In a spotless apartment, a diligent robot glides effortlessly across the floor, whipping dirty sheets from a ruffled bed before replacing them with a freshly laundered set of crisp linens. In the kitchen, another brews a fresh cup of tea with two sugars, anticipating its owner's needs with uncanny precision.
This vision of the future, where intelligent machines are integrated into our daily lives, is the driving force behind the work of Professor Fares Abu-Dakka, a passionate robotics researcher and Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at NYU Abu Dhabi.
"The potential for robots to enhance and enrich our lives is truly remarkable," says Abu-Dakka. "By imbuing these machines with advanced learning capabilities, we can create a new generation of assistants that can adapt to our individual needs and preferences, seamlessly integrating into our homes and communities."
Abu-Dakka's research focuses on equipping robots with the ability to learn and adapt, much like humans. "We're not just programming these machines to perform specific tasks," he says. "We're giving them the capacity to observe, imitate, and explore, allowing them to learn and grow with each new experience. Such autonomous learning is still in the experimental phase and faces significant challenges, including sensor noise and unpredictable real-world dynamics, but the possibilities are exciting.”
This approach, known as "robot learning," is at the heart of Abu-Dakka's work. Drawing inspiration from how humans and animals learn, he and his team are developing algorithms that enable robots to acquire new skills through reinforcement learning, trial and error, and observing and mimicking the actions of others.
"Imagine a robot that can learn to carry out a new task simply by observing a person doing it," he says. "Or one that can explore and experiment until it finds the best way to manipulate an unfamiliar object. These are the kinds of capabilities we're working to create."
Professor Abu-Dakka's journey to the forefront of robotics research has taken him around the world. He is driven by a deep fascination with the field that took root during his childhood in Palestine, where he excelled in math and physics.
After completing his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering at Birzeit University, Palestine, Abu-Dakka pursued a PhD in Robot Motion Planning at the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain (UPV), followed by an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from UPV. From there, he embarked on a career that has taken him to research institutes and universities across Europe, including Slovenia, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Finland.
Looking to the future, Abu-Dakka envisions a world where intelligent robots are as ubiquitous as smartphones, seamlessly integrated into our daily lives. "These machines will become our assistants and companions," he says. "They'll be in our homes, hospitals, workplaces – everywhere, helping to make our lives easier, more efficient, and more fulfilling." “This vision may take decades to realize fully, but each incremental breakthrough—like robots assisting in hospitals or disaster zones—brings us closer.”
Despite the rapid advancement of AI, Abu-Dakka is confident that the technology will not threaten humanity.
“The key is to ensure that these systems remain under human control and always serve human needs,” he says. “We’re not trying to replace people with robots. Our goal is to enhance human capabilities by designing robots to handle dangerous or repetitive tasks, freeing humans for creative and strategic roles, and making the world a better place. This underscores the need to integrate interdisciplinary safety protocols and ethical standards to ensure these intelligent systems responsibly serve human needs.”
As Abu-Dakka’s research continues to evolve, he remains focused on developing technologies that prioritize human welfare, security, and sustainability. Now, as he settles into his role at NYU Abu Dhabi, the professor is excited about the prospect of bringing his expertise back to the Middle East.
"This region has always been a part of me, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to the development of robotics and AI technology here," he says. “The future I envision is one where robots and AI not only coexist with us but also enrich our lives in ways we never thought possible.”
