Robotics Engineering · WPI ELPIS Lab

Ali Golestaneh

Robotics researcher

Motion planning · Robot learning · Nonprehensile manipulation

I study planning and manipulation for robots operating with uncertain, changing dynamics.

Ali Golestaneh, Robotics Ph.D. student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute · ELPIS Lab

Selected work

Publications

All publications
Figure 1 from MetaPusher showing the four-step method overview for adapting and planning pushesFigure 1
arXiv preprint2026Preprint

MetaPusher: Meta Learning and Planning for Nonprehensile Manipulation of Unseen Objects with Rapid Online Adaption

Donghyung Lee, Seyedali Golestaneh, Jaskrit Singh, Zhuoyun Zhong, Athanasios Kapoutsis, Constantinos Chamzas

arXiv
BibTeX
@article{lee2026metapusher,
  title={MetaPusher: Meta Learning and Planning for Nonprehensile Manipulation of Unseen Objects with Rapid Online Adaption},
  author={Lee, Donghyung and Golestaneh, Seyedali and Singh, Jaskrit and Zhong, Zhuoyun and Kapoutsis, Athanasios and Chamzas, Constantinos},
  journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2609.21122},
  year={2026}
}
Figure 1 from AURA illustrating a robot pushing an object, an execution deviation, and replanned pathsFigure 1
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters2026Accepted · Sep 2026

AURA: Asymptotically Optimal Uncertainty-Robust Replanning Algorithm for Kinodynamic Systems

Seyedali Golestaneh, Zhuoyun Zhong, Donghyung Lee, Constantinos Chamzas

PaperarXivCode
BibTeX
@article{golestaneh2026aura,
  title={AURA: Asymptotically Optimal Uncertainty-Robust Replanning Algorithm for Kinodynamic Systems},
  author={Golestaneh, Seyedali and Zhong, Zhuoyun and Lee, Donghyung and Chamzas, Constantinos},
  journal={IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters},
  year={2026}
}
Figure 1 from ActivePusher introducing active learning and planning skills for nonprehensile manipulationFigure 1
IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)2026Best Student Paper Award

ActivePusher: Active Learning and Planning with Residual Physics for Nonprehensile Manipulation

Zhuoyun Zhong, Seyedali Golestaneh, Constantinos Chamzas

arXivCodeVideo
BibTeX
@inproceedings{zhong2026activepusher,
  title={ActivePusher: Active Learning and Planning with Residual Physics for Nonprehensile Manipulation},
  author={Zhong, Zhuoyun and Golestaneh, Seyedali and Chamzas, Constantinos},
  booktitle={2026 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA)},
  year={2026}
}
  1. AURA accepted to IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters

    The work studies uncertainty-robust replanning for kinodynamic systems.

    Paper
  2. MetaPusher preprint posted to arXiv

    Online adaptation and planning for manipulation of unseen objects.

    Preprint
  3. ActivePusher receives the ICRA Best Student Paper Award

    The paper combines active learning, residual physics, and planning for nonprehensile manipulation.

    Paper
  4. Best Student Paper Award at the Hellenic Robotics Forum

Academic path

Education and research

Full CV PDF

Education

Aug 2024–present

Ph.D. in Robotics Engineering

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

ELPIS Lab · GPA 4.0/4.0 across the first 36 credits
Sep 2018–Sep 2023

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Iran University of Science and Technology

GPA 16.12/20 (3.34/4.0)

Research and professional experience

Aug 2024–present

Research Assistant

ELPIS Lab · Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Learning dynamics for manipulation and motion planning.
Sep 2021–Jul 2024

Research Assistant

Mechatronics Laboratory · IUST

Simulation and construction of legged robots.
Jul–Sep 2020

Mechanical Engineering Intern

Rahe Andisheh Company

Reverse engineering, mechanical design, component selection, and prototype testing.

Selected recognition

Awards

  • 2026Best Student Paper AwardIEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) · For ActivePusher.
  • 2026Best Student Paper AwardHellenic Robotics Forum (HRF)
  • 2026Glenn Yee Travel AwardRobotics Engineering Graduate Student · WPI
  • 2022Top 10% among Mechanical Engineering studentsIran University of Science and Technology