- RoboCup-worldwide - lists.robocup.org

Postdoc Position in RL/imitation learning for robot navigation in simulated environments (University of Edinburgh, UK)
by Stefano V. Albrecht 12 Dec '23

12 Dec '23

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Position “Reinforcement learning and imitation learning for robot navigation in simulated environments” About the position We are seeking a motivated candidate to fill a postdoctoral research fellow position in “Reinforcement learning and imitation learning for robot navigation in simulated environments”. This position will be hosted and located in the Autonomous Agents Research Group (https://agents.inf.ed.ac.uk) in the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. The researcher will be supervised jointly by Prof. Stefano V. Albrecht (University of Edinburgh) and Prof. Concetto Spampinato (University of Catania). What will you be doing Contribute to the project through research activities, including: • Conduct a comprehensive literature review to understand the current state-of-the-art in reinforcement learning, imitation learning, and robot navigation. • Develop novel reinforcement learning and imitation learning algorithms tailored to the specific challenges of robot navigation in our simulated environment MIDGARD (https://midgardsim.org/). • Design, together with engineers, more realistic and diverse simulated environments that capture the complexities of real-world scenarios in MIDGARD. • Develop evaluation metrics and protocols to assess the performance of reinforcement learning and imitation learning algorithms in these environments. • Define and validate methods for sim-to-real challenges that may arise in the transition from simulation to physical robots. This activity will be carried out jointly with robotics researchers. Candidate requirements PhD in AI, machine learning, computer science, or related area. Excellent publication track record in leading conferences for AI/ML/robotics research. Background and expertise in one or more of the following areas: • RL and imitation learning algorithms • Knowledge of robotic systems and challenges in navigation • Solid foundation in machine and deep learning concepts and techniques • Proficient in Python and Pytorch algorithm development Employment package 12 months initially, with option to extend to 36 months subject to performance review. Standard salary for research postdoc in Italy (1.500 Euros/month). Accommodation costs (i.e. rent) are additionally covered. Paid trips to conferences to present work. Desktop/laptop computer. How to apply Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the PeRCeiVe Lab research admin at alessia.spitaleri(a)unict.it<mailto:alessia.spitaleri@unict.it> for further details on how to apply and support with the application process. For questions about the position and research, please contact Prof. Stefano Albrecht (s.albrecht(a)ed.ac.uk<mailto:s.albrecht@ed.ac.uk>) and Prof. Concetto Spampinato (concetto.spampinato(a)unict.it<mailto:concetto.spampinato@unict.it>). Applications close: December 27th 2023 at noon (Italian time) -- Dr. Stefano V. Albrecht Associate Professor, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh Head of Autonomous Agents Research Group (https://agents.inf.ed.ac.uk) Royal Society Industry Fellow, Five AI/Bosch (www.five.ai<http://www.five.ai>) Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellow, Dematic/KION (www.dematic.com<http://www.dematic.com>) The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th’ ann an Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, clàraichte an Alba, àireamh clàraidh SC005336.

1 0

Call for Posters: ISAIM 2024 Special Session on Deep Reinforcement Learning
by Diochnos, Dimitrios 10 Dec '23

