kteří svými inovacemi a osobním či týmovým zapojením přispěli k řešení pandemické situace koronaviru v České republice i v zahraničí. Medaile …read more

Spot, Charlie and Daisy at the Crystal Loupe 2021

The Crystal Loupe – Czech Internet Award is a regular voting of the public and an expert jury, in which the most popular and interesting projects and services of the Czech Internet are selected and awarded. This year’s 16th edition of the award ceremony was hosted also by Prof. Tomáš Svoboda and his robots Charlie, …read more

(Česky) Oslava jubilea. Sto let od vymyšlení robota chystají Češi pokročilé stroje budoucnosti

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Our robots in CT24 studio

All you wanted to know about robotics at our faculty in 15 minutes. https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/10101491767-studio-ct24/221411058031021/ starts around 4:30

(Česky) S umělou inteligencí do virtuální reality aneb Úspěch českých robotů ve světové konkurenci

SPOT appeared on CT 😀 in the new documentary series Futuro

In the new documentary series of Czech Television for children, Professor Tomas Svoboda introduced our SPOT. The report starts at 6:45 min

The CTU-CRAS-NORLAB team in Kentucky took silver in the virtual competition and finished sixth in the real robot competition

The results of the DARPA SubT Challenge finals were announced on Friday 24 September at a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The CTU-CRAS-NORLAB team finished second among the top ten robotics teams in the world in the viral competition, earning a $500,000 prize. “We were mainly focused on the main competition with real robots, …read more

Czech Television reports on the DARPA SubT Challenge final

The final round of the DARPA Subterranean Challenge are held on 24 September 2021 at the MegaCavern underground complex in Kentucky, USA. Check out the report that begins at 13:25 min (premiere on 20. 9. 2021)

Let’s cheer together every day!

The hot days of DARPA Subterranean Challenge have started, let’s cheer together every day!

“Robot Olympics” begins next week in Kentucky

The final round of the DARPA Subterranean Challenge will take place from 21 to 24 September 2021 at the MegaCavern underground complex in Kentucky, USA. Our team travelled to the United States two weeks ago and has been working hard on preparations for the final round. “We are still tweaking and fixing things,” says Prof. …read more

The line-up of humanoid robots has been expanded by iCub

“This is the first robot that has the sense of touch on the whole body,” says Dr. Matěj Hoffmann, Head of the Humanoid robotics group. The iCub importantly extends the existing portfolio of humanoid robots available to the group (two Nao and one Pepper robot), as it is most anthropomorphic – most similar to humans. …read more

Matej Hoffmann and Filipe Gama on IEEE Spectrum

Matej Hoffmann and Filipe Gama presents their research Goal-directed tactile exploration for body model learning through self-touch on a humanoid robot on IEEE Spectrum Watch the video on Youtube

Four-legged SPOT back on Seznam Zprávy

Read another post about SPOT robot on Seznam-Zpravy from 19. 8. 2021

Newspaper Law – supplement Weekend: Robots of Czech scientists compete for millions

The best robots SPOT and DAISY trained rescue work in Bull Rock. In September they want to conquer America

Read the article and listen to the report with interviews with members of the CTU-CRAS-NORLAB teams from 29 June 2021 on ČRo Plus (radio.cz) Czech Radio Plus also broadcast live from the Bull Rock Cave on June 25 – beginning at 15:51:32, link https://program.rozhlas.cz/zaznamy/portal#/plus/2021-06-25 Watch the video on TV Adamov

Drones contrary to bats. How robots trained in the Bull Rock Cave

From 21 to 25 June 2021, the cave complex Býčí skála in the Moravian Karst hosted the preparation of our robotics team for the final round of the DARPA Subterranean Challenge, which will take place from 21 to 24 September 2021 in the United States of America. The purpose of the competition, which is a …read more

