Bots with brains: Wits robotics goes underground
- Wits University
Wits’ RAIL Lab trains intelligent machines to navigate caves, pour milk, and plan like humans, pushing the frontiers of autonomous AI research.
At Wits University’s Robotics, Autonomous Intelligence, and Learning (RAIL) Lab, researchers are advancing the frontiers of artificial intelligence—developing machines that can walk, pour milk, and even explore ancient fossil caves.
Led by Professor Benjamin Rosman of the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, the lab’s work centres on building systems that can plan, adapt, and operate independently in complex environments.
“In the RAIL Lab, we focus on fundamental research into AI—specifically, autonomous decision-making,” says Prof. Rosman. “We’re interested in how machines can make sequences of decisions, particularly over longer time horizons, to achieve a goal.”
This ability is critical in robotics, where tasks are rarely simple. From navigating unfamiliar terrain to preparing a cup of coffee, autonomous systems must combine multiple actions into coherent, goal-directed behaviour. The lab tackles this by isolating specific skills—like walking, carrying, or pouring—and training systems to learn and combine them effectively.
“If the system can figure out what those skills are, how to learn them, and when to use them—it becomes truly powerful,” Rosman explains.
One of the lab’s standout projects applies these ideas to the Wits Sterkfontein Caves, a world-renowned paleoanthropological site and part of Wits’ research heritage. The team is developing robotic explorers—ranging from legged robots and wheeled vehicles to drones—that can autonomously map the terrain, locate excavation zones, and safely gather data in areas that are dangerous or inaccessible to humans.
“In these environments, you might need different types of robots—each suited to a specific task,” says Rosman. “We’re researching how these systems can collaborate, navigate, and solve problems as a team.”
The initiative draws in expertise from across Wits, involving students and researchers in engineering, computer vision, and optimisation science. “It’s incredible doing this work at Wits,” says Rosman. “We have the infrastructure, the collaboration, and the institutional support to build systems that have real-world impact.”
The RAIL Lab places Wits at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and robotics research while advancing the university’s broader mission to address local and global challenges through innovative, ethical science and technology.