BOONE — Student researchers inside the Yeganeh Robotics Lab at Appalachian State University are exploring how automated systems learn, adapt, and work alongside people in dynamic environments, as Appalachian State University reported.
Also known as the YeRo Lab, the facility operates within the Department of Computer Science inside the College of Arts and Sciences. Led by lab director and assistant professor Dr. Yeganeh Madadi, the program combines cutting-edge research in robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning with hands-on technical instruction.
The lab officially celebrated its opening in Anne Belk Hall, featuring research demonstrations by Madadi and students enrolled in her initial Introduction to Robotics course. The university held a formal opening celebration on June 25, 2025, where lab members demonstrated how a humanoid robot can assist children with communication skills.
Since opening last summer, the facility has expanded its active research projects and increased student participation. Madadi told Appalachian State University that watching students take ownership of challenging research questions and grow into independent researchers remains one of the most rewarding aspects of leading the space.
Student projects in the lab focus heavily on human-robot interaction, investigating how machinery can adjust its actions as nearby people move. Researchers aim to design systems that function safely alongside human partners, use multiple streams of data to make informed choices, and adapt their behavior over time. These capabilities are especially critical for future workplace environments where human workers and physical machines share the same physical footprint.
To support these investigations, students work with an array of hardware setups. Equipment in the lab includes stationary robotic arms that handle objects on workbenches, mobile robots that navigate rooms while manipulating objects, and specialized quadruped units. Demonstrations in the lab have featured a Go2 quadruped robot, commonly referred to as a robot dog, navigating surroundings while maintaining its balance. Other demonstrations show a robotic arm transferring an object between locations on a workbench surface.
Students also conduct experiments using humanoid platforms, such as Pepper and NAO, which are specifically engineered to interact with human users. Through these systems, researchers study how robot movements, physical communication, and programmatic behavior shape interactions with people.
Individual student achievements illustrate the lab's hands-on focus. Molly Watson, a 2026 graduate who earned her bachelor’s degree in computer science from App State earlier this year, built a decision-making algorithm that allows her robotic vehicle to avoid obstacles. Alexander Jones, a senior computer science major from Bristol, Tennessee, developed a demonstration showing his robotic vehicle's capacity to remain within set perimeters.
To integrate classroom study with lab operations, Madadi created three targeted computer science courses: Introduction to Robotics, Robot Modeling and Control, and Machine Learning in Robotics. The coursework introduces foundational and advanced concepts in motion modeling, control algorithms, machine learning applications, and robotic systems, directly preparing students to conduct lab research.
Funding for the lab's creation and the development of the introductory robotics course came in part from two College of Arts and Sciences opportunities: the Billy and Del Hunt Helton Faculty Excellence Fund and a College of Arts and Sciences Research/Proposal Development Summer Grant.
The Department of Computer Science offers a Bachelor of Science degree accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, as well as a Master of Science degree in computer science. The broader College of Arts and Sciences encompasses 17 academic departments, two centers, and one residential college, enrolling more than 6,800 student majors.
Across its campuses in Boone and Hickory as well as online programs, Appalachian State University serves more than 21,000 students as part of the 17-campus University of North Carolina System, offering more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors.