10 Dec '23

Call for Posters: International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics (ISAIM) 2024 Special Session on Deep Reinforcement Learning Submission: https://forms.gle/MJuSJHJpuJ3mFevf6 Workshop Theme: "Deep Reinforcement Learning: Bridging Theory and Practice" https://isaim-deeprl.github.io/2024/ Dates & Venue: January 8, 9, 2024, collocated with the International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Mathematics (ISAIM), Fort Lauderdale, FL. Overview: Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) stands at the forefront of AI research, shaping the future of diverse fields from robotics to finance. However, the journey from theoretical foundations to practical applications in DRL is laden with challenges. Our workshop, a special session of ISAIM 2024, aims to address these challenges by fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the latest advancements in DRL. We will discuss a variety of talks (including but not limited to) sample efficiency, exploration vs. exploitation, transfer learning, stability and convergence, and real-world application barriers. Invited Speakers: Benjamin Eysenbach (Princeton) Aviral Kumar (CMU / Google) Pulkit Agrawal (MIT) Chi Jin (Princeton) Sanjiban Choudhury (Cornell) Wen Sun (Cornell) Kaiqing Zhang (UMD) Max Simchowitz (MIT) Animesh Garg (Georgia Tech) Zhuoran Yang (Yale) Objective: Our goal is to illuminate the connection between the theoretical and practical aspects of DRL, addressing inherent challenges in the field. Participants will gain comprehensive knowledge, backed by expert-led discussions, talks and lively interaction. Target Audience: This workshop is ideal for researchers, AI practitioners, graduate students, and industry professionals keen on exploring the forefront of Deep Reinforcement Learning. Call for Posters: We invite submissions for poster presentations that align with the theme of the workshop. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your research, share novel ideas, and interact with experts in the field. There will be a lot of engaging discussion and all relevant work is welcome! Submission Guidelines: Poster topics should be relevant to DRL and its challenges. But this is defined very broadly, please submit if you think at all relevant! Abstracts should be concise, clearly outlining objectives, methodology, and findings. Include author(s) name, affiliation, and contact information. Flexible on format, 4+ page papers accepted! Submission Deadline: Jan 5, 2024 Contact Information: zhaoranwang(a)gmail.com or abhgupta(a)cs.washington.edu Join us in exploring the intricate world of DRL and contribute to bridging the gap between theory and practice. We look forward to your insightful contributions and lively discussions! Organizers: Abhishek Gupta (UW), Zhaoran Wang (Northwestern), Aldo Pacchiano (Boston University / Broad Institute), Claudio Gentile (Google)

1 0

Robot Fleet Management with Open-RMF Training 2024
by Yuhong Lin 05 Dec '23

05 Dec '23

Final Call for Early Bird: Mastering Robot Fleet Management with Open-RMF Training (01/22-01/24, 2024) Dear Roboticists, Don't miss out on the final chance to secure your spot at the upcoming 4th edition of "Mastering Robot Fleet Management with Open-RMF Training," scheduled to be held online from January 22 to 24, 2024. *Training Details:* - *Dates*: January 22 - 24, 2024 - *Location*: Live Online Classes + Remote Real Robot Practice - *Time*: 9:00 – 18:00 Central European Time (CET) - *Limited Seats:* Only 15 participants - *Website*: https://www.theconstructsim.com/robot-fleet-management-ros2-open-rmf-traini… <https://www.theconstructsim.com/robot-fleet-management-ros2-open-rmf-traini…> *About the Training:* Join industry mentors for a 3-Day Live Training: Gain practical skills in configuring, deploying, and managing robot fleets with open-source software (Open-RMF), while learning how to apply it to your real multi-robot scenarios. *What You Will Learn:* - RMF basic structure - How to create a compliant RMF simulation - How to set up Free Fleet for autonomous mobile robots - How to set up basic tasks like Deliver, Clean, Patrol, and Charge - How to create your own custom fleet adapter to integrate API and ROS2 systems of your robot into RMF. - How to dock in RMF - How to clean with RMF - How to create a GUI for humans to interact with RMF *Training Highlights:* - Expert instruction from industry professionals - Hands-on experience with real robots - Interactive exercises with simulated robots - Practical application in a real multi-robot environment – Starbots Coffee Lab *Practical Sessions @ Starbots Coffee Lab:* Throughout the training, you will have the opportunity to apply your newfound knowledge in real-world scenarios at the Starbots Coffee Lab, a multi-robot system application. Learn more at https://www.theconstructsim.com/robot-fleet-management-ros2-open-rmf-traini… <https://www.theconstructsim.com/robot-fleet-management-ros2-open-rmf-traini…> . For any inquiries regarding this training, please feel free to contact us at info(a)theconstructsim.com. Best regards, The Construct team

1 0

[meetings] ICSR 2023 - Registration for International Conference on Social Robotics
by Alessandra Rossi 25 Nov '23

25 Nov '23

Dear everyone, we would like to invite you to participate at the 15th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR 2023) that will be held in Doha, Qatar, on December 3-7, 2023. The theme of this year’s conference is *“Human-Robot Collaboration: Sea, Air, Land, Space and Cyberspace”.* The theme emphasizes on all physical and cyber-physical domains where humans and robots collaborate. Registration is open! It is possible to register for Online-Only Conference Participation (Dec 5-6). Includes: online participation for 1. Plenary conference talks 2. Podium conference talks. Registration info are https://icsr23.qa/registration/ The program details here: https://icsr23.qa/program/ <https://icsr23.qa/program/?fbclid=IwAR22qmwGNE4jV5aBrukQmDEdmRfvhFC4WAG2KN4…> best regards Alessandra

