Frank Dellaert
Frank Dellaert is a professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, where he applies probabilistic methods in computer vision and robotics. After studying electrical engineering in Belgium, he earned a Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon and joined Georgia Tech in 2001. In 1999 he helped develop the Monte Carlo localization algorithm with Dieter Fox, Sebastian Thrun, and Wolfram Burgard. A Monte Carlo localization paper from AAAI 1999 received the 2017 AAAI Classic Paper Award, and his industry roles included chief scientist at Skydio in 2015–2016 and CTO at Verdant Robotics from 2022 to 2024. In 2025 he switched to a part-time role as chief AI officer.
Timeline
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1984–1989
Electrical engineering in Leuven
At the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, he studies electrical engineering from 1984 to 1989.
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1999
The Monte Carlo localization algorithm
In 1999 he helps develop the Monte Carlo localization algorithm with Dieter Fox, Sebastian Thrun, and Wolfram Burgard.
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2001–2005
A Georgia Tech faculty post
After a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science, he joins Georgia Tech in 2001. In 2005 he wins an NSF CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.
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2015–2018
Skydio and Facebook's Building 8
In 2015–2016 he serves as chief scientist at Skydio, and in 2016–2018 he serves as technical project lead at Facebook's Building 8.
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2017
AAAI Classic Paper Award
A Monte Carlo localization paper from AAAI 1999, co-authored by him, receives the 2017 AAAI Classic Paper Award.
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2020–2022
Working at Google AI
From 2020 to 2022 he works for Google AI.
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2022–2025
CTO at Verdant Robotics
He serves as CTO at Verdant Robotics from 2022 to 2024. In 2025 he switches to a part-time role as chief AI officer.
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As of October 2026
Professor at Georgia Tech
He is a professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech, where he applies probabilistic methods in computer vision and robotics. His research group's ideas appear in GTSAM, a C++ library for inference and optimization with factor graphs.
Sources and credits
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