Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (2004)
M.S.E. in Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania (2000)
B.S. in Computer Engineering, Bogazici University (1999)
Volkan Isler joined the Department of Computer Science & Engineering as an assistant professor in 2008. He was promoted to the rank of professor in 2017. His lab, the Robotic Sensor Networks Lab, works on algorithmic foundations of robotics and their applications to agricultural and consumer robots. Isler was named a McKnight Land-Grant Professor from 2010-12 and earned the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award in 2008. Prior to joining the Department, he served as a postdoctoral researcher from 2004-05 at the University of California, Berkeley and was an assistant professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from 2005-08.
Isler’s research focuses on three core areas: robotics (specifically algorithmic foundations and field and service robotics, in particular agricultural automation and consumer robots), computer vision (specifically 3D reconstruction, pose estimation, and mapping), and geometric algorithms (specifically pursuit-evasion games and sensor planning).
Research Division
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence
Current Research
Google Scholar
Robotic Sensor Networks Lab
Ph.D. Graduates
Selim Engin (2022); Minghan Wei (2021); Cheng Peng (2021); Nikolaos Stefas (2020); Wenbo Dong (2020); Patrick Plonski (2019); Pravakar Roy (2019); Narges Noori (2016); Joshua Vander Hook (2015); Nikhil Karnar (2015); Pratap Tokekar (2014); Onur Tekdas (2011); Eric Meisner (2009, RPI; co-advised with Jeff Trinkle).
2012: Institute on the Environment Resident Fellow
2010: McKnight Land-Grant Professorship
2008: National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER Award)
Selected Grants
Agricultural Weed Control Using Autonomous Mowers- Phase 2
Buchanan, E. S., Chaplin, J., Isler, V. I. & Sattar, J.; LEGISLATIVE-CITIZEN COMMISSION ON MN RES; 7/1/19 - 6/30/23
Collaborative Research: NRI: INT: Dense 3D Reconstruction of Dynamic Actors in Natural Environments using Multiple Flying Cameras
Park, H. S. & Isler, V. I.; National Science Foundation; 10/1/20 - 9/30/23
S&AS: FND: Context-Aware Active Data Gathering for Complex Outdoor Environments
Zhao, C. & Isler, V. I.; National Science Foundation; 2/1/19 - 1/31/24
RI: Small: Network Formation for Multi-Robot Systems
Isler, V. I.; National Science Foundation; 9/1/16 - 8/31/22