Hello, and welcome!
I am an Associate Professor in Robotics in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW Sydney. I am also Adjunct at Western Sydney University, where I previously served as Director of the Centre for Research in Mathematics and Data Science as inaugural Head of the Department of AI and Data Science.
My research focuses on embodied intelligence and collective robotics, with an emphasis on efficient learning systems for physical and real-world environments. I am particularly interested in data-efficient learning, recurrent and dynamical models, and the interaction between morphology, control, and learning in autonomous systems. Application areas include robotics, sensor networks, smart infrastructure, health, and environmental systems.
At UNSW, my work centres on embodied and collective robotic systems, spanning mobile robots, multi-robot teams, and learning-based control. Further details, including current PhD opportunities and research directions, are available via the Embodied Intelligence and Collective Robotics site:
https://unswei.github.io
Prior to joining UNSW, I led several cross-disciplinary initiatives at Western Sydney University, including research on robotics and smart devices for assisted living. I also served as academic mentor and technical lead for the university’s RoboCup Small Size League team, where we designed, manufactured, and programmed competitive robots using custom hardware, CNC machining, and additive manufacturing.
In 2023, I led the machine learning contribution to SIMPaCT, a large-scale urban irrigation project funded by the NSW Government and developed in collaboration with Sydney Water, the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, and multiple research and industry partners. The project deployed over 200 sensors across Bicentennial Park and delivered a predictive decision-support system for heat mitigation and water conservation. SIMPaCT received multiple awards and was a finalist in the World Smart City Awards in Barcelona.
Earlier in my career, I initiated the open-source simulator SimSpark, which was adopted by the RoboCup Federation and remained in active use as one of its official simulation platforms for 20 years.
Supervision and student projects
I supervise PhD and research students in robotics and machine learning. Prospective PhD students are encouraged to consult the UNSW EICR site and get in touch with me to discuss potential topics.