1 0

[meetings][CFP] ICSR 2023: Adaptive Social Interaction based on user’s Mental mOdels and behaVior in HRI - ASIMOV Workshop
by Alessandra Rossi 23 Nov '23

23 Nov '23

****** Apologies for multiple emails - Errata corridge ******* ASIMOV Adaptive Social Interaction based on user’s Mental mOdels and behaVior in HRI the 15th International Conference on Social Robotics <https://icsr23.qa> 03-07 December 2023, Doha (Qatar) Important Dates - Deadline for Paper Submission: November 26th, 2023 - Paper Acceptance Notification: November 30th, 2023 - Camera Ready Paper: December 1st, 2023 - Main Conference Date: December 3rd–7th, 2023 - Workshop Date: December 4th, 2023 (14:00-17:00 - UCT+3) The ability to understand and adapt to people’s mental models is a key objective for enabling natural, efficient, and successful human-robot interaction (HRI), in particular in human-centered scenarios where robots are expected to meet people’s social conventions. Theory of mind and mental models are largely investigated in human-computer interactions, however, it is still unclear what level of others’ mental states a robot should be aware of in order to communicate with people in a transparent and socially acceptable way. The ASIMOV workshop will constitute a unique opportunity to gather roboticists and computer scientists to discuss a variety of current and new approaches aiming at endowing social robots with learning abilities, enhancing cognitive and social abilities based on mutual understanding (i.e. shared Theory of Mind). Target Audience This workshop is intended as a forum for a broad audience, which spans social and assistive robotics, cognitive and behavioral robotics, and social awareness and explainability in HRI. The workshop should be a place to exchange opinions, discuss innovative ideas, and get hints and suggestions on ongoing research, therefore contributing to tackling unresolved issues. The proposed topic brings together researchers working on user behavior and intention detection, human-robot interaction, social and assistive robotics, control interfaces, learning, and ethical and safety issues in human-machine interaction, among others. A large scientific community is involved in such research fields. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: - Mental models in HRI - Human-aware perception-action loop - Emotion and intention recognition - Empathy and Theory of Mind in Robotics - Mutual affective understanding - Real-time monitoring of behavior and mental states - Detection of non-verbal behavioral cues - Online adaptive behavior - Acceptability and personalization - Physiological monitoring and biofeedback systems - BCI (brain-computer interfaces)-enabled adaptive interaction - Short- and Long-term personalization - Human partnership and trust in HRI - Explainable AI in HRI - Security and safety in HRI Submission We welcome prospective participants to submit either full papers (up to 6 pages) or extended abstracts (up to 2 pages). Papers can be on research that the authors would like to discuss during the workshop, especially encouraging papers on new ideas or research that the authors plan to conduct. Possible topics of the submissions will cover a wide view of the state of the art. Workshop papers must clearly indicate that they are part of ASIMOV workshop. All material collected during the Workshop: video, slides, papers, etc. upon approval of the authors, will be made available on the workshop website. Selected papers will be invited to submit an extended/revised version of the papers for a special issue in a recognized international journal. We will propose to either the International Journal of Social Robotics or Paladyn Journal of Behavioural Robotics or Journal of Healthcare Engineering or IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. It is highly recommended to use the Springer LNCS/LNAI style for the layout. Detailed instructions for paper submission are available on the conference website (https://icsr23.qa/paper-submission/). LNCS style templates are available on the Springer LNCS website. Each paper will receive two reviews. Accepted papers require that at least one of the authors register for the workshop. All submitted papers will be reviewed by two reviewers. The abstracts of the accepted papers will appear on the workshop website. Authors will be able to submit a PDF copy through EasyChair <https://easychair.org/my/conference?conf=asimov2023>. Invited Speakers - Prof. Agnieszka Wykowska, Italian Institute of Technology (Genoa, Italy) - Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo, Sheffield Hallam University (UK) - Dr. Salvatore Anzalone, University of Paris 8 (Paris) Organising Committee - Mariacarla Staffa, University of Naples Parthenope (Italy), email: mariacarla.staffa(a)unipartenope.it - Alessandra Rossi, University of Napled Federico II (Italy), email: alessandra.rossi(a)unina.it - Antonio Andriella, Pal Robotics, Barcellona (Spain), email: antonio.andriella(a)pal-robotics.com - Maryam Alimardani, Tilburg University (The Netherlands), email: m.alimardani(a)tilburguniversity.edu - Lorenzo D'Errico, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II" email: lorenzo.derrico(a)unina.it

