Institute for Robotics and Autonomous Systems
What are we doing?
Our Institute of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (IRAS) focuses on the application of machine learning in robotics and automation, as well as the integration of cloud technologies in autonomous robotic systems.
In our state-of-the-art robotics lab, we conduct research and practice on two floors. Our team is integrated by doctoral students, academic staff, and students from various faculties. At IRAS, we aim to promote cross-faculty collaboration to foster the exchange of ideas, drive innovation and establish a collaborative work culture.
Latest news
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How machines learn to see: DeepFrame research project makes artificial intelligence suitable for everyday use
Consortium from industry develops robust AI systems together with Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (IRAS) - training with virtual worlds instead of expensive real data. Read the latest press release now.
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Another victory for HKA at the Upper Rhine Mobile Robotics Challenge 2025
The HKA team triumphs at the Upper Rhine Mobile Robotics Challenge 2025: after intensive weeks of preparation, technical hurdles and a great team effort, the students secured first place.
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Recap of the UR FUTUR Festival 2025 in Strasbourg, France
Together with its partners from the joint research project Interreg Robot Hub Academie, IRAS was represented at UR FUTUR 2025 in Strasbourg to present one of the project results, the >Robotic Compass<.
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A paper from IRAS at ARSO 2025
Our colleague Andreas Zachariae presented his research on robot-assisted rehabilitation at ARSO 2025 in Osaka. At the core: the RoboTrainerAID framework, which leverages AI to enable individualized and adaptive motor training – an important contribution in the context of skilled labor shortages and demographic change.
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Mid-term meeting in the "Interreg Robot Hub" project - Successful consortium meeting at the Rhein Business Center Strasburg
On May 13, 2025, we had our mid-term meeting of Interreg Robot Hub with the sub-projects Robot Hub Transfer and Robot Hub Academie. The consortium met at our partners, the Alsace Eurométropole Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Alsace Eurométropole), in the heart of Strasbourg's old town and presented the results of the last year and a half. The project is fully on track in both areas and is making an enormous contribution to the Upper Rhine region.
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Double victory for HKA at the Upper Rhine Mobile Robotics Challenge 2024
The Upper Rhine Mobile Robotics Challenge 2024 was a complete success for Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences! As the only non-French teams, our students prevailed against strong competition from France and Alsace - and secured both first places.
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With three papers at CASE 2024 in Bari, Italy
At the end of August, part of our team and our colleagues from Proximity were together at CASE2024 in Bari, Italy. There, they presented their various papers and exchanged views with the assembled community on current research issues and challenges and were able to find new inspiration for their own research.
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KATE - Doctoral College on Accessibility Through AI-Based Assistance Technologies
The KATE graduate school is a new cooperative and interdisciplinary graduate school between the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The goal of the doctoral program is to enhance the autonomy and participation of people with disabilities through the use of artificial intelligence-based assistance systems. Currently, two of our IRAS employees are involved in KATE research projects.
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Best Paper Award Runner Up für Gergely Soti
Our research associate, Gergely Soti, wins the Best Paper Award Runner-Up for his article entitled 'Gradient-based Grasp Pose Optimization on a NeRF that Approximates Grasp Success' at 'The 18th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems 2023'. Project: KI5GRob
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IRAS Team at IAS-18
Our research associates Luisa Hornung, Philipp Augenstein, Gergely Soti, Moritz Weisenböhler, and Andreas Zachariae attended the conference 'The 18th International Conference on Intelligent Autonomous Systems' and presented their research results in four publications. Projects: KI5GRob, PeTRA, QualiTED, Tourings
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Publication accepted at IROS
Our research associate Yucheng Tang's article titled 'Reachability-aware Collision Avoidance for Tractor-Trailer System with Non-linear MPC and Control Barrier Function' has been accepted at the renowned IEEE conference IROS. The project associated with this research is PeTRA.
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Robotics with AI support in industrial applications
Impressions from the Innovation Alliance: Latest developments from the robotics research landscape in Karlsruhe. The team from the iRAS research group, led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Björn Hein, demonstrated how robots can be programmed through a grasping task demonstration.
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Dates
Ausstellung / Messe
Upper Rhine Mobile Robotics Challenge 2026 - HKA stellt 2 Teams
Tue, 17.11.2026 bis Wed, 18.11.2026 | 10:00 bis 17:00
Auch in diesem Jahr ist die HKA wieder mit zwei Teams auf der internationalen Upper Rhine Mobile Robotics Challenge im Mulhouse vertreten.
An zwei aufregenden Tagen treten Teams im Bereich der mobilen Robotik in bis zu 6 unterschiedlichen Disziplinen gegeneinander an. Wir sind guter Dinge, dass auch 2026 der erste Platz wieder nach Karlsruhe gebracht wird.