Edwin Babaians

Co-Founder / CTO @ Olive Robotics

About

I am a Robotics Architect, serial entrepreneur, and deep-tech innovator working at the intersection of AI, embedded systems, and real-time robotics.I help companies design, debug, and improve ROS2-based robotic systems, simulations, and AI-driven pipelines — delivering fast, reliable solutions to complex system-level challenges.With a PhD in robotics and experience as CTO of an award-winning deep-tech startup, I specialize in solving high-impact technical problems efficiently, from prototyping to production systems.As Co-Founder and CTO of Olive Robotics, a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), I focus on building next-generation AI-native, ROS 2–powered sensor and robotics platforms. Our work aims to redefine how robots are designed and deployed by embedding intelligence directly into hardware and enabling scalable, interoperable robotic systems.Olive Robotics has received international recognition for its innovation, including the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, 1st place at the Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) Startup Award, and a Top 3 position at the European Robotics Forum (ERF). The company is also part of the NVIDIA Inception Program and an active member of the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA).My expertise lies in architecting end-to-end robotic systems, combining AI-driven sensor fusion, embedded intelligence, and real-time system design. I work extensively with ROS 2–native architectures, edge AI, and scalable robotics platforms that operate reliably in both research and industrial environments.Earlier in my career, I received the Startup World Award at AUTOMATICA 2016 for developing the Olive Smart Suitcase, a service robotics concept recognized at the global level.As a serial entrepreneur, I have also founded ventures in robotics and education, including Robokids, an initiative focused on teaching robotics and AI to younger generations. In parallel, I publish technical content and provide consulting in robotics, embedded AI, and system architecture.My expertise includes:- ROS2-based system design and debugging- Robotics simulation with Unity3D and NVIDIA Isaac Sim- Digital twins, visualization, and virtual prototyping- Real-time embedded systems and edge AI

Country

Germany

City

Ottobrunn

Industry

Research

Skill

C++, Programming, C#, Robotics, Android Development, Game Development, Algorithms, OOP, Software Engineering, Computer Vision, Electronics, Mobile Games, Image Processing, Game Design, Matlab, Java, Unity3D, Visual Studio, Python, Eclipse

Experience

Co-Founder / CTO

Olive Robotics

2023-1 - Present · 3 yrs 9 mos

Munich

Co-founder and CTO of Olive Robotics, building advanced robotics systems with a focus on embedded AI, sensor fusion, and ROS2-native architectures. Leading the development of next-generation intelligent sensors and robotics platforms, including: - AI-powered IMU and perception systems - ROS2-based distributed robotic architectures - Real-time embedded systems for industrial and research applications Responsible for: - System architecture (hardware + software) - Robotics software stack (ROS2, C++, Python) - AI integration inside edge devices - Productization from research to market Achievements: - Award-winning technology recognized in European robotics ecosystem - Deployment of production-grade robotics systems - Building scalable, modular robotics infrastructure Focus: bridging research-grade robotics with real-world deployment.

Co-Founder / CTO

Phiji

2016-7 - Present · 10 yrs 3 mos

Tehran Province, Iran

Co-founder and CTO of Arsam Robotics, focused on robotics education, research, and applied AI systems. Led development of robotics platforms and training programs, including: - Service robots and autonomous systems - AI-based perception and control systems - Robotics education platforms (Robokids initiative) Built and managed multidisciplinary teams working on: - Robotics software (C++ / Python / ROS) - Embedded systems - Human-robot interaction Contributed to multiple robotics competitions and research initiatives, achieving top international rankings.

Research Assistant

Technical University of Munich

2019-4 - 2023-11 · 4 yrs 8 mos

Greater Munich Metropolitan Area

Research Assistant at Technical University of Munich (TUM), working on advanced robotics and AI systems. Focused on: - ROS2-based robotic architectures - Sensor fusion and perception systems - Real-time robotics software Contributions: - Development of scalable robotics frameworks - Research-to-product transition in robotics systems - Collaboration with industry and research partners Worked in high-impact research environments including projects related to 5G-enabled robotics systems.

CTO Software

IKAP Robotics

2015-1 - 2016-1 · 1 yr 1 mo

Pardis Technology Park, Tehran, Iran

Led software development for industrial robotics systems. Responsibilities: - Architecture and implementation of robotics software systems - Control and automation systems - Integration of hardware and software components Built production-level robotics software for real-world applications.

Software Development Manager

Amirkabir University of Technology - Tehran Polytechnic

2014 - 2016 · 2 yrs

AUT - Tehran

Led robotics software development for the AUT@Home (Sourena Team). Key achievements: - Development of service robot "Sepanta" and "Sepanta II" - 1st place – AUTCup 2013 - 2nd place – IranOpen 2014 - 8th place – RoboCup 2014 (Brazil) Managed team working on: - Autonomous navigation - Computer vision - Human-robot interaction Built competitive robotics systems at international level.

Research Staff / Software Development Specialist

CAST (Center of Advanced Systems and Technologies)

2014 - 2015 · 1 yr

Tehran Province, Iran

Worked on the Sourena III humanoid robot project (national robotics initiative). Focus: - Human-robot interaction - AI-based perception and control - Software systems for humanoid robotics Contributed to development of one of the most advanced humanoid robots in the region.

Hardware Designer

Sharif University of Technology

2012 - 2013 · 1 yr

Sharif University of Technology - Vision Lab

Designed and developed hardware systems for service robots (Robix project). Focus: - Embedded systems - Sensor integration - Robotics hardware architecture

Software Developer

IRIB

2010 - 2012 · 2 yrs

Tehran

Developed real-time software systems for national television broadcasting. Projects: - Live 3D statistics visualization system (audience interaction via SMS) - Real-time sports data broadcasting systems Built high-performance, real-time applications under production constraints.