The idea of contributing, even in a modest way, to improving the quality of life and changing the way people look at robotics
Margarita CHLI is one of the few women leaders in the field of robotics and computer vision. Her guiding principle? “The idea of contributing, even in a modest way, to improving the quality of life and changing the way people view robotics.” For her, robots are there to “support” humans and improve their daily lives, not replace them. Discover this scientist’s inspiring journey, through her career, her projects, the accolades she has received, and finally, her vision of women in the world of robotics.
Biography and career
After spending her childhood in Greece and Cyprus, Margarita Chli studied computer science and information engineering at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK, from 2001 to 2005.
In 2006, she continued her graduate studies at Imperial College London as a doctoral student and research associate in the Robot Vision Group.
After completing her studies after obtaining her doctorate, she joined the Autonomous Systems Lab at ETH Zurich in 2010 to conduct research. She quickly became a lecturer and deputy laboratory director. She taught courses on autonomous mobile robotics and then made her courses freely available to thousands of researchers around the world.
From 2013 to 2015, she became an assistant professor and lecturer at the School of Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.
In 2015, she was promoted to Assistant Professor and Director of the Vision for Robotics Lab (V4RL) at ETH Zurich, and Honorary Fellow of the University of Edinburgh.
Research conducted and innovative projects
Margarita CHLI and her team have participated in a number of projects and research projects on a national (Swiss) and international scale. For her, these projects are structured around two objectives:
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Innovate in the field of computer vision and robotics;
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Improve the ability of robots to handle large amounts of data efficiently so they can see their environment effectively and react autonomously.
But above all, Margarita CHLI has worked and continues to work to change attitudes about robotics and deconstruct thought patterns surrounding espionage, surveillance, and the military. She has always sought to demonstrate the potential of robots in areas of public utility.
To do this, she participates in several different projects:
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The SHERPA project: it aims to use intelligent and autonomous robotic systems to assist in mountain search and rescue;
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The MY COPTER project: its aim is to design personal automated aerial systems for traveling from work to home at low altitude;
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The SFLY project: the goal of the project is to enable micro-aircraft to map unknown environments such as disaster areas;
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The AEROWORKS project: it works on the subject of the collaboration of aircraft that can be used in the context of industrial inspection;
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The NCCR Robotics project: It is set up to research technologies within the framework of the Swiss National Research Centre for Robotics to improve the quality of human life.
Awards and distinctions received
Margarita CHLI, as a brilliant scientist, has received numerous awards and distinctions highlighting the excellence of her work:
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Between 2001 and 2005, she received a scholarship for outstanding performance from the Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation, as well as a scholarship for outstanding qualifications from Trinity College;
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In 2013, she was awarded the Chancellor’s Tenure-Track Fellowship by the School of Computing at the University of Edinburgh;
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In 2015, the Swiss National Science Foundation awarded her the SNSF Chair. She also received an Honorary Scholarship from the University of Edinburgh;
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In 2016, she was invited to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos and the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), where she was awarded “Best Associate Editor.” That same year, she was named to Robohub’s list of “25 Women in Robotics You Need to Know.”
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In 2017, she received the ZONTA award, a mark of recognition for the excellence of women in the field of science;
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In 2023, she won the ERC Consolidar Grant, one of Europe’s most prestigious research grants. These funds will be used to expand her team at the University of Cyprus for research on advanced robotic perception.
Women and Science: The Perspective of Margarita CHLI
It is no longer necessary to demonstrate that Margarita CHLI has established herself as a woman in the world of robotics. When asked about the presence of women in the world of science, she does not hide her desire to see more women embark on this path, and more specifically, robotics. Indeed, she expresses her regret at not having seen any change in the presence of women in robotics between her years of study and today. While there were three girls out of a hundred students, she deplores that her classes today still do not have more girls.
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