Advancing Humanoid Robotics: MARC Researcher Visits Sheffield Hallam University

5/26/2025

In an inspiring week dedicated to advancing the understanding of robotics, Dr. Imad Berrouyne, a researcher at MARC, visited Professor Alessandro Di Nuovo and his distinguished team at Sheffield Hallam University. Professor Di Nuovo, a specialist in machine intelligence, leads a team focused on a wide range of challenges in humanoid robotics — from cognitive interaction and learning to adaptive control systems.

The visit, hosted by Sheffield Hallam University’s Industry and Innovation Research Institute, was part of a knowledge and expertise exchange initiative, offering a unique opportunity to engage with current innovations in humanoid design, artificial intelligence, and cognitive computing. The week featured hands-on demonstrations of ongoing research projects, providing practical insight into the latest developments in humanoid design, artificial intelligence, and cognitive computing.

As Dr. Imad Berrouyne reflected, “Humanoids captivate not only with their potential but also with their complexity. It’s this blend of excitement and challenge that makes them so compelling.”

Throughout the week, Imad had hands-on exposure to ongoing research projects and in-depth discussions with the team, deepening technical insight and contributing to shared learning. The visit represents a meaningful step in advancing MARC’s capabilities in human-robot interaction through collaborative knowledge-building.

In the photo, from left to right, Joshua Bamforth, Research Assistant at Sheffield Hallam University; Imad Berrouyne, Postdoctoral researcher at MARC; Hamed Pourfannan, Postdoctoral researcher at Sheffield Hallam University