Leading U.S. robotics research centers: At which institution is the Robotics Institute (a prominent American robotics center) located?

Introduction / Context:
Robotics research in the United States has flourished at several universities and labs. The question targets knowledge of a flagship academic center: the Robotics Institute, widely recognized for pioneering work spanning perception, manipulation, and autonomous systems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The Robotics Institute is a distinct, named entity.
• It is affiliated with a major U.S. university known for engineering and computer science.
• Other organizations listed engage in research but are not the home of this specific institute.

Concept / Approach:
Map the official institute name to the correct university. Both MIT and SRI are historic AI/robotics sites, and RAND contributed to AI theory, but the ‘‘Robotics Institute’’ specifically resides at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
The institute’s long-standing contributions include self-driving vehicles, humanoid robots, and field robotics, peer-reviewed publications, and renowned faculty—hallmarks of CMU’s leadership.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• MIT: A robotics powerhouse, but ‘‘Robotics Institute’’ is not its formal unit name.
• SRI: Influential research lab, different organization.
• RAND: Policy and research, not the institute named here.
• None of the above: incorrect because CMU is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing leading robotics programs with the specific branded institute name.

Final Answer:
CMU (Carnegie Mellon University)