Teams of our employees and students best in this year’s Bike to Work Challenge

Employees and students of our department participated under the company profile “CTU in Prague” in this year’s national challenge, which took place from 1 to 31 May and motivated to travel by bike, scooter, on foot or at a trot. Teams of two to five employees and students recorded the kilometres they cycled, ran or …read more

Robots will train in the cave

Next week, a four-legged robot SPOT will step into the Bull Rock in the Moravian Karst for the first time, together with other robotic systems and drones from the team of roboticists from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL) of CTU. In the cave complex, which serves as one of the largest wintering grounds for …read more

Robot SPOT, doc. Zimmermann and Ing. Rouček appeared on Czech Television News

Children were intrigued by an Instagram post about SPOT the robot, so Czech Television filmed a report for Zprávičky 😀 Watch from 0:53

CT 24 set out to walk the four-legged robot SPOT

He overcomes obstacles in difficult terrain, climbs stairs, can wade through mud and water. The four-legged robot SPOT is now available to cyberneticists from the CTU. They plan to improve the American-made device and use it in the finals of a prestigious robotics competition. The Czech team was able to afford the robot thanks to …read more

SPOT on Czech TV

In today’s Studio 6 on CT 1, representatives of the DARPA team Prof. Tomáš Svoboda and Ing. Tomáš Rouček. You can watch the report here, starts at 1:26:30

Capek would be surprised – A robot from CTU will take part in a competition for millions of dollars

Forbes magazine published comprehensively and with great interest about our SPOT robot and participation in the DARPA Subterranean Challenge with this headline. The whole journalist article you can read here Photo Petr Neugebauer, FEE CTU

The four-legged SPOT will fortify the DARPA team

Approximately twenty-member team of robotics CTU-CRAS-NORLAB (Czech Technical University – Center for Robotics and Autonomous Systems – Northern Robotics Laboratory) will set off in the fall to the underground complex MegaCavern in Kentucky, USA to defend third place in the finals of the prestigious DARPA Subterranean (SubT) Challenge, which will take place from 21 to …read more

Robot Spot in media

About the success of our robotics under the leadership of prof. Tomas Svoboda and plans with Spot robot informed the server E 15 , E 15 lI, Seznam Zprávy, feedit.cz, Lupa.cz, Tyden.cz, Parlamentnilisty.cz, czpravy.cz, Barrandov.tv, ČT24, casopisczechindustry.cz, svetchytre.cz, Právo – Trhy a ekonomika, Technickytydenik.cz, vtmzive.cz, nejbussiness.cz, czechcrunch.cz, strojirenstvi.cz

Tomas Svoboda took over the diploma of professorship from the rector doc. Petracek

Prof. Ing. Tomáš Svoboda, Ph.D. took over the diploma of professorship from the rector doc. Vojtěch Petráček. Congratulations! The handover act is on the TV9P record: https://youtu.be/J7u9SHDxLkk?t=304.

(Česky) Humanoidi s umělou kůží na Týdnu mozku

Martin Pecka defended his PhD thesis

Martin Pecka successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis entitled  Safe Autonomous Reinforcement Learning Supervisor: prof. Ing. Tomáš Svoboda, Ph.D. Supervisor-specialist: doc. Ing. Karel Zimmermann, Ph.D. Congratulations!

Profesor Tomáš Svoboda o robotice

Sorry, this entry is only available in Česky.

Call for Humanoids group PostDoc position

The group of Humanoid and Cognitive Robotics coordinated by Dr Matej Hoffmann opens a PostDoc position in the humanoid, cognitive, neuro-, and collaborative robotics research. The topics are in the context of the newly starting 5-year project entitled “Whole-body awareness for safe and natural interaction: from brains to collaborative robots” for excellence in fundamental research …read more

Call for Humanoids group PhD position

The group of Humanoid and Cognitive Robotics coordinated by Dr Matej Hoffmann opens a fully funded PhD position in the humanoid, cognitive, neuro-, and collaborative robotics research. The topics are in the context of the newly starting 5-year project entitled “Whole-body awareness for safe and natural interaction: from brains to collaborative robots” for excellence in …read more

