Theses in Robotics: Difference between revisions

From Intelligent Materials and Systems Lab

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*Hanna Maria Fatkin, Mechanical Design and Development for Unmanned Ground Vehicle Casualty Evacuation Payload, BS thesis, 2026
*Hanna Maria Fatkin, Mechanical Design and Development for Unmanned Ground Vehicle Casualty Evacuation Payload, BS thesis, 2026
*Kaarel-Richard Kaarelson, [https://thesis.cs.ut.ee/12b3ed0c-b3c1-473e-ae13-5063fde9850a TeMoto Action Assistant: A Web-Based Human–Robot Interface for Designing UMRF Graphs] [TeMoto Action Assistant: Veebipõhine Inimese ja Roboti Interaktsiooni Tööriist UMRF Graafide Loomiseks], BS thesis, 2025
*Kaarel-Richard Kaarelson, [https://thesis.cs.ut.ee/12b3ed0c-b3c1-473e-ae13-5063fde9850a TeMoto Action Assistant: A Web-Based Human–Robot Interface for Designing UMRF Graphs] [TeMoto Action Assistant: Veebipõhine Inimese ja Roboti Interaktsiooni Tööriist UMRF Graafide Loomiseks], BS thesis, 2025
*Oliver Voorel, Humanoidrobot Semuboti toitesüsteemi uuendamine, BS thesis, 2025
*Oliver Voorel, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/120641 Humanoidrobot Semuboti toitesüsteemi uuendamine] [Upgrading the power system of the humanoid robot Semubot], BS thesis, 2025
*Karl Rahn, Millimeeterlaine radari integreerimine avatud lähtekoodiga muruniiduki platvormil Open Mower, BS thesis, 2025
*Karl Rahn, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/120632 Millimeeterlaine radari integreerimine avatud lähtekoodiga muruniiduki platvormil Open Mower] [Integration of a Millimeter-Wave Radar into the Open-Source Robotic Lawnmower Platform Open Mower], BS thesis, 2025
*Mattias Mäe, Sõiduki kaugjuhtimise viivituse mõõtmine, BS thesis, 2025
*Mattias Mäe, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/120628 Sõiduki kaugjuhtimise viivituse mõõtmine] [Measuring Vehicle Teleoperation Latency], BS thesis, 2025
*Jürgen Kottise, Dockeri konteineritel põhinev haldustarkvara Robotont 3 õpperobotile, BS thesis, 2025
*Jürgen Kottise, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/120626 Dockeri konteineritel põhinev haldustarkvara Robotont 3 õpperobotile] [Management software for Robotont 3 based on Docker containers], BS thesis, 2025
*Martin Kaur, Servodel põhinev sotsiaalse robotkäe süsteem SemuBotile, BS thesis, 2025
*Martin Kaur, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/120624 Servodel põhinev sotsiaalse robotkäe süsteem SemuBotile] [Servo Based Social Robotic Arm System for SemuBot], BS thesis, 2025
*Karl-Jürgen Siilak, Mass Portal Grand Pharaoh XD 3D-printeri uuendamine, BS thesis, 2025
*Karl-Jürgen Siilak, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/120635 Mass Portal Grand Pharaoh XD 3D-printeri uuendamine] [Mass Portal Grand Pharaoh XD 3D-printer upgrade], BS thesis, 2025
*Usman Ali Khan, Graphical programming interface for ROBOTONT, an open-source educational robot, BS thesis, 2025
*Usman Ali Khan, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/112197 Graphical Programming Interface for ROBOTONT, an Open-Source Educational Robot] [Graafiline programmeerimisliides avatud lähtekoodiga õpperobotile ROBOTONT], BS thesis, 2025
*Robina Zvirgzdina, Development of an Autonomous Open-Source Inventory Performance Robot for the University of Tartu Library, BS thesis, 2025
*Robina Zvirgzdina, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/112198 Development of an Autonomous Open-Source Inventory Performance Robot for the University of Tartu Library] [Autonoomse ROS2 võimekusega inventuuri roboti välja töötamine Tartu Ülikooli raamatukogule], BS thesis, 2025
*Omar Huseynli, ROS integration for the Semubot robot, BS thesis, 2025
*Omar Huseynli, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/112204 ROS Integration for the Semubot Robot] [ROSi võimekuse lisamine Semuboti robotile], BS thesis, 2025
