The 2026 Robotics Summer School will run from the 20th - 24th July.
Foundational Lectures
Our foundational lectures bring together experts from across Imperial to provide a unique introduction to core topics in robotics.
Foundational Lectures
Fundamentals of Robot Kinematics
Prof Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena & Prof Thrishantha Nanayakkara
Fundamentals of Interaction, Sensing & Control
Dr Ad Spiers, Dr Enrico Franco & Prof Etienne Burdet
Fundamentals of Robot Learning
Dr Edward Johns & Dr Antoine Cully
Specialised Lectures
Our specialised lectures explore the latest research, key challenges, and emerging opportunities in diverse research fields.
This year's specialised lecture series features:
- Human robot interaction - Dr Nicole Salomons
- Aerial robotics - Dr Sophie Armanini
- Control for autonomous robots - Dr Johannes Kohler
- Bio-inspired Sensing & Control - Prof Holger Krapp
- Surgical Robot Vision - Dr Stamatia Giannarou
- Robot intelligence - Dr Petar Kormushev
- Personal Assistive Robotics - Prof Yiannis Demiris
Lab Tours
Our exclusive lab tours offer behind-the-scenes insights into the latest research tools and facilities. This year, students can choose from tours in the following robotics labs:
Group Projects
Our immersive, week-long group projects give you hands-on experience of robotics. Explore the list of projects on offer below.
Group Projects
Developing Intelligent Locomotion for Quadruped Robots
Adaptive & Intelligent Robotics Lab
Led by Dr Antoine Cully
This project uses learning algorithms to generate walking gaits for quadruped robots. Participants will apply techniques like reinforcement learning or evolutionary strategies to train a simulated robot to walk, then transfer these gaits to a physical robot, addressing the simulation-to-reality gap.
Robotic Conversational AI Engagement for Cognitive Disorders
Biomechatronics Lab
Led by Prof Ravi Vaidyanathan
This project will involve the design and implementation of LLM-powered human-robot interaction on an embodied robot platform to explore cognitive and well-being support of older populations and those affected by cognitive disorders.
Robot-assisted Endomicroscopy Tissue Scanning
Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery
Led by Dr Stamatia Giannarou
Biophotonics techniques such as probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (pCLE) have enabled direct visualisation of tissue at a microscopic level. In this project, a microscopic visual servoing framework will be designed to optimise the quality of pCLE data during robotic tissue scanning.
Interface with Electronic Skin for Personalised HRI
Human Robotics Group
Led by Prof Etienne Burdet
Versatile robotic assistance requires accurate inference of user intent. Tactile e-skins offer a direct modality for capturing high-resolution grasp data. In this project, students will use an interface with electronic-skin (e-skin) to develop personalised human–robot interaction.
Biomimetic Collision Avoidance on a Two-Wheeled Robot
Insect Sensorimotor Control Lab
Led by Prof Holger Krapp
Distance estimation in the context of collision avoidance is a necessary requirement for any autonomous system operating as a single agent or in larger aggregations, e.g. swarms. We use a 2-wheeled robotic platform – a fly-robotic-interface (FRI) – to study distance estimation in biological systems and to demonstrate its performance.
Using Tactile Sensing to Inform Robotic Manipulation
Manipulation and Touch Lab
Led by Dr Ad Spiers
Tactile sensing is a growing field in robotic manipulation, where it can increase task throughput in a variety of applications. In this project students will work to intergrate the outputs of a DIGIT vision-based tactile sensor with the control of a desktop-sized 4-DOF robotic arm with parrallel jaw gripper.
Soft Inchworm Robot for Endoscopy
Mechatronics in Medicine
Led by Prof Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena and Dr Enrico Franco
Inchworm robots utilize a bio-inspired concept, using frictional anchoring and sequential body actuation to enable motion. The projects aims to design and manufacture a soft inchworm robot intended to navigate a surgical phantom of the colon.
Enable a social robot to interact with a group of people
Personal, Assistive, and Intelligent Robotics
Led by Dr Nicole Salomons
Most human-robot interaction studies focus on one-to-one interactions. In this project, students will design and program a robot for it to interact with a group of people.
Vision-Based Robot Learning
Robot Learning Lab
Led by Dr Edward Johns
Robot manipulation is the ability of a robot to physically interact with objects. Although this is such an important ability, it is very difficult to achieve in general. In this project, students will implement and experiment with vision-based robot learning algorithms.
Robotics Inclusive Workshop
In this optional evening workshop, Robotics Inclusive will be hosting an interactive roundtable discussion exploring aspects of inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility: how they relate to each of our experiences and what we can do to improve the state of the robotics field. Everybody is welcome engage thoughtfully with this discussion, whether you consider yourself underrepresented in the field or not.
Robotics Inclusive is a community of students, academics, and professionals who want to see the robotics field become a more inclusive space for people of all backgrounds to participate in. They organise events across the UK which aim to improve the outcomes for underrepresented individuals as they progress in their robotics careers, as well as fostering a community and empowering changemakers.
Programme Fee
The programme fee for the 2026 Robotics Summer School is £1500. This fee covers your full participation in the programme (including tuition, lunches, dinner on Wednesday 22nd, and a drinks reception on Friday 24th), but does not include accommodation or travel costs. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer scholarships this year.
Schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I apply?
- Who can apply?
- What is the programme fee?
- Are scholarships available?
- Is the summer school accredited?
- Can I work whilst attending the summer school?
- Can I attend only part of the summer school, such as just the lectures?
- Is accommodation provided?
- What do I need to bring with me to the summer school?
- Will I receive feedback on my application?
- How do I secure my place?
To apply for our 2026 Summer School, please complete the short application form. We encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible, as places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
While we particularly welcome current and recent postgraduate students, early career researchers and industry professionals, we will consider all applications on an individual basis.
We completely understand that not everyone will be coming in with the same background or level of experience, and that’s okay. Check our eligibility guidelines to understand what type of experience will be beneficial for students attending the Summer School.
Please use the application form to tell us more about your career goals and how this experience might support your journey
The fee for the Imperial Robotics Summer School is £1500. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer scholarships this year.
As the Summer School is only in its second year and we are still establishing our financial position, we unfortunately cannot offer scholarships this year. However, this is something we hope to offer in the future.
No, the Imperial Robotics Summer School is not accredited and does not count towards a formal academic credit. However, we will provide all participants with a certificate of participation upon successful completion of the programme.
Due to the intensive nature of the programme, it is not recommended to undertake employment during the summer school.
The summer school is designed for full participation, including both the lecture series and group projects. Partial attendance is not permitted, as the programme is intended to provide a cohesive and immersive learning experience.
Accommodation is not provided. Participants can book accommodation directly through Imperial's Accommodation service, or arrange their own accommodation off-campus. Please see the accommodation section for more information.
You would need to bring your own laptop to ensure you can complete all aspects of the summer school.
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to offer feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
We aim to notify successful applicants within 3 weeks of receiving their application. You will then be asked to register for the Summer School and pay the programme fee. Please note that your place is not secured until you have completed the registration form and made a payment.