ELLIIT Annual Workshop 2026

Oussama Khatib received his PhD from Sup’Aero, Toulouse, France, in 1980. He is Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Robotics Center (SRC). He is a recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of Montpellier.

His research focuses on methodologies and technologies in human-centered robotics, haptic interactions, artificial intelligence, and human motion synthesis. Professor Khatib is President of the International Foundation of Robotics Research (IFRR) and an IEEE Fellow. He is Editor of the Springer STAR and SPAR series, Springer Handbook of Robotics, and Springer Encyclopedia of Robotics. He is a recipient of the IEEE Robotics and Automation, Pioneering Award, the George Saridis Leadership Award, and the Distinguished Service Award. Professor Khatib is recipient of the Japan Robot Association (JARA) Award, the Rudolf Kalman Award, and the IEEE Technical Field Award. He is Knight of the French National Order of Merit and a member of the United Sates National Academy of Engineering. Professor Khatib is recipient of the 2024 Great Arab Minds Award.

Central to our efforts in robotics is a strong focus on human-robot collaboration — an area where robotics can profoundly extend human capabilities, especially in environments that are hazardous, remote, or otherwise inaccessible. By physically distancing humans from danger while still enabling their skills, intuition, and experience to guide robotic systems, we aim to redefine the future of work and remote operations.

A striking example of this vision is OceanOneK, a state-of-the-art robotic diver developed at Stanford. Equipped with advanced autonomous capabilities for physical interaction and a sophisticated haptic/stereovision interface, OceanOneK allows human experts to intuitively control and collaborate with the robot in real time. During a series of archaeological expeditions in the Mediterranean, OceanOneK successfully operated at extreme depths, demonstrating how the fusion of human cognition and robotic precision can unlock unprecedented exploration and intervention capabilities. These developments illustrate the powerful synergy made possible through human-robot collaboration. From accessing new natural resources and delivering medical care in remote regions, to maintaining distant infrastructure and executing disaster response in extreme environments — whether deep underwater, underground, atop mountains,or in space – robotics research is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.