Robot Learning (FRI I)

Spring 2026
 

Course Description

Currently, most robots are programmed by experts in a controlled setting. For robots to do meaningful work in human environments, we must develop autonomous systems capable of learning from their experience, and learning from people. Robot learning research seeks to bring to bear modern machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms on problems in robotics, integrating learning with classical techniques in perception, planning, and control. This course will provide an overview of fundamental robotics and machine learning concepts and survey modern robot learning research.

The course is part of an effort to build a community of undergraduate researchers in the Robot Interactive Intelligence (RobIn) Lab directed by Professor Roberto Martín-Martín.
Course Time and Location
Time: Tue/Thu 3:30 to 5pm
Location: WEL 3.310

Online Platforms
Ed Discussion
Canvas
Gradescope

Instructor

Junhong Xu
OH: Mon 3:00pm - 4:00pm,
Office: GDC 3.432
Email: jh.xu [at] utexas.edu

Peer Mentors

Anikait Gupta
OH: Friday 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: AHG 1.220
Kevin Nguyen
OH: Monday 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: AHG 1.220
Ayaan Sunesara
OH: Tuesday 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Location: AHG 1.220
Arnav Balaji
arnavbalaji21 [at] utexas.edu
OH: Thursday 11:00am - 12:30pm
Location: AHG 1.220
Daniel Lam
OH: Wednesday 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Location: AHG 1.220
Eric Zazovsky
OH: Friday 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Location: AHG 1.220
Sriniket Ambatipudi
asriniket [at] utexas.edu
OH: Monday 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Location: AHG 1.220
Rahul A Iyer
rai396 [at] utexas.edu
OH: Wednesday 10:00am - 11:30am
Location: AHG 1.220

Learning Objective

As part of the Freshman Research Initiative, this course aims to provide students with an introductory experience to robotics research. Through this course, students will:

  • Learn basic elements of robotics like rigid body kinematics and motion planning.
  • Gain a basic understanding of machine learning from linear regression to Transformers.
  • Apply these concepts in projects spanning the modern robotics stack.

Credits

This course is presented by Ben Abbatematteo in conjunction with Professor Roberto Martín-Martín as part of the Freshman Research Initiative. The course takes inspiration from Justin Hart's Autonomous Robots FRI stream.