(Česky) Robot 100 aneb Sto rozumů

(Česky) Naše drony a pozemní roboty budou zkoumat jeskynní komplex Býčí skála

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Call for Humanoids group PostDoc position

The group of Humanoid and Cognitive Robotics coordinated by Dr Matej Hoffmann opens a PostDoc position in the humanoid, cognitive, neuro-, and collaborative robotics research. The topics are in the context of the newly starting 5-year project entitled “Whole-body awareness for safe and natural interaction: from brains to collaborative robots” for excellence in fundamental research …read more

(Česky) Členové týmů MRS a VRAS naší katedry připravili spolu s CIIRC ČVUT pipetovací roboty pro testování vzorků na Covid-19

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(Česky) Matěj Hoffmann a Petr Švarný v podcastu Vše o průmyslu

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(Česky) Tým CTU-CRAS získal ceny v soutěži AI Awards za úspěch v mezinárodní robotické soutěži

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Our Roboticists won at the DARPA Subterranean Challenge Urban Circuit among self-funded teams and scored 3rd overall

In the second half of February 2020, ten robotic teams gathered at the nearly-built but unfinished nuclear power plant near Elma, Washington. The robots were sent into the underground maze of the huge concrete-steel in a quest to find and locate predetermined 20 artifacts. Researchers, graduate and undergraduate students of Departments of Cybernetics and Computer …read more

(Česky) DARPA 2020

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Interview with Matej Hoffmann in Control Engineering Czech Republic

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Call for Humanoids group PhD position

The group of Humanoid and Cognitive Robotics coordinated by Dr Matej Hoffmann opens a PhD position in the humanoid, cognitive, neuro-, and collaborative robotics research. The topics are in the context of the newly starting 5-year project entitled “Whole-body awareness for safe and natural interaction: from brains to collaborative robots” for excellence in fundamental research …read more

Call for Valeo.AI-sponsored PhD student/researcher

We open a PhD position in the university environment while being partially supervised by the top-tier researcher from Valeo.AI research group. Show your research to be meaningful by running your codes on the real self-driving car to improve human safety. The position is sponsored by Valeo.AI. WE SEEK CANDIDATES: who are excellent, self-motivated, and willing …read more

Call for Vision for Robotics and Autonomous Systems group´s Positions

Vision for Robotics and Autonomous Systems group (https://cyber.felk.cvut.cz/vras/) seeks one excellent PhD student and one PostDoc on the following fully-funded positions: DARPA Subterranenan Challenge: Cutting-edge research in the autonomous mapping (SLAM) for mobile robotics. We are expanding the team that just won the DARPA SubT challenge to help us to help us to win again! …read more

NEW GACR EXPRO Project

Matej Hoffmann has been awarded the “GAČR EXPRO” project for excellence in fundamental research from the Czech Science Foundation (https://gacr.cz/grantove-projekty-excelence-v-zakladnim-vyzkumu-expro/) for his proposal entitled “Whole-body awareness for safe and natural interaction: from brains to collaborative robots”. The grant will support him and his group for 5 years (2020-2024). As robots are leaving safety fences and …read more

Success of CTU-CRAS’ robots in US in Main evening news, Czech TV

It doesn’t happen every day that you appear in the main evening broadcasting at Czech TV (Česká televize). It does for example when you win DARPA SubT Challenge among self-funded teams. Amazing success of ČVUT FEL team CTU-CRAS formed by our teams Multi-robot Systems (Martin Saska) and Vision for Robotics and Autonomous Systems (Tomáš Svoboda) and colleagues …read more