1 0

[RoboCup-athome] First Call for Participation | RoboCup@Home 2024 (DSPL · OPL · SSPL)
by Sven Wachsmuth 23 Nov '23

23 Nov '23

Please remind the on-coming deadline at Nov. 27 2023! First Call for Participation RoboCup@Home 2024 (DSPL · OPL · SSPL) July 15 to 21, 2024 (Eindhoven, Netherlands) https://2024.robocup.org https://athome.robocup.org/ https://athome.robocup.org/2024-cfp1-all/ <https://athome.robocup.org/> https://github.com/RoboCupAtHome/RuleBook RoboCup is an international scientific initiative with the goal to advance the state of the art of intelligent robots through competitions (RoboCup@Home, RoboCup Soccer, RoboCup Rescue, RoboCup@Work and RoboCup Junior). The RoboCup@Home league aims to develop service and assistive robot technology with high relevance for future personal domestic applications. It is the largest international annual competition for autonomous service robots and is part of the RoboCup initiative. A set of benchmark tests is used to evaluate the robots’ abilities and performance in a realistic home environment setting. Focus lies on the following domains but is not limited to: Human-Robot-Interaction and Cooperation, Navigation and Mapping in dynamic environments, Computer Vision and Object Recognition under natural light conditions, Object Manipulation, Adaptive Behaviors, Behavior Integration, Ambient Intelligence, Standardization and System Integration. Important dates: Oct. 12, 2023 Publication of the Call for Participation Oct. 30, 2023 Deadline for submission of participation intention (optional). Nov. 27, 2023 Deadline for submission of qualification material (Team Description Paper, Team Video, Team Website). Jan. 08, 2024 Qualification announcement Jan. 29, 2024 Deadline for Participation Confirmation Further information is published in the Call for Participation: https://athome.robocup.org/2024-cfp1-all/ With kind regards, and looking forward to see your team in Eindhoven, The 2024 RoboCup@Home Organizing and Technical Committees

1 0

[meetings][CFP] ICSR 2023: Adaptive Social Interaction based on user’s Mental mOdels and behaVior in HRI - ASIMOV Workshop
by Alessandra Rossi 22 Nov '23