*Albert Unn, [https://comserv.cs.ut.ee/ati_thesis/datasheet.php?id=79937 Suhtlusvõimekuse arendamine sotsiaalsele humanoidrobotile SemuBot] [Developing the ability to communicate for SemuBot, a social humanoid robot], BS thesis, 2024
*Albert Unn, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/105141 Suhtlusvõimekuse arendamine sotsiaalsele humanoidrobotile SemuBot] [Developing the ability to communicate for SemuBot, a social humanoid robot], BS thesis, 2024
*Veronika-Marina Volynets, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99943 Development of Control Electronics and Program for Robotont's Height Adjustment Mechanism] [Juhtelektroonika ja programmi väljatöötamine Robotondi kõrguse reguleerimise mehhanismile], BS thesis, 2024
*Veronika-Marina Volynets, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99943 Development of Control Electronics and Program for Robotont's Height Adjustment Mechanism] [Juhtelektroonika ja programmi väljatöötamine Robotondi kõrguse reguleerimise mehhanismile], BS thesis, 2024
*Nikita Kurenkov, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99880 Flexible Screen Integration and Development of Neck Movement Mechanism for Social Humanoid Robot SemuBot] [Humanoidroboti näo lahenduse leidmine ja rakendamine; humanoidroboti jaoks kaela mehhanismi väljatöötamine], BS thesis, 2024
*Nikita Kurenkov, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99880 Flexible Screen Integration and Development of Neck Movement Mechanism for Social Humanoid Robot SemuBot] [Humanoidroboti näo lahenduse leidmine ja rakendamine; humanoidroboti jaoks kaela mehhanismi väljatöötamine], BS thesis, 2024
*Elchin Huseynov, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99668 Design and Control of a Social Humanoid Robot - SemuBot’s Hand] [Sotsiaalse Humanoidroboti Disain ja Juhtimine - SemuBoti Käsi], BS thesis, 2024
*Elchin Huseynov, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99668 Design and Control of a Social Humanoid Robot - SemuBot’s Hand] [Sotsiaalse Humanoidroboti Disain ja Juhtimine - SemuBoti Käsi], BS thesis, 2024
*Veronika Podliesnova, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99636 Real-Time Detection of Robot Failures by Monitoring Operator’s Brain Activity with EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface] [Reaalajas Robotirikke Tuvastamine Operaatori Ajutegevuse Jälgimise teel EEG-põhise Aju-Arvuti Liidese abil], BS thesis, 2024
*Veronika Podliesnova, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99636 Real-Time Detection of Robot Failures by Monitoring Operator’s Brain Activity with EEG-based Brain-Computer Interface] [Reaalajas Robotirikke Tuvastamine Operaatori Ajutegevuse Jälgimise teel EEG-põhise Aju-Arvuti Liidese abil], BS thesis, 2024
*Märten Josh Peedimaa, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Rhea: An Open-Source Table Tennis Ball Launcher Robot for Multiball Training] [Avatud lähtekoodiga lauatennise palliviske robot mitmikpall treenimiseks], BS thesis, 2024
*Märten Josh Peedimaa, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/107711 Rhea: An Open-Source Table Tennis Ball Launcher Robot for Multiball Training] [Avatud lähtekoodiga lauatennise palliviske robot mitmikpall treenimiseks], BS thesis, 2024
*Karl Sander Vinkel, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Laadimisjaama ja transportkesta väljatöötamine õpperobotile Robotont] [Development of charging dock and transport case for Robotont], BS thesis, 2024
*Karl Sander Vinkel, Laadimisjaama ja transportkesta väljatöötamine õpperobotile Robotont [Development of charging dock and transport case for Robotont], BS thesis, 2024