Karel Zimmermann received Dean’s Award for Teaching

Doc. Ing. Karel Zimmermann, Ph.D., received the Dean’s Award for teaching in the academic year 2018/19 for the course Robotics Vision. Teachers are awarded for teaching results based on the recommendation of the Dean’s Committee. The committee decision is based on the results of the students´ verbal survey, suggestions of the heads of departments, and …read more

CTU-CRAS from the Department of Cybernetics Won the Darpa Subterranean Challenge Tunnel Circuit Among Non-Sponsored Teams and Took the Overall 3rd Place

The DARPA Subterranean Challenge Tunnel Circuit took place in Pittsburgh, USA on 15-22 August. A team of CTU-CRAS scientists and students from the Department of Cybernetics and Computer Department of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague demonstrated a multirobotic system for searching the areas affected by the disaster. CTU-CRAS …read more

Tracked vehicle simulation model for Gazebo

The VRAS group has successfully helped the global open-source robotics community by implementing the first plausible simulation model of tracked vehicles. The model has just been made available to everyone as part of the Gazebo simulator Among others, it will help the CRAS-CTU team in the global DARPA SubT challenge where a team of robots …read more

Dean’s Award for the Dissertation thesis was given to Ing. Vladimir Kubelka, Ph.D.

Dean’s Award for the Dissertation thesis was given to

Ing. Vladimír Kubelka defended his Ph.D. thesis

Ing. Vladimír Kubelka successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis entitled Improving perception and locomotion capabilities of mobile robots in urban search and rescue missions (supervisor: doc. Ing. Tomáš Svoboda, Ph.D., supervisor specialist: Ing. Michal Reinštein, Ph.D.). Congratulations!

Interactive Perception-Action-Learning for Modelling Objects

We are partners in a new European research project (CHIST-ERA call) IPALM – Interactive Perception-Action-Learning for Modelling Objects coordinated by Imperial College London. Matej Hoffmann is the PI for our part. The objective of the project is to develop methods for the automatic digitization of objects and their physical properties by exploratory manipulations. The methods …read more

BODIS – workshop at IROS2018

Matěj Hoffmann is co-organizing a workshop at IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems IROS2018. BODIS: The utility of body, interaction and self learning in robotics.
iCub with associated hand-frame

Human-robot interaction at HRI 2018

Work in collaboration with IIT Genoa and Yale University on Compact real-time avoidance on a humanoid robot for human-robot interaction appeared at the HRI 2018 Conference held in Chicago. [pdf @ arxiv | youtube video]

The little android with a sense of touch

A typical feature of mammals lies in their ability to experience sensations, something that robots are beginning to imitate. With the help of artificial skins and algorithms, our researchers have managed to make a small humanoid robot aware of human contact and even notice if someone is invading his ‘living’ space. The little android with …read more

Ing. Tomáš Petříček defended his Ph.D. thesis

Ing. Tomáš Petříček successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis entitled Coupled Learning and Planning for Active 3D Mapping (supervisor: doc. Ing. Tomáš Svoboda, Ph.D.). Congratulations!

Kuka Innovation Award 2018

Matěj Hoffmann from the group Vision for Robotics Autonomous Systems (VRAS) was a member of the team who won the Kuka Innovation Award 2018, see the video.

The project RobotBodySchema has become a Partnering project of the Human Brain Project

The project RobotBodySchema (or “Robot self-calibration and safe physical human-robot interaction inspired by body representations in primate brains”), investigated by the team of Mgr. Matej Hoffmann, Ph.D., became a Partnering project of the Human Brain Project. Congratulations!

ICCV 2017 talk of Karel Zimmermann

Karel Zimmermann presents at ICCV 2017 paper K. Zimmermann, T. Petricek, V. Salansky, T. Svoboda. Learning for Active 3D Mapping.

Ing. Kubelka presented a rescue mobile robot Charlie in Czech TV

Ing. Vladimir Kubelka, a PhD. student of Artificial inteligence and biocybernetics, presented a rescue mobile robot Charlie, which is involved in project TRADR, and invited the viewers to the “Night of scientists“(in czech only) in Studio 6, a Czech TV morning show. Many thanks for the representation of our faculty!

