Russian Teens Build Voice-Controlled Robot That Navigates Without GPS

A student-led robotics project in Russia has produced a wheeled robot that follows voice commands and operates in GPS-denied environments using AI-powered visual navigation.

A team of high school students in Russia is developing a smart wheeled robot that relies on artificial intelligence and visual recognition, not GPS, to move through its surroundings. The project, led by Timur Ochilov from the Vladikavkaz Physics and Math Boarding School, is supported by Sirius, a federal innovation hub, and Yandex’s School of Data Analysis.

The robot uses cameras to recognize visual markers and navigate its environment. Voice commands trigger it to explore, identify key locations, and travel to specific targets. Because it doesn’t depend on satellite navigation, it can function in places where GPS signals are blocked or unreliable.

“Our robot doesn’t rely on GPS, which makes it ideal for environments where satellite navigation isn’t available. That opens up all sorts of possibilities—from autonomous waiter service to robotic lawnmowing,” said Ochilov.

The student team plans to further improve the robot’s computer vision algorithms and explore new applications. With AI and autonomy increasingly at the center of robotics development, this project is a notable example of grassroots innovation.