22 Nov '23

ASIMOV Adaptive Social Interaction based on user’s Mental mOdels and behaVior in HRI the 15th International Conference on Social Robotics <http://www.colips.org/conferences/icsr2021/wp/> 03-07 December 2023, Doha (Qatar) Important Dates - Deadline for Paper Submission: November 26th, 2023 - Paper Acceptance Notification: November 30th, 2023 - Camera Ready Paper: December 1st, 2023 - Main Conference Date: December 3rd–7th, 2023 - Workshop Date: December 4th, 2023 (14:00-17:00 - UCT+3) The ability to understand and adapt to people’s mental models is a key objective for enabling natural, efficient, and successful human-robot interaction (HRI), in particular in human-centered scenarios where robots are expected to meet people’s social conventions. Theory of mind and mental models are largely investigated in human-computer interactions, however, it is still unclear what level of others’ mental states a robot should be aware of in order to communicate with people in a transparent and socially acceptable way. The ASIMOV workshop will constitute a unique opportunity to gather roboticists and computer scientists to discuss a variety of current and new approaches aiming at endowing social robots with learning abilities, enhancing cognitive and social abilities based on mutual understanding (i.e. shared Theory of Mind). Target Audience This workshop is intended as a forum for a broad audience, which spans social and assistive robotics, cognitive and behavioral robotics, and social awareness and explainability in HRI. The workshop should be a place to exchange opinions, discuss innovative ideas, and get hints and suggestions on ongoing research, therefore contributing to tackling unresolved issues. The proposed topic brings together researchers working on user behavior and intention detection, human-robot interaction, social and assistive robotics, control interfaces, learning, and ethical and safety issues in human-machine interaction, among others. A large scientific community is involved in such research fields. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: - Mental models in HRI - Human-aware perception-action loop - Emotion and intention recognition - Empathy and Theory of Mind in Robotics - Mutual affective understanding - Real-time monitoring of behavior and mental states - Detection of non-verbal behavioral cues - Online adaptive behavior - Acceptability and personalization - Physiological monitoring and biofeedback systems - BCI (brain-computer interfaces)-enabled adaptive interaction - Short- and Long-term personalization - Human partnership and trust in HRI - Explainable AI in HRI - Security and safety in HRI Submission We welcome prospective participants to submit either full papers (up to 6 pages) or extended abstracts (up to 2 pages). Papers can be on research that the authors would like to discuss during the workshop, especially encouraging papers on new ideas or research that the authors plan to conduct. Possible topics of the submissions will cover a wide view of the state of the art. Workshop papers must clearly indicate that they are part of ASIMOV workshop. All material collected during the Workshop: video, slides, papers, etc. upon approval of the authors, will be made available on the workshop website. Selected papers will be invited to submit an extended/revised version of the papers for a special issue in a recognized international journal. We will propose to either the International Journal of Social Robotics or Paladyn Journal of Behavioural Robotics or Journal of Healthcare Engineering or IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. It is highly recommended to use the Springer LNCS/LNAI style for the layout. Detailed instructions for paper submission are available on the conference website (https://www.icsr2022.it/paper-submission/). LNCS style templates are available on the Springer LNCS website. Each paper will receive two reviews. Accepted papers require that at least one of the authors register for the workshop. All submitted papers will be reviewed by two reviewers. The abstracts of the accepted papers will appear on the workshop website. Authors will be able to submit a PDF copy through EasyChair <https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=asimov2022>. Invited Speakers - Prof. Agnieszka Wykowska, Italian Institute of Technology (Genoa, Italy) - Prof. Alessandro Di Nuovo, Sheffield Hallam University (UK) - Dr. Salvatore Anzalone, University of Paris 8 (Paris) Organising Committee - Mariacarla Staffa, University of Naples Parthenope (Italy), email: mariacarla.staffa(a)unipartenope.it - Alessandra Rossi, University of Napled Federico II (Italy), email: alessandra.rossi(a)unina.it - Antonio Andriella, Pal Robotics, Barcellona (Spain), email: antonio.andriella(a)pal-robotics.com - Maryam Alimardani, Tilburg University (The Netherlands), email: m.alimardani(a)tilburguniversity.edu

1 0

Call for Nominations: ACM/SIGAI Autonomous Agents Research Award
by Nicholas Mattei 20 Nov '23

20 Nov '23

[Apologies for Multiple Postings] Nominations are solicited for the 2024 ACM SIGAI Autonomous Agents Research Award. This award is made for excellence in research in the area of autonomous agents. It is intended to recognize researchers in autonomous agents whose current work is an important influence on the field. The award is an official ACM award, funded by an endowment created by ACM SIGAI from the proceeds of previous Autonomous Agents conferences. The recipient of the award will receive a monetary prize and a certificate, and will be invited to present a plenary talk at the AAMAS 2024 conference. How to Nominate Anyone can make a nomination. Nominations should be made by filling out the below google form, and should consist of a short (< 1 page) statement that emphasizes not only the research contributions that the individual has made that merit the award but also how the individual’s current work is an important influence on the field. NOTE: a candidate can only be considered for the award if they are explicitly nominated. If you believe that someone deserves the award, then NOMINATE THEM — don’t assume that somebody else will! For any questions please contact Manuela Veloso (Award Chair, mmv(a)cs.cmu.edu) or Nicholas Mattei (SIGAI Vice Chair, nsmattei(a)gmail.com). Nomination Link: https://forms.gle/Fg4StTpk85sNKmdt5 Important Dates - 15 December 2023 — Deadline for nominations - 30 January 2024 — Announcement of winner - 6 – 10 May 2024 — AAMAS-2024 conference in Auckland, New Zealand --Nick -- *Nicholas Mattei* Assistant Professor, Tulane University nsmattei(a)tulane.edu | www.nickmattei.net Stanley Thomas Hall | 305B +1 504 865 5782 Department of Computer Science Tulane University 6823 St Charles Ave New Orleans, LA 70118