ENNS Best Paper Award

Zdenek Straka and Matej Hoffmann were awarded ENNS Best Paper Award at 26th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN17) for their paper Learning a Peripersonal Space Representation as a Visual-Tactile Prediction Task.

BMVC 2017 best science paper honourable mention for A. Mukundan, G. Tolias, O. Chum

Arun Mukundan, Giorgos Tolias and Ondrej Chum received the best science paper honourable mention at the British Machine Vision Conference (BMVC) 2017 for their article Multiple-kernel Local-patch Descriptor.

Karel Zimmermann has successfully defended his habilitation thesis

Karel Zimmermann has successfully defended his habilitation thesis Safe Adaptive Traversability with Incomplete Data. Congratulation!

Tomáš Svoboda guest on CT24 on the topic: USA: Shared Autonomous Transport in 13 Years?

Assoc. Prof. Tomáš Svoboda (Vision for Robotics and Autonomous Systems) was a guest on CT24 speaking on the topic: USA: Shared Autonomous Transport in 13 Years? (the interview in Czech language only starts at about 0:15:56).

Humanoid robots learn to sense their body

A 4-page cover story about humanoid robotics in Respekt (a major Czech weekly journal), 16/2017. Matej Hoffmann and Zdenek Straka interviewed and photographed with robots. More robots mentioned in the electronic version of the story. The printed version also available at ihned.cz.

Rescue robot goes to Italy

A rescue ground robot is going to Italy after earthquake. Real deployment event featured in Czech TV main news. Department is collaborating with CIIRC within TRADR project.

New EU project, Enable-S3

Enable-S3 is a large ECSEL-JU project called European Initiative to Enable Validation for Highly Automated Safe and Secure Systems. Tomas Svoboda is the PI of the CTU part. We will closely collaborate with ValeoCZ working on boosting rare data into the learning and testing in automatic driving.

Tomáš Svoboda in DVTV about Autonomous Vehicles

Tomáš Svoboda discussed on DVTV with Martin Veselovský the future of transportation systems and autonomous vehicles (in Czech). Many thanks for successful representation of our department!
Topics for Bachelor and Master students


