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About

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has established itself as a powerhouse in robotics, artificial intelligence, and human-robot interaction research, blending rigorous engineering with deeply applied problem-solving across some of the most consequential frontiers in modern technology. At the heart of WPI's research identity is a remarkable breadth of expertise—from the mathematics of machine learning to the mechanics of soft, deformable robotic systems—making it an unusually versatile institution for both fundamental and translational inquiry. WPI's contributions to soft robotics have been genuinely field-defining. Pioneering work on fluid-driven soft devices, autonomous soft robotic fish, and fluidic elastomer actuators has collectively garnered thousands of citations, influencing how researchers worldwide design robots that interact safely with humans and fragile environments. This work extends into ocean exploration, wearable systems, and origami-inspired fabrication—demonstrating WPI's commitment to rethinking how robots are built from the ground up. The institution's medical robotics portfolio is equally impressive, with MRI-guided neurosurgical and prostate therapy systems representing high-stakes translations of robotics research into clinical settings, including sustained contributions through the da Vinci Research Kit community. In AI and learning, WPI has made landmark contributions through deep operator learning—most visibly through the highly cited DeepONet framework—alongside foundational work in robot learning from demonstration, reinforcement learning with human guidance, and human motion prediction for collaborative manipulation. These threads converge in WPI's sustained focus on human-robot collaboration, where researchers have built computational models for engagement recognition, early motion prediction, and shared workspace coordination. For prospective students and collaborators, WPI offers a research environment where foundational theory meets urgent real-world application, supported by interdisciplinary labs spanning robotics, AI, and biomedical engineering.