About

From Sayan Mitra - Director, Center for Autonomy

As Director of the Center for Autonomy (CfA), I am delighted to welcome you to Illinois at this exciting moment in the Autonomy Revolution. Advances in AI, sensing, and control are transforming how engineered systems interact with the world. At the Center for Autonomy, our mission is to responsibly push these frontiers while preparing the next generation of engineers and scientists to lead in this era. Building on the tremendous foundation established under the leadership of Professor Geir Dullerud, the Center now stands as a vibrant hub for research, education, and industry engagement.

Our Master of Engineering in Autonomy and Robotics program has already graduated 47 talented students who are now shaping the future at companies such as Tesla, NVIDIA, Caterpillar, xMotors.ai, and Rivian. The program’s accelerated, project-driven structure continues to provide students with the knowledge, technical breadth, and hands-on experience that industry demands. Students are learning and researching in a growing number of state-of-the-art facilities and testbeds. The new Gem 4e autonomous vehicle platform allows safe, repeatable experimentation in autonomous driving research. Our 100' x 60' motion capture system at the Stock Pavilion is one of the largest indoor environments for aerial and ground robotics testing in academia. These facilities position Illinois at the cutting edge of autonomy research and education.

The Center’s facilities and research ecosystem have grown substantially. Current projects in CfA labs span resilient advanced human–robot teaming, and learning-enabled control architectures. Students and faculty collaborate across disciplines, working with real hardware and realistic environments. Our technical staff play a vital role by advising and mentoring professional students, while also training them in the effective and safe use of advanced laboratory equipment.

Whether you are a prospective student, a potential industry partner, or a visitor curious about the future of autonomous systems, I invite you to explore our programs and projects, and to engage with us in building the future of autonomy.

Sayan Mitra

Director, Center for Autonomy