1 0

[meetings][CFP][ICSR 2023] Call For Robot Design Competitions
by Alessandra Rossi 18 Nov '23

18 Nov '23

Dear colleagues, We are very pleased to invite you to participate in the Robot Design Competition at the 15th International Conference of Social Robotics (ICSR 2023 <https://icsr23.qa/>) that will be held in Doha, Qatar on December 4-7, 2023. Please find below the full call. -> https://icsr23.qa/competitions/ More information can also be found on the website and social media: website: https://icsr23.qa/ IG: @icsr23_qa Twitter: @icsr23_qa Facebook: @icsr2023 ICSR 2023 conference Kind regards, Alessandra Rossi Publicity Chair ******************* Apologies for cross-posting ******************** [image: image.png] *International Conference on Social Robotics* December 4-7, 2023, Doha, Qatar https://icsr23.qa IG: @icsr23_qa Twitter: @icsr23_qa Facebook: @icsr2023 ============================================================================== *IMPORTANT DATES* *Entry Submission: November 25, 2023* *Finalists Notification: November 30, 2023 * *Winner Announcement: December 7, 2023* The design and development of various kinds of robots, and their intelligence and behavior have been evolving continuously. The new era of robotics is witnessing the increasing release of new innovative robots with a diverse set of applications. Especially, the past few years have provided more recognition to robots and their importance in various domains of life. - How can robots be part of our life, enrich our life experience, assist, serve and entertain us? - Where is the new generation of these social robots heading? What are the innovative societal applications? What impact are they capable of making? - What are the key enabling technologies that are being improved? - How do we see greater involvement of useful robots in education, wellbeing, space, tourism, and various other sectors? *SUBMISSION* If you have a solid idea/working prototype, send your entries to the flagship Robot Design Competition, organized by ICSR 2023, which is now under the Global Robotics, Art, and Science Synergies (GRASS). We also encourage cross-disciplinary experts/teams to bring impactful solutions for the betterment of society. Each submission should have a (maximum) 2-page summary. The template is flexible; however, it should include a concise abstract/synopsis of a maximum of 50 words, and enough details to judge the technical novelty of the proposed solution and/or innovative applications of robots. A single link of related video can be included. Video link is optional, and the maximum duration of the video should be 3 minutes. Keep in mind it is not a scientific publication, but the description of a robotics innovation with potential to be developed as a project. Competition chairs, with the help from experts and reviewers, will select the finalists. Each finalist is supposed to register and present their entry at a dedicated session in the conference, which will be further evaluated by the Jury of peers. Email your submission at icsr23(a)qu.edu.qa with the subject line starting with: [ICSR 2023 Competition] *REWARDS AND AWARDS* Winners and runners-up in the following categories will be selected : *Innovative Idea*: The entries, which are innovative but are in the early stages of conceptualization will be considered for this category. *Innovative Solution*: The entries, which have demonstrated maturity of the proposed solution through prototypes will be considered for this category. *Innovative Application: *The entries, which have targeted specific applications through robotics solutions will be considered for this category. *Benefits to the finalists:* - Dedicated slot to present during the final round in the conference. - A unique opportunity to exhibit the entry during the conference in the exhibition areas, through looped video display. - Opportunity to have post-event mentorship through industry and academics experts. *Certificate and Prize:* For each category, the winners and runners-up will be awarded with certificates and prize money of USD 300 and USD 200 respectively. *COMPETITION CHAIR* Amit Kumar Pandey, Rovial Space, France

1 0

Initial Call for Participation: The 2024 IEEE-RAS Response Robotics Seasonal School and Workshop
by Raymond Sheh 08 Nov '23

