The Guidance, Control and Decision Systems Laboratory (GCDSL) is a research laboratory located within the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. The laboratory undertakes research in the areas of guidance, navigation, control, robotics, and multi-agent decision making, with applications spanning aerial, ground, and underwater autonomous systems.
| Name | Guidance, Control and Decision Systems Laboratory (GCDSL) |
|---|---|
| Parent institution | Indian Institute of Science |
| Department | Aerospace Engineering |
| Location | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Field | Robotics, guidance and control, autonomous systems |
| Type | Academic research laboratory |
The laboratory is part of IISc's broader research ecosystem in aerospace engineering, robotics, and systems science. Its research portfolio typically includes problems in trajectory optimisation, missile and spacecraft guidance, cooperative control of multiple vehicles, path planning, and decision making under uncertainty. Both theoretical contributions and experimental platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and mobile robots, are part of the laboratory's activities.
IISc, established in 1909, has a long-standing presence in aerospace research through its Department of Aerospace Engineering, one of the oldest such departments in India. Robotics and control research at IISc has expanded over the decades into specialised laboratories that interface with national programmes in defence, space, and civilian autonomy. GCDSL operates within this tradition, contributing to academic research, doctoral training, and collaborative projects with national agencies.
GCDSL is described in open knowledge sources as a leading robotic research centre in India. Its work supports the broader Indian effort in autonomous systems, with relevance to organisations such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The laboratory also serves as a training ground for postgraduate and doctoral students who go on to academic, industrial, and governmental positions in aerospace and robotics.