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Center for Autonomy
Enabling high-impact research in autonomous system design
About
The Center for Autonomy (CfA) is Illinois's interdisciplinary hub for autonomy and robotics research and education in the Grainger College of Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The CfA houses the Master of Engineering in Autonomy and Robotics, manages a number of robotics labs, fosters community, and helps incubate high-impact research endeavors.
From self-driving cars to intelligent robotic assistants to remote surgical systems, autonomous technology will revolutionize the way we live, work, and play. In order to enable this revolution, however, advancements in foundational research and workforce development must first take place to provide assured and certified-safe performance.
Application areas include:
UPCOMING & RECENT EVENTS
Industrial Research at Amazon Robotics
Friday, October 16, 2026
2:00pm Central Time
Zoom Event
Speaker: Xupeng Zhu and Fan Wang (Amazon Robotics)
Interest in automated warehouses with robots has risen with the surge in E-commerce. Modern warehouses operate continuously, managing large and variable order volumes, and overseeing millions of unique items. With advancements in deep learning and enhancements in robotic hardware and sensing technologies, the industry has seen a rise in the adoption of high-speed and reliable robotic platforms for warehouse operations. Notable examples include Amazon's Sparrow and Robin robotic platforms. The latter, for example, managed an impressive 10 billion packages globally. In this presentation, we will delve into Amazon's approach to warehouse automation, showcasing our diverse range of robotic solutions. We will also offer insights into the process and challenges of conducting research within the industrial domain. To conclude, we will discuss some of our notable research and innovations that have been recognized through publications in leading robotics conferences.