August 2026 Director Updates

The activities of the Minnesota Robotics Institute (MnRI) revolve around three areas: (a) research, (b) education, and (c) outreach — all of them are interconnected and equally important for MnRI’s mission. A key component of our outreach efforts is our annual summer technology camp. This year’s free event, held in August 2026, had 45 participants in grades 6 through 9th. Our attendees tried a full range of hands-on robotics activities. They built. They programmed. They problem-solved. Then they took the stage to share what they learned. The presentations are always a highlight. 

A big thank you to all the MnRI volunteers who spent countless hours helping with the camp: Akhil Mavallapalli, Ayaan Mohammed, Dhyan Thakkar, Justin Yun, Jyothsna Mysore, Santhosh Kumar, Mohammed Jassim Jahubar Ali, Mohith Siva Sai Bayana, Phineas Koutlas, Rishi Mukherjee, Andrew Ruiz, Rishika Agarwala, Sanju Raveendra Nath, Lalitaditya Divakarla, Tarun Natarajan Mudaliar, and Vaibhava Krishna Devulapalli.  We deeply appreciate their energy and care for the young roboticists. Special thanks are due to our staff members Resha Tejpaul, Nicole Kennedy, and Travis Henderson for organizing this great event. Visit cse.umn.edu/mnri to learn more about our summer programs and read our current news. 

Another important MnRI event is coming up: we host our Robotics Research Showcase on November 6.  This all-day event will take place at two locations on the Twin Cities campus: Shepherd Lab 164 and ME 1130. Faculty, students, and industry partners will attend. The goals are simple. Discover the research. Connect with the people behind it. Experience where robotics is headed next.

The day is packed with events.  Faculty will present research highlights from across MnRI.  Robots will demo live, not just sit on display. Expect to see a range of platforms, including an underwater vehicle built for diving and exploration, a walking humanoid robot, and a rugged outdoor field robot built for rough terrain. Students will present posters on their latest work, and labs will be open throughout the day, so you can tour the places where the research actually happens.

The event also offers career and networking opportunities. The showcase includes dedicated time for industry and career connections, and a networking reception caps off the day. This is a chance for students to meet potential employers. It is also a chance for companies to see MnRI talent up close.

Full program details and registration will be available soon.  Watch for the announcement. This is shaping up to be a big day for robotics at the University of Minnesota.

Nikos Papanikolopoulos
Minnesota Robotics Institute Director