BP,SP Aktivní učení pro sémantickou segmentaci mračen bodů Agishev Ruslan
DP,BP,SP Antikolizní systém pro tramvaje, snímání vnějšího prostředí. Svoboda Tomáš
BP,SP Aplikace prediktivního kódování pro reprezentaci peripersonálního prostoru Straka Zdeněk
DP,BP,SP Gamifikace a vylepšení interaktivního kiosku s multirobotickým SubT simulátorem Pecka Martin
DP,BP,SP Hluboké učení pro predikci interakce mezi robotem a terénem Zimmermann Karel
DP,BP,SP Měření a modelování sil při kolizi s robotem Hoffmann Matěj
BP,SP Model spikové neurální sítě pro visuo-taktilní integraci Straka Zdeněk
DP,BP,SP Navigace robotu s přihlédnutím k charakteru scény Svoboda Tomáš
DP,BP,SP Odhad traverzability terénu z lidaru Zimmermann Karel
DP,BP,SP Robote, dej přednost v jízdě Svoboda Tomáš
DP,BP,SP Sdružené detekční modely v autonomním řízení Vacek Patrik
BP,SP Strojové učení pro robotickou exploraci Agishev Ruslan
DP,BP,SP Strojové učení pro robotickou exploraci Svoboda Tomáš
DP,BP,SP Transformace pohybových dat dítěte na humanoidního robota Hoffmann Matěj
DP,BP,SP Účení 3D detekce objektů z pohybových reprezentací v Lidaru pro autonomni rizeni Vacek Patrik
DP,BP,SP Vidění pro autnomní řízení vozidel Šára Radim
BP,SP Vylepšení modelu chyb simulovaných senzorů a identifikace parametrů jejich reálných protějšků Pecka Martin
DP,BP,SP Vylepšení mračen 3D bodů pro hluboké učení vkládáním objektů Svoboda Tomáš
DP,BP,SP Vylepšení pohybových schopností robota Spot v simulátoru Pecka Martin
BP,SP Zábavná demonstrace multi-robotického systému Svoboda Tomáš
DP,BP,SP Získání kinematiky pohybu z videí dětí Hoffmann Matěj
DP Vojtěch Volprecht: Accuracy of 3D body pose and shape estimation of infants from RGB and RGB-D data (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2024 OI UI
DP Oleg Baryshnikov: Real-time teleoperation of a robot arm for manipulating self-localization in human participants (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2024 OI SI
BP Jakub Jon: Analysis of State-of-the-Art Quadruped Locomotion Controllers for Use in Simulation (PDF) Pecka Martin 2024 KyR
BP Tomáš Oborný: Design of an API for Simulated Spot Robot (PDF) Pecka Martin 2024 KyR
DP Roman Šíp: Behavioral-Cloning-Based Path Planning for an Autonomous Student Formula (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2024 OI CV
DP Václav Truhlařík: Design and Implementation of a GNSS Simulator Supporting Advanced Simulations of Mobile Robot Motion in Outdoor Environments (PDF) Pecka Martin 2024 KyR
BP Zuzana Jindrová: Gaze Control and Stabilization for a Humanoid Robot Using Neck Joints (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2024 KyR
BP Vojtěch Ježek: 3D Body Pose Estimation of Infants from RGB Images and Videos (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2024 KyR
BP Daria Mikhaylovskaya: Naturalistic Control of Eyes of a Humanoid Robot during an Interactive Game (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2024 OI ZUI
DP Bohumil Brož: Robot Following Human with Limited Visual Contact (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2024 KyR
Dis Patrik Vacek: Improving 3D perception from Unlabeled Data (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2024 EI UIBIO
Dis Zdeněk Straka: Learning peripersonal space representations: From brains to robots (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2023 EI UIBIO
DP Václav Veselý: Design and Construction of an Omnidirectional Base for Student Robotics Platform (PDF) Pecka Martin 2023 KyR
BP Vojtěch Tilhon: Multimodal Detector of Pose and Velocity of Vehicles in General Traffic (PDF) Pecka Martin 2023 OI ZUI
BP Jan Vlk: Autonomous Road Crossing with a Mobile Robot (PDF) Pecka Martin 2023 KyR
BP Ondřej Fiala: Retargeting Infant Movements to Baby Humanoid Robots (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2023 KyR
BP Noemi Vaculínová: Evaluation Framework for Infant 3D Pose Extraction from RGB Images Using RGB-D Cameras and Motion Capture System (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2023 KyR
BP Aleš Kučera: Active Learning for Semantic Segmentation of Point Clouds (PDF) Agishev Ruslan 2023 KyR
DP Tomáš Tichý: Position Control of a Quadrotor with a Hanging Load Using Deep Reinforcement Learning (PDF) Azayev Teymur 2023 KyR
DP Jan Jirman: Robot navigation driven by scene semantics (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2023 OI UI
DP Šimon Pokorný: Motion Feature Self-Supervised Learning in 3D Point Cloud Data (PDF) Vacek Patrik 2023 KyR
DP Tomáš Chaloupecký: Tactile Sensors Based on Graphene Aerogel (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2023 KyR