*Raimo Köidam, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Valguslahenduse tarkvara väljatöötamine õpperobotile Robotont] [Development of light solution software for the educational robot Robotont], BS thesis, 2024
*Raimo Köidam, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/107707 Valguslahenduse tarkvara väljatöötamine õpperobotile Robotont] [Development of light solution software for the educational robot Robotont], BS thesis, 2024
*Robert Valge, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Toitepinge ja tarbevoolu monitoorimine ning toitehalduse püsivara loomine õpperobotil Robotont] [Monitoring supply voltage and current consumption and creating firmware for Robotont’s power management system], BS thesis, 2024
*Robert Valge, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/107714 Toitepinge ja tarbevoolu monitoorimine ning toitehalduse püsivara loomine õpperobotil Robotont] [Monitoring supply voltage and current consumption and creating firmware for Robotont’s power management system], BS thesis, 2024
*Leonid Tšigrinski, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Õpperoboti Robotont püsivara arhitektuuri uuendamine] [Education robot "Robotont" firmware architecture updating], BS thesis, 2024
*Leonid Tšigrinski, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/107713 Õpperoboti Robotont püsivara arhitektuuri uuendamine] [Education robot "Robotont" firmware architecture updating], BS thesis, 2024
*Andres Sakk, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Avatud robotplatvormi Robotont 3 kasutajaliidese väljatöötamine] [Development of a user interface for the open robotics platform Robotont 3], BS thesis, 2024
*Andres Sakk, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/107712 Avatud robotplatvormi Robotont 3 kasutajaliidese väljatöötamine] [Development of a user interface for the open robotics platform Robotont 3], BS thesis, 2024
*Kaur Kullamäe, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Elektroonikalahendus ja püsivara robotkäe juhtimiseks sotsiaalsel humanoidrobotil SemuBot] [Building the SemuBot arm electronics system], BS thesis, 2024
*Kaur Kullamäe, Elektroonikalahendus ja püsivara robotkäe juhtimiseks sotsiaalsel humanoidrobotil SemuBot [Building the SemuBot arm electronics system], BS thesis, 2024
*Kristjan Madis Kask, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet Käe mehaanika disain sotsiaalsele humanoidrobotile SemuBot] [Arm mechanics design for social humanoid robot SemuBot], BS thesis, 2024
*Kristjan Madis Kask, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/107691 Käe mehaanika disain sotsiaalsele humanoidrobotile SemuBot] [Arm mechanics design for social humanoid robot SemuBot], BS thesis, 2024
*Sven-Ervin Paap, [https://hdl.handle.net/not-yet ROS2 draiver õpperobotile Robotont] [ROS2 driver for the educational robot Robotont], BS thesis, 2024
*Sven-Ervin Paap, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/107710 ROS2 draiver õpperobotile Robotont] [ROS2 driver for the educational robot Robotont], BS thesis, 2024
*Timur Nizamov, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99592 Audio System for the Social Humanoid Robot SemuBot] [Helisüsteem sotsiaalsele humanoidrobotile SemuBot], BS thesis, 2024
*Timur Nizamov, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99592 Audio System for the Social Humanoid Robot SemuBot] [Helisüsteem sotsiaalsele humanoidrobotile SemuBot], BS thesis, 2024
*Georgs Narbuts, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99554 Holonomic Motion Drive System of a Social Humanoid Robot SemuBot] [Sotsiaalse humanoidroboti SemuBoti holonoomne liikuv ajamisüsteem], BS thesis, 2024
*Georgs Narbuts, [https://hdl.handle.net/10062/99554 Holonomic Motion Drive System of a Social Humanoid Robot SemuBot] [Sotsiaalse humanoidroboti SemuBoti holonoomne liikuv ajamisüsteem], BS thesis, 2024

