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University of Bonn
Chelsea FinnAssistant Professor · Stanford UniversityResearcher↗
Researcher · Academic · Founder
Sebastian Thrun
DuloFounder
Stanford UniversityAdjunct Professor
🇩🇪 GermanBorn 1967
A pioneer of self-driving cars, Thrun led Stanford’s Stanley to victory in the 2005 DARPA robot race[2] and started Google’s self-driving project, now Waymo. He founded Google X, co-founded Udacity to widen access to tech education, and co-wrote Probabilistic Robotics, a standard text on how robots navigate an uncertain world.[1]
Career & education
Current rolesStanford University2016-presentAdjunct Professor
Founder
Stanford University2016-presentPreviously
Work and education history is primarily focused on AI-relevant roles and may not be comprehensive.
Citation Trend
Total citations to scholarly work, including research papers, technical reports, books and theses, as recorded by Google Scholar. Each point is a dated snapshot.
citations184,644As of Nov 1, '26
citations+2,032Since last snapshot, Oct 1, '26
References
- Sebastian Thrun — Stanford biographyrobots.stanford.edu
Sebastian Thrun — Stanford biography supports the anchored contribution. Existing two sources retained and anchored. Stanford biography verifies Stanley, Chauffeur/Waymo, Google X, Udacity and Probabilistic Robotics; DARPA confirms 2005 result. Existing prose preserved.
- DARPA Grand Challengedarpa.mil
DARPA Grand Challenge supports the anchored contribution. Existing two sources retained and anchored. Stanford biography verifies Stanley, Chauffeur/Waymo, Google X, Udacity and Probabilistic Robotics; DARPA confirms 2005 result. Existing prose preserved.
Based on public sources. If accuracy is important, verify details using the links or references.
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Reviewed September 5, 2026 · Checked for accuracy and new information.
