Abdalla Swikir

Assistant Professor of Robotics

Research interests

Professor Swikir's research interests lie at the fascinating intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, where he’s pioneering transformative strategies to elevate robotic control systems with the full potential of AI. He's especially passionate about designing and analyzing robotic systems that incorporate AI-driven safe learning methodologies, empowering robots and autonomous systems to adapt fluidly to their surroundings while maintaining rigorous safety standards. His work delves into the complex compositional analysis of large-scale interconnected systems, utilizing symbolic control and control barrier functions to ensure robust stability across even the most expansive networks.

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Prior to joining MBZUAI, Professor Swikir led the Mechatronic and Robotic Systems Group and the Robot Learning Group at the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI), Technical University of Munich (TUM). He also served as the teaching coordinator at MIRMI and was the co-founder of the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence graduate program, where he played a key role in its development and served on its steering committee. In these roles, he pioneered research that integrated AI-driven safe learning methodologies with robotic control systems, enhancing autonomy, adaptability, and safety in dynamic environments. Professor Swikir is a distinguished IEEE Senior Member, he is renowned for his groundbreaking work at the intersection of artificial intelligence and robotics, with a focus on designing safe and adaptive robotic systems. He is the recipient of the prestigious 2023 IEEE CSS George S. Axelby Outstanding Paper Award and the 2023 IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters Best Paper Award. Professor Swikir’s expertise lies in robotic and safe learning, symbolic control, control barrier functions, and compositional analysis of large-scale interconnected systems. His innovative approaches ensure stability and reliability across diverse applications, pushing the boundaries of modern robotics and artificial intelligence. In addition to his research and teaching endeavors, Professor Swikir is an Associate Editor for the IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters (RA-L) and the IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering (T-ASE).
  • 2024: New Generation Star Project at IROS 2024.
  • 2024: The 2023 IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters Best Paper Award.
  • 2024: European Commission’s Innovation Radar recognition for the innovation Bi-Stiffness Actuator (BSA) for exploiting intrinsic compliance, gravity, and inertial coupling effects in elastic joint robots.
  • 2023: The 2023 IEEE CSS George S. Axelby Outstanding Paper Award for the best article in the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control.
  • 2023: IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine Cover.
  • 2018: Best Student Paper Award Finalist at The 4th Indian Control Conference.
  • 2016: Doctorate Scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service.
  • 2013: Study Abroad Scholarship Award from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
  • 2008: First place with high honor degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.

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