From 20th-24th July, 2026, UK RAS STEPS supported five RAS Research Technical Professionals to attend the prestigious Imperial Robotics Summer School at Imperial College London.

The summer school provides an intensive, immersive learning experience designed to bring together emerging researchers, academics and industry professionals from across the robotics community. Over the course of the week, participants engage with a programme that combines expert-led lectures, hands-on project work, laboratory visits and networking opportunities with leading figures in robotics research.

The educational programme covers a broad range of core robotics topics, including robot kinematics, sensing and control, robot learning, and human-robot interaction. Researchers also gain exposure to cutting-edge developments through specialised lectures on areas such as aerial robotics, robot intelligence, surgical robot vision, bio-inspired sensing and control, autonomous systems, and personal assistive robotics.

A key feature of the summer school is access to Imperial’s renowned robotics research facilities. Participants can explore laboratories spanning adaptive and intelligent robotics, aerial robotics, robotic surgery, human robotics, manipulation and touch, and assistive robotics, providing valuable insight into the latest research infrastructure and technologies.

The programme also places a strong emphasis on collaborative learning through week-long group projects. This year’s projects challenged participants to tackle real-world robotics problems, including developing intelligent locomotion for quadruped robots, advancing vision-based robot learning, integrating tactile sensing into robotic manipulation, designing social robot interactions, and exploring robotics applications in healthcare and wellbeing.

For the five RTPs supported by UK RAS STEPS, attendance offers an opportunity not only to deepen their technical knowledge but also to build lasting connections with fellow researchers from across the UK and beyond. These experiences play an important role in developing future leaders in robotics and autonomous systems, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthening the wider RAS research ecosystem.

By funding participation in initiatives such as the Imperial Robotics Summer School, UK RAS STEPS continues to invest in RTP development, helping our network members access high-quality training, broaden their professional networks, and engage with the latest advances shaping the future of robotics.

As the summer school concludes, we look forward to hearing more from the funded RTPs about the knowledge, skills and collaborations they will bring back to their respective RTP communities.