site.btaINSAIT Develops Breakthrough 3D AI Model for Robots

The Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) at Sofia University launched SPEAR-1, a foundation AI model that provides robots with unprecedented three-dimensional spatial understanding. The open-access technology will be available free of charge to researchers and companies worldwide, marking a significant step toward a future where robots are integrated into homes, factories, and cities, the Education Ministry said Thursday, citing the institute.

The news has been widely covered by leading international media outlets, with predictions that the innovation could reshape the global robotics landscape. Until now, such advanced models have been developed only by multibillion-dollar corporations, many of which keep their technology proprietary. By releasing SPEAR-1 openly, INSAIT aims to accelerate global research and innovation in robotics, enabling the creation of highly efficient autonomous systems.

Unlike most fundamental robotics models based on visual-language systems trained with flat 2D images, SPEAR-1 uses real 3D data, allowing it to better understand how objects move and interact in space. This novel approach reduces the need for training data by up to 20 times compared to conventional robotic systems. The model learns simultaneously from robotic action data and three-dimensional spatial data, overcoming one of the major challenges in the field – the dependence on costly and hard-to-obtain robot training datasets.

SPEAR-1 is the robotic equivalent of large language models such as BgGPT or ChatGPT. It can interpret human instructions and control various types of robots performing diverse tasks across different environments. Its open and universal architecture makes it a foundation for future research and applications in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.

Through the development of SPEAR-1, INSAIT reinforces Europe’s position as a leading hub for innovation in robotics and 3D computing. The project team includes Nikolay Nikolov, Giuliano Albanese, Sombit Dey, Aleksandar Yanev, Prof. Luc Van Gool, Dr. Jan-Nico Zaech, and Dr. Danda Paudel.

INSAIT is the first institute of its kind in Eastern Europe to provide research conditions matching those of leading Western universities and institutes. It is structured as a special unit of Sofia University and was established in partnership with Switzerland’s ETH Zurich and EPFL, two of the world’s top technological universities. The institute is guided and advised by leading scientists from leading US, European and Israeli universities and research laboratories. INSAIT’s primary focus is scientific excellence: conducting world-class research, attracting outstanding international scholars, and training the next generation of students and technology leaders.