Futuristic robots at AUS link AI with real world

Two advanced robots have arrived at American University of Sharjah's (AUS) Department of Computer Science and Engineering, thanks to a partnership with Terminus Group. The collaboration will allow the department to expand learning and experimentation in physical artificial intelligence (AI), a fast-emerging area that combines generative AI with robotics to allow machines to interact intelligently with real-world environments.

The robots will be integrated into teaching and department-led projects, giving students a hands-on platform to explore how intelligent systems perceive, interact and deliver services in physical spaces. Furthermore, the robots will also participate in student registration, reception, and guidance, leveraging generative AI to provide students with an interactive robot-enabled experience.

Dr. Fadi Aloul, Dean of the AUS College of Engineering (CEN), emphasized how partnerships with industry expand what students can build, test and learn through access to advanced technologies.

“At CEN, we focus on engineering education that is rigorous, applied and relevant to the technologies shaping industry and society. Access to advanced technologies is not incremental; it changes what students can build, test and learn. We are grateful to Terminus Group for enabling this step. It strengthens project-based learning today and supports our broader efforts to advance innovation in areas such as AI, automation and physical AI across the student experience,” he said.

“Physical AI is where our field is heading because intelligence is no longer confined to screens. These robots give our students a serious platform to connect generative AI with real-world environments,” said Dr Imran Zualkernan, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at AUS. “We will use them in teaching and department projects from the start, beginning with applying generative AI to real campus services, then expanding into more ambitious student-driven prototypes.”

Dr. Ling Shao, Chief AI Officer and Global President of Terminus Group, commented on the partnership: "This collaboration represents a strategic convergence of embodied AI perception, adaptive robotic control and generative cognitive architectures within a real-world campus environment. By deploying these platforms, we are creating a living laboratory for multi-modal learning, human-robot collaboration and autonomous service orchestration, key pillars of next-generation cyber-physical systems. We envision this initiative as a blueprint for scalable AI integration, where large language models transcend textual boundaries to govern physical actuators, optimize spatial interactions and ultimately enable self-evolving campus ecosystems."

This collaboration reflects CEN’s ongoing efforts to deliver professional and technical preparation, global preparedness and leadership development supported by state-of-the-art technology, experimentation with design and problem-solving processes, and strong opportunities for real-world and research project involvement.

It also aligns with CEN 2.0 Innovation efforts, which embed data analytics, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and advanced technology throughout the undergraduate and graduate experience, expand practical learning through new laboratories equipped with advanced tools and strengthen workplace readiness through an enhanced internship requirement.

Earlier, the American University of Sharjah (AUS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) to strengthen collaboration in research, knowledge exchange, capacity building, community engagement and professional development.

The partnership supports the UAE’s knowledge economy and advances Arabic as a language of scholarship and innovation.

The collaboration will be advanced through the Centre for Arab Studies and Islamic Civilizations (CASIC) at AUS, reflecting the centre’s role in fostering research and partnerships that deepen understanding of Arab and Islamic civilisations and their contemporary knowledge contributions.

“This MoU reflects a shared national priority: building a knowledge-driven future by connecting rigorous research with real-world platforms that shape how knowledge is created, shared and applied,” said Dr Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS.

“Through CASIC and our wider academic community, AUS is proud to collaborate with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation to advance research in areas such as digital transformation and AI-enabled knowledge dissemination, while also strengthening the role of Arabic as a language of scholarship and innovation. This partnership creates a strong pathway for joint publications, student engagement and public-facing programmes that contribute meaningfully to the UAE’s knowledge economy.”

Under the agreement, AUS and MBRF will pursue joint academic and research initiatives in areas of mutual interest including knowledge management, digital transformation, sustainability, future foresight and the role of artificial intelligence in knowledge dissemination.