Field Robotics

Language: English

Period: 6 – 10 September 2027

Application Deadline: 12 July 2027

Program Intensity: Full-time

ECTS: 6

Tuition fees: 750€

This intensive Summer School offers participants a hands-on deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of robotics deployed in unstructured, real-world environments. Over the course of the program, students and early-career researchers will explore the fundamental challenges that distinguish field robotics from its laboratory counterpart — from robust perception and state estimation under adverse conditions, to autonomous navigation across rough terrain, to resilient decision-making in the absence of reliable infrastructure. Lectures from leading academic and industry experts are tightly integrated with practical sessions, giving participants direct experience with robotic platforms operating outdoors in conditions that mirror genuine deployment scenarios.

The Summer School is designed for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals with a background in robotics, computer science, mechanical engineering, or related disciplines who wish to push their expertise beyond controlled settings. Topics covered span mobile manipulation, aerial and ground vehicle autonomy, SLAM in GPS-denied environments, human-robot interaction in the field, and safety-critical system design. By the end of the program, attendees will have not only strengthened their theoretical foundations but also built the practical intuition needed to design, deploy, and evaluate robotic systems that must perform reliably where conditions are unpredictable and the stakes are high.

The Summer School will be activated with at least 10 students. The maximum number of participants is set to 100 students.

Lessons will be held in Pisa, Parco di San Rossore, Casale la Sterpaia.

The Summer School aims to bridge the gap between theoretical robotics research and real-world deployment, equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to design and operate autonomous systems in complex, unstructured environments. By bringing together leading experts from academia and industry alongside a diverse cohort of motivated students and researchers, the school fosters a collaborative learning environment where cutting-edge methods are taught, tested, and challenged against the demands of genuine field conditions.

Graduates in Engineering.

Admission Requirements

Master Degree in Engineering.

Required Documents

  • Identity Document (*PASSPORT in case you are a foreign student*)
  • Enrolment Form
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement letter

All the documents must be in pdf format, in order to upload them on the portal when required.

Application has to be submitted via Alice portal following the instructions of the “How to apply” page.

Tuition fees: 750€

Pay fees by Debit/Credit Card or PayPal online using the dedicated Payment Form

NOTICE:

  • International students without Italian Tax Code: please tick the box ‘Anonymous’ in order to disable the field ‘Italian personal ID/VAT number’.
  • Please type your NAME and SURNAME next to the pre-filled text of the field ‘Reason’
  • Please pay only after receiving the admission letter

REFUND POLICY: 

There will be no refund of paid tuition fees

Contacts

Coordinator
Prof. Manolo Garabini manolo.garabini@unipi.it

Summer/Winter School Office support.summerschool@unipi.it