Revision as of 10:41, 31 August 2026

Projects in Advanced Robotics

The main objective of the follwing projects is to give students experience in working with advanced robotics tehcnology. Our group is active in several R&D projects involving human-robot collaboration, intuitive teleoperation of robots, and autonomous navigation of unmanned mobile platforms. Our main software platforms are Robot Operating System (ROS) for developing software for advanced robot systems and Gazebo for running realistic robotic simulations.

For further information, contact Karl Kruusamäe.

The following is not an exhaustive list of all available thesis/research topics.

Highlighted theses topics for 2025/2026 study year

  1. Application of VLA (Vision-Language-Action) models in robotics
  2. LLM-based task planning for robots
  3. ROBOTONT: analysis of different options as on-board computers
  4. SemuBOT: multiple topics
  5. ROBOTONT: integrating a graphical programming interface
  6. Sign-language-based control for robots
  7. Robotic Study Companion: a social robot for students in higher education
  8. Quantitative Evaluation of the Situation Awareness during the Teleoperation of an Urban Vehicle

List of potential thesis topics

Our inventory includes but is not limited to:


ROBOTONT: Migrating Firmware Architecture to FreeRTOS and Evaluating micro-ROS Integration

This thesis continues the firmware development of the ROBOTONT mobile robot by modifying the existing firmware running on an STM microcontroller. Although the architecture is modular by design, all components are executed within a single main loop, making extension and long-term maintenance difficult.

The goal of this thesis is to restructure the firmware using FreeRTOS by dividing functionality into separate tasks with defined responsibilities. In addition, the thesis examines whether micro-ROS can be implemented directly on the STM microcontroller to enable ROS-based communication at the firmware level. The work evaluates technical feasibility and resource usage to determine whether this approach is suitable for ROBOTONT.

ROBOTONT Lite

The goal of this thesis is to optimize ROBOTONT platform for cost by replacing the onboard compute and sensor with low-cost alternatives but ensuring ROS/ROS2 software compatibility.


ROBOTONT: integrating a graphical programming interface

The goal of this thesis is to integrate graphical programming solution (e.g. Scratch or Blockly) to enable programming of Robotont by non-experts. E.g. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2011.13706


SemuBOT: multiple topics

In 2023/2024 many topics are developed to support the development of open-source humanoid robot project SemuBOT (https://www.facebook.com/semubotmtu/)


Robotic Study Companion: a social robot for students in higher education

Potential Topics:

  • Enhance the Robot's Speech/Natural Language Capabilities
  • Build a Local Language Model for the RSC
  • Develop and Program the Robot’s Behavior and Personality
  • Build a Digital Twin Simulation for Multimodal Interaction
  • Explore the Use of the RSC as an Affective Robot to Address Students’ Academic Emotions
  • Explore and Implement Cybersecurity Measures for Social Robot

More info on Github | reach out to farnaz.baksh@ut.ee for more info


Virtual reality user interface (VRUI) for intuitive teleoperation system

Detecting 2 hands with Leap Motion Controller

Enhancing the user-experience of a virtual reality UI developed by Georg Astok. Potentially adding virtual reality capability to a gesture- and natural-language-based robot teleoperation system.
Gesture-based teleoperation


Modeling humans for human-robot interaction

True human-robot collaboration means that the robot must understand the actions, intention, and state of its human partner. This work invovlves using cameras and other human sensors for digitally representing and modelling humans. There are multiple stages for modeling: a) physical models of human kinematics and dynamics; b) higher level-models for recognizing human intent.
ROS & Kinect & Skeleton-Markers Package


Robotic avatar for telepresence

Integrating hand gestures and head movements to control a robot avatar in virtual reality user interface.


Detection of hardware and software resources for smart integration of robots

Vast majority of today’s robotic applications rely on hard-coded device and algorithm usage. This project focuses on developing a Resource Snooper software, that can detect addition or removal of resources for the benefit of dynamic reconfiguration of robotic systems. This project is developed as a subsystem of TeMoto.


Human-Robot and Robot-Robot collaboration applications

Creating a demo or analysis of software capabilities related to human-robot or tobot-robot teams

  • human-robot collaborative assembly
  • distributed mapping; analysis and demo of existing ROS (e.g., segmap https://youtu.be/JJhEkIA1xSE) packages for multi-robot mapping
  • Inaccessible region teamwork
    • youbot+drone - a drone maps the environment (for example a maze) and ground vehicle uses this information to traverse the maze
    • youbot+robotont - youbot cannot go up ledges but it can lift smaller robot, such as robotont, up a ledge.