08 Nov '23

Hi All! We are delighted to announce our next Response Robotics Seasonal School and Workshop, to be held in March 2024! Please see below for the current Call for Participation and visit https://responserobotics.org for the latest updates. Please do forward this on to any interested students and researchers and don't hesitate to contact us, either via the mailing list or Discord server on the website, or via email to info(a)responserobotics.org if you have any questions. Cheers! - Raymond Sheh ======== Initial Call for Participation ======== The 2024 IEEE-RAS Response Robotics Seasonal School and Workshop March 4-7, 2024 Reveille Proving Grounds, Burnet, TX, USA and Online Co-located with the 2024 Texas Public Safety Robotics Summit https://responserobotics.org | info(a)responserobotics.org === Introduction: === The 2024 IEEE-RAS Response Robotics Seasonal School and Workshop (RRSS+W) is a 4-day-long immersive academic research event for undergraduate and graduate research students, mentors of high school research robotics teams, and early career researchers, on the challenges and best-in-class solutions for applied response robotics. It is financially sponsored by the IEEE-RAS and student travel support scholarships are available for IEEE-RAS students. It is co-located with the 2024 Texas Public Safety Robotics Summit (TXPS, https://www.txpsrobots.com/ ), a high profile industry event for responders, manufacturers, and government agencies. Attendees of the RRSS+W will have a unique opportunity to engage with and learn from the end users about how their technologies might be used, manufacturers on the challenges of transitioning technologies from the lab into the real world, and various regulatory bodies on the risk management and legal landscape within which these technologies must operate. === Format: === In-person and online participants in the RRSS+W will have the opportunity to participate in lectures and panel discussions on topics ranging from theoretical techniques to real world applications. In addition, in-person participants will have the opportunity to participate in: - Hands-on practical sessions that give attendees an in-depth opportunity learn about a specific topic. - Demonstration and test sessions that allow attendees to deploy their own robots within the test methods and scenarios, and observe other robots being tested. - A workshop poster session that allows attendees to present their work to other attendees as well as the attendees of the TXPS, including those who may have an interest in adopting these technologies. - Social events that promote networking between RRSS+W attendees as well as the rest of the response robotics ecosystem. === Topics: === This year will highlight three topics that have been identified as being of particular up-and-coming interest in the response robotics space. We are particularly soliciting the involvement of students who are interested in these topics. - Novel communication technologies for challenging response environments. - Integration of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (aka UAS, RPAS, or aerial drones) into response robotics applications. - Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Risk Management Challenges for the Response Robotics ecosystem. We are also encouraging students who are interested in broader response robotics topics to attend, including, but not limited to: - 3D mapping and indoor/outdoor navigation in unstructured environments. - Mobility in challenging terrain and among 3D obstacles. - Dexterous manipulation and inspection. - Transition of technologies into real world unstructured environments. - Novel sensors for response robotics. The RRSS+W will also host a roadmap discussion for the RoboCupRescue Robot League, with a focus on engaging with the end user community. We invite past, present, and prospective competitors to join us! === Venue: === The venue hosts both real world scenarios, complete with the uncertainty, weather, and communications challenges that it brings, as well as standard test methods that provide repeatable, reproducible, evaluations of robot capabilities that attendees can replicate in their own labs. Attendees will have a unique opportunity to observe robots of their interest performing in both the scenarios and the test methods, as well as bring their own robots to test and refine over the course of the event. Please check the website and join the mailing list for updates regarding accommodation and transportation arrangements. === Registration and Timelines: === The registration fee for in-person attendance is $300 and includes registration for the broader TXPS. As space is limited, registration is capped and competitive, based on a 1 page cover letter describing their research and how they see their developments assisting responders. Registration will be decided on a rolling basis and closes February 1st, 2024, or when the event reaches capacity so we advise prospective attendees to register early. IEEE-RAS students may use the same letter to apply for a limited number of competitive travel support scholarships that include the fee and a stipend. This is based on a sliding scale, with the goal of partially compensating for the higher travel cost incurred by students from more distant institutions. Travel support applications will be decided on a rolling basis and closes December 31st, 2023, or when all funds have been allocated. Registration details are still being finalized. We encourage interested attendees to email info(a)responserobotics.org with their expression of interest and cover letter. We will follow up when the registration details are finalized. Remote attendance of the lectures will be free of charge, dependent on connectivity. Join the mailing list or keep an eye on the website for details. === Contact: === See https://responserobotics.org for further details, and to join our mailing list and Discord server. Email info(a)responserobotics.org for any questions. -- Dr. Raymond Sheh Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Research Lead and Guest Researcher UAS Portfolio, Public Safety Communications Research Division Communications Technology Laboratory National Institute of Standards and Technology U.S. Department of Commerce 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8230, Gaithersburg MD 20899-8230, USA Adjunct Associate Research Scientist Whiting School of Engineering Johns Hopkins University Columbia MD, USA Trustee, RoboCup Federation

1 0