Alaaeddine el Chaarani

Ph.D. candidate in Underwater Robotics focused on autonomous docking, mechanical design, long-term deployment systems, and educational robotics.

Profile

Experienced researcher and engineer with a strong background in underwater robotics, DRL-based control, mechanical design, manufacturing, and robotics education. I deliver robust autonomous systems for long-term deployment and field robotics applications, combining multidisciplinary research and hands-on development.

Experience

Mechanical & Computer Systems Engineer

VicoRob Research Group, Girona, Spain | 2022–Present

  • Designed the launch and recovery system for the Girona autonomous vehicle (Tandem Project).
  • Built a sim-to-real adaptation pipeline for AUV docking using deep reinforcement learning (AI4AUV).
  • Designed and developed the Mini Girona AUV prototype (2024–2025).
  • Built a 3-DoF underwater alignment mechanical system for the PLOME project.
  • Designed floatations for the Girona 300 autonomous vehicle (OptiHROV).
  • Internship work included docking station design for the Girona AUV (June 2021).

Robot Club Manager / Coach

AlBayan High School, Lebanon | 2013–2021

  • Developed robotics curricula and teacher guides for LEGO, VEX, REV, and Arduino.
  • Managed over twenty-four national and six international robotics competitions.
  • Built coaching programs for students and instructors across multiple age groups.

Co-founder & Trainer

North Robotics Club, Lebanon | 2018–2021

  • Designed robotics and Arduino training programs for teachers and students.
  • Prepared trainers to teach classes of 7–12 students in engineering and robotics.

Physics Teacher

AlBayan High School & David Karam Educational Center, Lebanon | 2017–2021

  • Taught physics to secondary-level classes and supported student STEM development.

Education

Ph.D. Candidate in Underwater Robotics

Universitat de Girona, Spain | Sep 2023–2027

  • Developing long-term underwater deployment systems integrating perception, localization, control, and planning.
  • Implemented DRL workflows using Stonefish, stable-baselines, and gym.
  • Performed autonomous docking with Girona AUV in test tank and sea experiments.

Master in Intelligent Field Robotics Systems

UDG, Spain & ELTE, Hungary | Sep 2021–May 2023

  • Joint Erasmus Mundus program — grade 8.41/10.
  • Worked on automation, perception, localization, and intervention of field robots.
  • Delivered hands-on projects with TurtleBot, AgileX, and Girona AUV.

MS in Mechanical Engineering

Lebanese International University, Lebanon | Sep 2012–May 2017

  • 3-year B.Sc. and 2-year M.Sc. — grade 8.19/10.
  • Studied material science, thermodynamics, hydraulics, engines, and manufacturing.

Publications

  • Sim-to-reality adaptation for Deep Reinforcement Learning applied to an underwater docking application — arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.12020, 2026. Authors: Chaarani, Alaaeddine; Palomeras, Narcis; Ridao, Pere.
  • Advancing Shared and Multi-Agent Autonomy in Underwater Missions: Integrating Knowledge Graphs and Retrieval-Augmented Generation — arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.20370, 2025. Authors: Grimaldi, Michele; Cernicchiaro, Carlo; Rua, Sebastian Realpe; Chaarani, Alaaeddine; Buchholz, Markus; Michael, Loizos; Rodriguez, Pere Ridao; Carlucho, Ignacio; Petillot, Yvan R.
  • Three-Dimensional Binary Marker: A Novel Underwater Marker Applicable for Long-Term Deployment Scenarios — Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Vol. 13, No. 8, p. 1442, 2025. Authors: Chaarani, Alaaeddine; Cieslak, Patryk; Esteba, Joan; Eichhardt, Ivan; Ridao, Pere.
  • A Docking Station Proposal for the Girona I-AUV — OCEANS 2025 Brest, 2025. Authors: Chaarani, Alaaeddine; Esteba, Joan; Cieslak, Patryk; Ridao, Pere.
  • An accessible I-AUV for research and teaching of underwater robotics — MARTECH 2025, 2025. Authors: Chaarani, Alaaeddine; Realpe, Sebastian; Cieslak, Patryk; Ridao, Pere.
  • Development and experimental testing of the Girona AUV autonomous docking using a novel marker design for underwater localization — Universitat de Girona. Institut de Recerca en Visió per Computador i Robòtica, 2021. Author: Chaarani, Alaaeddine.

Achievements

  • Coached Lebanon representative team at First Global Challenge, Mexico City (2018).
  • 3rd-Place Strategy and Innovation Award, FLL Bath, UK (2016).
  • 1st-Place Research Award, FLL Tenerife, Spain (2015).
  • 1st-place Master Thesis Project, Tripoli Syndicate of Engineering and Architecture (2017).