Mirroring human hand movements on industrial robots

The goal of this project is to integrate continuous control of industrial robot manipulator with a gestural telerobotics interface. The recommended tools for this thesis project are Leap Motion Controller or a standard web camera, Ultraleap, Universal Robot UR5 manipulator, and ROS.


ROBOTONT: TeMoto for robotont

Swarm-management and UMRF-based task loading for robotont using TeMoto framework.


Enhancing teleoperation control interface with augmented cues to provoke caution

The task is to create a telerobot control interface where video feed from the remote site and/or a mixed-reality scene is augmented with visual cues to provoke caution in human operator.


Robot-to-human interaction

As robots and autonomous machines start sharing the same space a humans, their actions need to be understood by the people occupying the same space. For instance, a human worker needs to understand what the robot partner is planning next or a pedestrian needs to clearly comprehend the behaviour of a driverless vehicle. To reduce the ambiguity, the robot needs mechanisms to convey its intent (whatever it is going to do next). The aim of the thesis is to outline existing methods for machines to convey their intent and develop a unified model interface for expressing that intent.


Gaze-based handover prediction

When human needs to pass an object to a robot manipulator, the robot must understand where in 3D space the object handover occurs and then plan an appropriate motion. Human gaze can be used as the input for predicting which object to track. This thesis activities involve camera-based eye tracking and safe motion-planning.


ROBOTONT: Human-height human-robot interface for Robotont ground robot

Robotont is an ankle-high flat mobile robot. For humans to interact with Robotont, there is a need for a compact and lightweight mechanical structure that is tall enough for comfortable human-robot interaction. The objective of the thesis is to develop the mechanical designs and build prototypes that ensure stable operation and meet the aesthetic requirements for use in public places.


Stratos Explore Ultraleap demonstrator for robotics

The aim of this thesis is to systematically analyze the strengths and limitations of the Stratos Explore Ultraleap device in the context of controlling a robot. Subsequently implement a demonstrator application for showing off its applicability for robot control.


Mixed-reality scene creation for vehicle teleoperation

Fusing different sensory feeds for creating high-usability teleoperation scene.


Validation study for AR-based robot user-interfaces

Designing and carrying out a user study to validate the functionality and usability of an human-robot interface.


Quantitative Evaluation of the Situation Awareness during the Teleoperation of an Urban Vehicle

The goal of this thesis is to develop the methodology for measuring the operator's situation awareness while operating an autonomous urban vehicle. Potential metrics could include driving accuracy, speed, and latency. This thesis will be conducted as part of the activities at the Autonomous Driving Lab.


Sign-language-based control for robots

The goal of this thesis is to design and implement the means for interacting with a robot via conventional sign language, i.e. the human can command a robot by using sign language.


LLM-based task planning for robots

The goal of this thesis is to enable high level task planning for autonomous robots for general purpose tasks. The thesis would leverage the LLM's reasoning and TeMoto Action Engine to achieve natural task negotiation, planning, and execution.


ROBOTONT: Development of CoppeliaSim-based simulation and a digital twin

The objective of the thesis is to develop an easy to use simulation for Robotont gen3 using CoppeliaSim (https://www.coppeliarobotics.com/).



Application of VLA (Vision-Language-Action) models in robotics

The goal of this thesis is to apply VLA models to real-world robotics. The thesis project will involve topics related to robots, machine learning, transformers.


SemuBot x Robotont crossover

The goal of this thesis is to build a mechanically integrated add-on for Robotont enable playing out socially-assistive scenarios with Robotont. The resulting Robotont solution would serve as a lite version of Semubot. The thesis can adopt the approach proposed in this thesis: https://hdl.handle.net/10062/93420


Robotont meets Catrobat

The goal of this thesis is to integrate Catrobat (https://catrobat.org) programming and control for Robotont (https://robotont.eu).


Completed projects

PhD theses

Master's theses

Bachelor's theses