DP Petr Šebek: Active Learning for Semantic Segmentation in 3D Point Cloud Sequences (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2023 KyR
DP Bohumila Potočná: Automating Spatial Calibration of Whole-Body Artificial Robot Skin Using 3D Reconstruction (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2023 KyR KyR
DP Adam Rojík: Real-Time Teleoperation of a Robot Arm for Self-Contact (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2023 KyR
Dis Petr Švarný: Perirobot space representations for safe human-robot interaction (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2023 EI UIBIO
Dis Teymur Azayev: Robotic control with deep-learned structured policies (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2022 EI UIBIO
DP Jan Dočekal: Close proximity human keypoint detection (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2022 OI UI
BP Aleksandr Barinov: Learning Dynamic System Control on a Data Driven Model (PDF) Azayev Teymur 2022 OI ZUI
BP Jiří Hartvich: Estimating Object Properties Through Robot Manipulation - Dataset and Benchmark (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2022 KyR
BP Vojtěch Bartek: Improving Detection by Exploiting Dynamics in the Lidar Data (PDF) Vacek Patrik 2022 OI ZUI
BP Jáchym Staněk: Machine Learning for Robotic Exploration (PDF) Agishev Ruslan 2022 KyR
BP Jiří Hronovský: Learning a Structured Locomotion Algorithm for Hexapod Robots (PDF) Azayev Teymur 2022 KyR
BP Bohumil Brož: An Entertaining Demonstration of a Multi-Robot System (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2022 KyR
Dis Vojtěch Šalanský: Robot Learning and Perception in Sensory Deprived Environment (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2022 EI UIBIO
DP Jakub Rozlivek: Automating 3D Scanning of Factory Hall by a Mobile Robot (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2022 KyR KyR
DP Lukáš Rustler: Visuo-Haptic Uncertainty-Driven Object Shape Completion (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2022 KyR KyR
DP Maksym Shcherban: Efficient Exploration of Body Surface with Tactile Sensors on Humanoid Robots (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2021 KyR R
BP Jakub Lukeš: Learning the Musical Instrument Amplifier Model with Neural Networks (PDF) Vacek Patrik 2021 OI CS
BP Michaela Cihlářová: Comparison of State-of-the-Art Baselines for Reinforcement Learning (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2021 KyR
BP Michal Pliska: Deformable Object Classification Through Robot Grasping (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2021 KyR
BP Andrej Kružliak: Exploratory Action Selection to Learn Object Properties Through Robot Manipulation (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2021 KyR
BP Šimon Pokorný: Ensemble Detection Models for LiDAR Point Clouds (PDF) Vacek Patrik 2021 KyR
BP Petr Šebek: Weakly Supervised Data Augmentation for LiDAR Based 3D Object Detection (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2021 KyR
BP Adam Rojík: Personal Spatial Zones in Human-Robot Interaction Scenarios (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2021 KyR
BP Bohumila Potočná: Artificial Skin Calibration for a Humanoid Robot: Comparing or Combining “Self-Touch” and 3D Reconstruction from Images (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2020 KyR
BP Jan Švrčina: Online Adaptive Control Using Neural Networks (PDF) Azayev Teymur 2020 KyR
DP Pavel Stoudek: Extracting Material Properties of Objects from Haptic Exploration Using Multiple Robotic Grippers (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2020 KyR R
BP Michal Mareš: Exploratory Action Selection to Learn Object Properties from Haptic Exploration Using a Robot Hand (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2020 KyR
BP Adrián Pitoňák: Application of Predictive Coding for Visuo-Tactile Sensory Integration (PDF) Straka Zdeněk 2020 KyR
BP Jan Dočekal: Traversability Estimation from RGB Images and Height Map (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2020 KyR
Dis Martin Pecka: Safe Autonomous Reinforcement Learning (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2020 EI UIBIO
BP Jiří Štěpanovský: Learning Peripersonal Space Representations Using Spiking Neural Networks (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2019 KyR
BP Maksym Shcherban: Efficient Self-exploration and Learning of Forward and Inverse Models on a Humanoid Robot with Artificial Skin (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2019 KyR
