Robots Take Over UT Austin in a Parade of Innovation

Drums echoed down Speedway as a lively procession of robots rolled, strutted, and danced through the University of Texas at Austin. What looked like a scene from science fiction was very real: Texas Robotics’ campus takeover, complete with a drumline, dancers, and dozens of bots showing off cutting-edge capabilities.

On Nov. 13, UT’s Texas Robotics program staged its annual celebration, ending at Gregory Gym after a full parade packed with charm and engineering prowess. Robots twerked to Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, chatted with curious students, and performed acrobatic stunts that drew cheers from the crowd.

The robot parade takes over Speedway on UT’s campus.

Carson Stark, whose robot Dobby uses large language models like ChatGPT, loved seeing visitors—especially kids—light up with excitement. “They’re super wide-eyed and I think inspired to go into the robotics field,” he said.

Crowd favorite Spot, Boston Dynamics’ famous quadruped, dazzled with jumps and agile maneuvers. Its programmer, Masayuki Yamazaki, shared the team’s long-term vision: “We want to make our robot more like living animals.”

But the parade wasn’t just about entertainment. Student researcher Juliana Iverson highlighted the deeper purpose behind the program’s work—developing robotic exosuits to support amputees and reduce long-term joint damage. “Robotics is so interdisciplinary,” she said. “There’s not just one thing to learn.”

With over 300 students across undergraduate and graduate programs, Texas Robotics is booming, blending creativity, science, engineering, and public excitement into one unforgettable campus tradition.