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Engineering the Future of Intelligent, Connected Systems

Opened in January 2018, the UVA Engineering Link Lab is a world-class interdisciplinary center of excellence in cyber-physical systems. The Link Lab consists of more than 350 faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from multiple departments and conducts innovative work in Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Smart and Connected Health, Hardware for IoT, and Smart Cities.

UVA Engineering Link Lab

The Link Lab brings together faculty, students, industry, and government partners to advance interdisciplinary research and education in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and develop technologies that improve the way we live, work, and connect.

  • Close-up of a yellow four-legged robotic platform equipped with multiple cameras and sensors, displayed indoors at a technology showcase. The robot is in sharp focus in the foreground, while several attendees and exhibit spaces appear blurred in the background, emphasizing robotics research and autonomous systems development.

    Research

    The Link Lab brings together a collaborative and internationally recognized community of researchers dedicated to solving complex challenges at the intersection of the cyber and physical worlds. Through interdisciplinary research, our faculty and students advance CPS, drive innovation, and address real-world problems with meaningful societal impact.

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    Education

    The Link Lab supports a state-of-the-art education in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). The need for such a program has been highlighted in a National Academies Study on a 21st Century CPS Education Report. Through innovative coursework, testbeds, and cross-listed courses within different departments, students gain the knowledge and experience needed for CPS. 

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    Collaboration

    Collaboration is at the core of the Link Lab's approach to advancing cyber-physical systems research. By bringing together faculty, students, industry, government, and community partners, we foster interdisciplinary collaborations that accelerate discovery, prepare the next generation of innovators, and create solutions with lasting real-world impact.

Research Spotlight

A humanoid robot stands on a laboratory floor in a robotics workspace. White workbenches line the walls, holding computers, electronic equipment, and several remote-controlled vehicle prototypes. A wooden shipping crate sits beneath one bench, and tools hang on a pegboard near large windows in the background. Cables are visible throughout the room, and part of a person is visible at the right edge of the image.

New Humanoid Robot

Humanoid robots are emerging as a promising research tool for advancing autonomous mobility and manipulation, but current systems remain limited in their ability to operate reliably in the complex, dynamic conditions of everyday human environments. The new Unitree G1 humanoid robot in Rohan Chandra's lab, provides UVA researchers with a shared platform to develop and test high-speed, resilient, and intelligent robotic behaviors, supporting the broader goal of creating agile humanoid systems capable of real-world applications.

Three people stand close together in front of the entrance to a brick building with white columns and a hanging lantern. The person on the left wears a light blue button-down shirt, the person in the center wears a tan sweater and light-colored pants, and the person on the right wears a purple shirt with a lanyard. Glass doors and windows are visible behind the group in bright daylight.

Student Spotlight

Congratulations to Dr. Wendy Qi on successfully earning her Ph.D. As the first doctoral student to graduate from Daniel Otero-Leon’s research group in the Department of Systems and Information Engineering, Dr. Qi's work highlights the innovative Smart Health research and interdisciplinary collaboration between the Link Lab, UVA Health, and the Department of Public Health Sciences.

Upcoming Event

Join us for the 2026 UVA Link Lab Research Day - a day dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge research in Cyber-Physical Systems. This full-day event will bring together industry leaders, government stakeholders, and academic researchers to explore current and future CPS research and innovation. 

Date: Friday, September 25
Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Location: Link Lab

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Research Day Website>

Register Here>

The Link Lab has given me far more than a place to do research. It has connected me with an interdisciplinary community that challenged me to think bigger, collaborate across fields, and pursue research with real-world impact.

headshot of student outside posting with crossed arms in front of red brick pillars. Kamiar Khayambashi Ph.D. Student

Watch: Inside Look at the Link Lab

This is a video overview of the Link Lab created in 2018. Runtime is 6:43

This video was created when the Link Lab opened in 2018. While it reflects the Link Lab's early days, it provides a great introduction to the collaborative vision and mission that continues to drive our research today.

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