On Wednesday, 25 June 2025, King’s College London hosted the third London Summer School in Robotics & AI, a free, one-day event supported by the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Jointly organised by King's College London, University College London, and Imperial College London, the summer school combined cutting-edge research talks with hands-on experiences to inspire the next generation of robotics and AI talent.
Held at King’s newly renovated Quad, the event ran from 9:45 am to 7:00 pm and brought together over 40 participants from across the UK and Europe. The audience included A-level students, undergraduates, master’s and PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, software engineers, and faculty members from a diverse range of disciplines.
Inspiring Talks from Leading Researchers
The programme featured talks by world-leading researchers on the latest advances in robotics and AI:
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Dimitrios Kanoulas (UCL): Mobile manipulation and contact-rich locomotion
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Edward Johns (Imperial College London): Efficient learning from demonstrations
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Lorenzo Jamone (UCL): Manipulation without looking
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Maria Bauza Villalonga (Google DeepMind): Learning policies from minimal demonstrations
These sessions offered insights into robot learning, perception, and control, sparking discussions about the opportunities and challenges facing the field of embodied intelligence.
Hands-On Hackathon and Lab Tours
A highlight of the day was the mini hackathon in the afternoon, where participants assembled a desktop robot and a vision-based tactile sensor—starting with just a screwdriver!—and programmed the system to classify and sort objects such as fabric, metal, and plastic for robotic recycling. All four teams successfully completed the challenge that demands their knowledge in tactile sensing, manipulation, and teleoperation.
The lab tour also featured exciting research on prosthetic hand development and robot dexterous manipulation, inspiring participants to explore real-world applications of robotics and AI.
Building the Robotics & AI Community
The summer school demonstrated London’s growing role as a hub for robotics and AI innovation, creating opportunities for students, researchers, and professionals to exchange ideas and develop new skills. With generous support from IEEE CIS, IET, and King’s College London’s Department of Engineering and Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, the event continues to foster collaboration across the robotics and AI community.
Looking Ahead
Now in its third edition, the London Summer School in Robotics & AI has established itself as an annual tradition in the UK robotics calendar. As robotics and AI increasingly shape society, events like this play a crucial role in inspiring and training the next generation of innovators.