Engineering Systems. Aerospace, Robotics and Digital Engineering Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)

Overview

The Skoltech Engineering Systems: Aerospace, Robotics and Digital Engineering seeks to educate the next generation of highly qualified graduates, empowering them with the skills to develop digital engineering, robotics, aerospace and space technologies, and introduce scientific developments into the economy. 

The graduates emerge as visionary leaders equipped to steer digital transformation projects and develop cyber-physical systems and high-tech products, integrating advanced technologies such as digital twins, intelligent materials and product lifecycle management systems across various domains on Earth and in space. 

The program fosters creativity in solving critical problems in aerospace, energy, and robotics, enabling graduates to apply skills in the following spheres: 

• to manage R&D with a focus on satellite systems, drones, and robots

• develop IT methodologies

• design complex engineering systems, including the ones based on modern methods of synthesis and processing of materials

• contribute to satellite surveillance, solar physics, space weather and aeronautics projects. 

In advancing autonomous robotics, intelligent sensors, AI algorithms, and space exploration, the program bridges curiosity and utility, profoundly impacting society.

Tracks:

Product Development

Product development and new materials for industry. The track focuses on technologies and methodologies for the developing products, systems, and new materials of pivotal importance for hi-tech sectors and society. Particular emphasis is placed on digital twins and ways to efficiently use and adapt digital technologies to create modern products, innovative materials, and systems and analyze their competitive advantage. 

The track includes Principles of Manufacturing, an optional MIT micro-master's program with topics covering all stages of product development: from conceptual design (Systems Engineering), detailed design and analysis using a comprehensive set of digital industrial software systems (DISS) to increasing production volumes (Digital Manufacturing Systems), as well as the programs “Applied materials and their applications”, and “Method of correlation analysis of material properties.”

Robotics

The track includes a series of courses on modern intelligent robotics covering the following: 

• Physical AI, UAV swarms, mobile, industrial, and collaborative robots 
• robotic perception (SLAM, Visual Transformers, Diffusion models, navigation)
• AI for robotics (application of VLA, IL, DRL in robotics)
• VR & Haptics (tactile displays, VR/AR teleoperation, digital twins). 

Students will have the opportunity to conduct research using collaborative UR robots, a Unitree quadruped robot, a humanoid robot, and a drone swarm, as well as to develop their own robotic systems and VR solutions.

While working on their master’s theses, students will be able to collaborate with research groups from leading universities around the world, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and others. Track students will also be supported in writing and presenting research papers at top-tier conferences in intelligent robotics and VR, such as: ICRA, IROS, HRI, ICUAS, ROBIO, SMC, the Haptics Symposium.

Space

The track focuses on delving into deep science and developing complex space and engineering systems, including the creation of advanced materials for the aerospace industry, to train scientists, space mission designers, and leaders of design teams for complex space-borne and engineering systems. The program covers a range of topics, including the following:

• systems engineering, development of aerospace structures using new composites and functional materials
• design and construction of small spacecraft
• orbital mechanics and maneuvering
• fundamental research on both solar physics and space weather

Additionally, the students acquire the skills to extract valuable insights from space data to evaluate the potential of space-related services and applications, including experimental data analysis, study of the behavior of materials in space, remote sensing fundamentals, and space weather. This track offers extensive research opportunities spanning the following areas:

• advanced methods and platforms for space exploration 
• remote sensing data analysis to innovative applications of swarm technology for large autonomous satellite constellations 
• creation of new materials resistant to high temperatures and radiation
• solar physics, space weather

• data collection and analysis from sensors on satellites, drones, and ground-based devices

• AI-based data processing and analysis to solve problems in the field of ecology, agriculture, urban planning and emergency response.

Graduates of the program will be able to

• develop a holistic view of competitive products and complex systems
• conceive, design, implement and operate complex systems in all fields including robotics, modern transportation systems and aerospace systems
• create new services in navigation, communications, earth observation, and space weather
• design robots, robotics technologies, intelligent embedded systems and sensors, and VR solutions
• conduct new observations and measurements from space
• design, build and test your own product/system including a satellite (CubeSat)
• build a career or create a startup in the field of digital engineering, product engineering, space, robotics, and VR
• pursue PhD studies including a dual-degree and collaboration with international universities

Future career

Industry: specialist positions in the Russian and international engineering companies, space, and robotics industry, including Skolkovo resident companies and startups

Science: PhD positions and continuing research at leading Russian and international research bodies

Startup: starting a business on their own or through the Skolkovo innovation ecosystem with its extensive pool of experts, partners, consultants, and investors