Mobile Robots in Educational Environments: Real-World Use Cases

Universities, Vocational Training (VT) centers, and technology centers are among the educational institutions addressing both the theoretical and practical study of mobile robotics from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Robotics education is no longer limited strictly to theoretical models or digital simulations; it aims to bring projects into real-world environments. Mobile robots enable students and researchers to validate algorithms, integrate sensors, and develop real applications without having to build a platform from scratch.

Building a mobile robotic platform from the ground up requires months of work dedicated to mechanical, electronic, and software integration. Utilizing an operational platform allows research to focus directly on the core scientific challenge to be solved.

In this article, we share real-world use cases of Robotnik mobile robots currently deployed across universities, research projects, and Vocational Training programs.

An educational mobile robot platform allows students and researchers to test and validate technological developments such as navigation, perception, or manipulation algorithms, on physical hardware.

Unlike closed systems, these mobile bases are characterized by three fundamental pillars:

• Open Software Architecture: A robot running on ROS 2 ensures maximum flexibility and an open architecture that allows educators and researchers to access and modify telemetry or low-level controllers, as well as program custom navigation algorithms.
• Modularity: A modular mobile robotic platform allows hardware components (such as LiDAR sensors, RGB-D cameras, robotic arms, or other specialized modules) to be integrated, replaced, or expanded based on changing project requirements.
• Operational Versatility: Mobile robots capable of operating in both indoor and outdoor environments provide essential versatility for validating kinematics, as well as autonomous navigation in unstructured or irregular terrain.

Used as an educational and research resource, a mobile robot platform provides a physical testbed where researchers, educators, and students can develop and validate technologies related to programming, navigation and localization, kinematics, mobile manipulation, and trajectory planning under conditions similar to those found in industrial and scientific applications.

Below are three real-world examples of Robotnik mobile robots deployed in Vocational Training, research centers, and universities:

• Robotics for Archaeology: The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) deployed Robotnik’s RB-SUMMIT mobile platform as an autonomous inspection and maintenance robot in the Pompeii Archaeological Park, improving structural monitoring and data collection on unstructured surfaces.
• Spatial AI for Cooperative Construction Robotics (TUM): This project developed by the Technical University of Munich integrates an RB-VOGUI+ platform to advance toward real-world deployment of collaborative mobile construction robots, leveraging Spatial AI and spatial computing techniques from Computer Vision and Robotics.
• Vocational Training (VT): In Vocational Education, IES Cotes Baixes utilizes Robotnik’s RB-THERON within its Collaborative Robotics and Smart Manufacturing programs. This platform allows students to apply theoretical concepts of programming, IoT integration, mobile robot navigation, and collaborative operations directly on industrial-grade hardware.

In engineering degrees such as Robotics, Electronics, or Mechanical Engineering, mobile robotics is a fundamental tool for learning and research. These platforms bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world implementation.

The following sections detail their primary applications and the core value they bring to academic environments.

Beyond simulated environments, mobile robotic platforms allow students and researchers to tackle the unpredictability of the physical world, testing perception systems, sensor fusion, and real-time control. This direct interaction accelerates hands-on learning and connects academic research with industrial demands.
The table below highlights key applications and benefits of mobile robots in university environments:

As highlighted in the IES Cotes Baixes case, deploying robotic platforms in technical workshops significantly enhances practical training.

With the deployment of the RB-THERON VT version, Industry 4.0 standards are brought directly into vocational classrooms. Students work with an industrial-grade, ROS 2-native mobile robot platform to build essential competencies in safety, communications, and system maintenance.

The table below outlines the primary educational applications and benefits of the RB-THERON VT version in Vocational Education:

Competitive R&D projects, such as European Horizon Europe framework initiatives or technology center developments, frequently present specific scientific challenges that exceed the capabilities of off-the-shelf robots.

In these scenarios, flexible, customizable robotic solutions are essential for adapting hardware and software architectures to match research goals.

With over two decades of active participation in European R&D initiatives, Robotnik acts as a key technology partner, supplying both standard commercial platforms and custom hardware/software adaptations tailored to project goals.

The table below highlights primary research applications and key benefits of mobile robots in advanced R&D projects:

To ensure a high return on investment and maximum utility for teaching and research, universities and technology centers should evaluate platforms based on key criteria: software open-source access, safety, and hardware modularity.

Research requirements vary widely across projects. Working with unrestricted platforms that grant full access to software controllers is critical. An open software architecture simplifies implementing custom algorithms, integrating in-house research tools, and adapting the mobile robot platform to diverse research tracks from autonomous navigation to advanced perception.

ROS 2 serves as the primary software environment for modern robotics research. Selecting a natively compatible platform simplifies setup and grants immediate access to widely adopted libraries, tools, and simulation environments.

It also streamlines pre-deployment testing in simulators like Gazebo or Isaac Sim prior to executing code on physical hardware, accelerating thesis projects while training students on the primary software framework used in industry.

Sensor requirements differ significantly between projects. While computer vision research may require depth cameras, other initiatives demand 3D LiDARs, IMUs, or high-precision GNSS systems. A platform designed for modular sensor integration allows a single mobile base to be repurposed across multiple research initiatives without custom electronic redesigns.

In educational and research environments where students and staff work alongside hardware, physical safety systems are essential for controlled experimentation. Features such as safety laser scanners, physical and remote emergency stops, and hardware-level velocity limiting minimize operational risks during alpha and beta testing.

Validating algorithms under real-world operating conditions often requires transitioning beyond laboratory spaces into warehouses, academic campuses, or rugged outdoor terrain.

Mobile Robotic Platforms such as the RB-SUMMIT or RB-VOGUI series provide the cinematic and mechanical capabilities needed to support autonomous navigation, mapping, and inspection research across both indoor and outdoor environments.

Modularity is fundamental to robotics R&D. Mobile robots frequently serve as base units carrying specialized payloads: single or dual robotic arms, measurement instrumentation, inspection sensors, scissor lifts, or experimental hardware developed by research teams.

Providing dedicated mounting space, payload capacity, and standard power/communication interfaces ensures seamless hardware integration and expands the long-term research utility of the mobile robot platform.