TU Delft PhD Position 2026: Safe GPAI Planning, Decision-Making and Active Perception for Reliable Robot Autonomy

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands invites applications for a fully funded PhD position on Safe GPAI Planning, Decision-Making and Active Perception for Reliable Robot Autonomy. The position is part of the EU-funded OPERA project, offering an excellent opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of General-Purpose AI (GPAI), robotics, autonomous systems, and safe decision-making.

The successful candidate will join the Cognitive Robotics Department and work on developing AI-powered planning and perception methods that enable robots to operate safely and reliably in dynamic real-world environments.

Position Details

Position: PhD Candidate

Research Title: Safe GPAI Planning, Decision-Making and Active Perception for Reliable Robot Autonomy

Institution: Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Department: Cognitive Robotics

Project: OPERA (EU-Funded Research Project)

Location: Delft, Netherlands

About the Project

The OPERA project focuses on advancing General-Purpose Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) for robotics by integrating:

Safe planning
Decision-making under uncertainty
Active perception
Model-based control
Learning-based reasoning

The project aims to develop intelligent robotic systems capable of making reliable decisions in complex, uncertain, and dynamic environments where perception is often incomplete.

The selected PhD candidate will contribute to creating AI methods that enable robots to determine when to react immediately, when to plan ahead, and when to gather additional information before acting.

Research Objectives

The project seeks to develop novel approaches for:

Safe GPAI-powered planning for autonomous robots.
Decision-making under uncertainty.
Active perception strategies for reliable autonomy.
Hybrid AI architectures combining physics-based models with data-driven learning.
Safety-aware navigation and manipulation.
Intelligent information gathering before task execution.

A key focus of the research is reducing uncertainty through active perception, allowing robots to make more informed and safer decisions.

Key Responsibilities

The selected PhD candidate will:

Develop safe planning and decision-making algorithms for autonomous robotic systems.
Design active perception methods that improve robot reliability.
Investigate model-based and learning-based control techniques.
Develop uncertainty-aware planning strategies.
Work on multimodal sensor fusion and environment perception.
Design adaptive safety margins and contingency planning methods.
Contribute to safe navigation and robot manipulation research.
Collaborate with international OPERA consortium partners.
Contribute to the development of the OPERA open-source robotics toolbox.
Publish research in leading journals and present findings at international conferences.

Research Areas

The project spans several advanced research domains, including:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
General-Purpose AI (GPAI)
Robotics
Autonomous Systems
Cognitive Robotics
Robot Planning
Active Perception
Decision-Making Under Uncertainty
Model Predictive Control
Sensor Fusion
Safe Learning
Computer Vision
Motion Planning
Navigation
Human-Robot Interaction

Research Environment

The successful candidate will join the Cognitive Robotics Department at TU Delft and conduct research under the supervision of:

Prof. Robert Babuška
Dr. Laura Ferranti

The position is embedded within the Reliable Robot Control Lab, providing access to:

World-class robotics laboratories.
Advanced simulation and testing environments.
International collaborations through the OPERA consortium.
Leading researchers in AI, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary research and professional development.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The position is well suited for candidates with academic backgrounds in:

Robotics
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Science
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechatronics
Control Engineering
Cognitive Robotics
Automation
Applied Mathematics
Related disciplines

Candidates with experience in robotics, autonomous systems, AI planning, machine learning, computer vision, sensor fusion, or robot control will be particularly well suited for this opportunity.

Why Join TU Delft?

The selected PhD candidate will have the opportunity to:

Work on a prestigious EU-funded research project.
Develop next-generation AI technologies for reliable autonomous robots.
Collaborate with leading European researchers and industry partners.
Contribute to open-source robotics software and internationally recognized research.
Access state-of-the-art robotics laboratories and research infrastructure.
Publish in high-impact journals and present at leading international conferences.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application through the official TU Delft careers portal, ensuring all required documents are included as specified in the vacancy announcement.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility criteria, application requirements, and selection process before applying.

Official Source

Organization: Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)

Department: Cognitive Robotics

Project: OPERA (EU-Funded Research Project)

Country: Netherlands

Researchers passionate about robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, active perception, and safe decision-making are encouraged to apply for this exciting fully funded PhD opportunity.

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TU Delft PhD Position 2026: Safe GPAI Planning, Decision-Making and Active Perception for Reliable Robot Autonomy