BP Josef Čech: Recognition of Road Traffic Participants in LiDAR Point Clouds (PDF) Šára Radim 2019 KyR
BP Jiří Zacha: Convolutional Neural Networks for Object Classification from LiDAR Data (PDF) Vacek Patrik 2019 KyR
Dis Kubelka Vladimír: Improving perception and locomotion capabilities of mobile robots in urban search and rescue missions (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2018 EI UIBIO
DP Puciow František: Automatic self-calibration from self-observation and self-touch on a dual arm industrial manipulator (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2018 KyR KyR
DP Valentin Jacques: Deep reinforcement learning for autonomous off-road driving in simulation (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2018 KyR KyR
DP Hobza Martin: 3D Semantic Segmentation of RGBD Data with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2018 KyR R
DP Jašek Otakar: Simulating Depth Measuring Sensors for Autonomous Learning and Benchmarking (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2018 OI CV
BP Hollmannová Dita: Simulating Realistic Local 3D Maps from Geometric Models (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2018 OI CS
DP Račinský Matěj: 3D map estimation from a single RGB image (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2018 OI UI
DP Azayev Teymur: Deep learning for autonomous control of robot´s flippers in simulation (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2018 OI UI
BP Chmel Jakub: SW and HW Integration of an IP PTZ Camera onto a Mobile Outdoor Robot (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2017 KyR R
BP Bednárová Naďa: Representation of Proprioceptive Inputs of the iCub Humanoid Robot Using Self-Organizing Maps (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2017 OI CS
DP Vakula Jan: Keypoint Localization and Matching in Difficult Scenes for Visual Odometry (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2017 KyR R
BP Sivák Filip: Analysis of students schedules and checking unusual study plans - collection of web applications (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2017 OI SS
DP Mareš Jakub: Safe Obstacle Traversal with Incomplete Data (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2017 KyR R
DP Šalanský Vojtěch: Contact Terrain Exploration for Mobile Robot (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2017 KyR R
BP Dvořák Filip: Active Contour Model with Landmarks for Image Object Boundary Detection (PDF) Šára Radim 2017 KyR R
DP Hobza Martin: 3D Semantic Segmentation of RGBD Data with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2017 KyR R
BP Zlámal Vít: Virtual Bumper for Tracked Ground Robot from Depth Data (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2017 OI CS
DP Burian Martin: Haptic Terrain Exploration with Robotic Arm (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2017 OI CV
DP Těžký Jiří: Active Victim Detection with RGB-D-T Sensor (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2016 KyR R
BP Jašek Otakar: Detecting Objects for Autonomous System Verification (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2016 OI CS
DP Straka Zdeněk: Modeling multisensory integration for peripersonal space representation using machine learning (PDF) Hoffmann Matěj 2016 OI UI
BP Hrabalík Aleš: 3D Point Cloud Registration, Experimental Comparison and Fusing Range and Visual Data (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2014 OI CS
BP Potoček Pavel: Probabilistic Approach to Landmark Management in Visual Odometry (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2014 KyR R
BP Brabec Jan: Automated Camera Calibration from Laser Scanning Data in Natural Environments (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2014 OI CS
Dis Bujňák Martin: Algebraic solutions to absolute pose problems (PDF) Šára Radim 2013 EI UIBIO
DP Hašek Štěpán: Robust Detection of a Coded Pattern (PDF) Šára Radim 2012 OI CV
BP Derner Erik: Car Detection on a Mobile Robot by Fusing Visual and 3D Lidar Data (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2012 OI CS
DP Zuzánek Petr: Detection of Nearly Linear Objects (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2012 OI CV
BP Sedláček Filip: Free-form Object Detection and Measurement by Using LIDAR and Omnidirectional Camera (PDF) Svoboda Tomáš 2012 KyR R
DP Kváča Jan: High-resolution Object Detection (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2012 OI CV
DP Jirák Luboš: Automatic Evaluation of Computer Vision Algorithms (PDF) Zimmermann Karel 2011 KyR R
Responsible person: Tomáš Svoboda