Virtual Programme

Themes: SLAM 1  Soft Robot Applications  Design of Mechanisms  Planning  Reinforcement Learning  Marine and Field Robotics 

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Critical to the advancement of bionic technology that emulates or extends normal physiological function is the design of tissue-synthetic interfaces connecting the human body with electromechanics. In this talk, I describe research activities underway to advance mechanical and neural interfaces for the functional enhancement of bionic limb devices. I present novel prosthetic, orthotic and exoskeletal limbs that behave dynamically like their biological counterpart, peripheral neural interfaces that serve as an electrical interface with the external bionic limb, and novel osseointegration technology for the mechanical and neural transmission of the bionic device to the biological limb. Further, I present a digital nervous system designed to artificially control paralyzed musculature for the restoration of motor function for persons with limb pathology. Finally, critical areas of future research are discussed that must be advanced to step towards the next generation of bionic limb systems.

There are of course countless ways in which robots could help humans, and this keynote session, Robots for Society, examines some of the issues involved and how recent progress has expanded the breadth of possibilities. Advances in the development of intelligent algorithms now allows us to operate robots in environments populated by humans, while mitigating the risks involved in doing so. Robots are being designed to help with household tasks such as vacuum cleaning and gardening, while smart cars are advancing at a tremendous pace to support human mobility. On the factory floor, co-bots are becoming more widely deployed, and seamless human-robot cooperation is increasingly being worked into manufacturing systems. Key to this is the fact that today’s robots can operate reliably and safely in and around humans. This keynote session will delve into the role of robots in society and the myriad of ways in which they are making our lives easier by performing tasks even more efficiently than we can.

ICRA is breaking boundaries this year with an innovative hybrid format that delivers an immersive experience to both in-person and online attendees. With all oral events being live-streamed, the confe ...

Themes: SLAM 2 Modeling, Control, and Learning for Soft Robots  Compliant Mechanisms  Path Planning and Collision Avoidance Deep Learning and Neural Networks in Robotics Awards 1 Awards 2

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Healthcare robotics is an exciting area that has the potential to transform the way we approach healthcare delivery. With an ever-aging population, increasing healthcare costs, and a shortage of healthcare professionals, the need for innovative solutions - robotic technologies among them - is becoming more apparent. Healthcare robots can take on many different aspects of patient care, from remote monitoring and drug delivery to surgery and the provision of rehabilitative treatments. They are also increasingly being used in hospitals and clinical settings to assist with tasks such as patient lifting and transport, disinfection, and inventory management, while in the home they can be used to improve patients’ quality of life resulting, in turn, in a reduction in hospital readmission rates. This keynote session will showcase recent progress in the field, including the development of specialized sensors, machine learning algorithms, and intelligent decision-making systems that enable robots to safely carry out complex tasks within a healthcare setting.

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Things which seem strange and unacceptable to us today may become normal tomorrow.

For instance, can we get used to living with robots? and, they with us?

Or, is it too late even to ask such a question?

The idea of Human-like Robots has been with us in literature and film for a very long time. We are however now on the cusp of it becoming a reality with humanoid robots already in existence that can walk, talk and express emotions. This is a hugely exciting area of robotics given its potential to revolutionize many fields, including healthcare, education, and entertainment. Assisting those with disabilities, providing companionship to the elderly, or even teaching children, are examples of tasks that could be taken on by these devices. However, as they become more human-like in appearance and behaviour, they risk evoking a sense of eeriness or discomfort in humans – a phenomenon known as the ‘Uncanny Valley’ – which can hinder their effectiveness. This keynote session will showcase the latest research in this area, including the development of advanced sensors, actuators, and machine learning algorithms that enable robots to behave more like humans while circumventing the ‘Uncanny Valley’ problem.

ICRA is breaking boundaries this year with an innovative hybrid format that delivers an immersive experience to both in-person and online attendees. With all oral events being live-streamed, the confe ...

Themes: Localisation 2 Medical Systems Manipulation and Grasping II  Human-Robot Interaction/Collaboration  Computer Vision and Visual Servoing Aerial Robots Awards 4 

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Thanks to the diverse group of experts we have here at ICRA 2023, we are delighted to be able to offer a keynote session on Morphological Computation, highlighting the importance of designing robots with functional morphology. Robots whose shapes and physical properties are most appropriate to the environment in which they are being employed have been shown to be more adaptable, efficient, and robust, and it is for this reason that the approach has attracted significant attention. Researchers in robotics, materials science, and biology, are now routinely working together on innovative designs. As an example, by mimicking biological systems, we can now design soft robots that despite their highly flexible nature, have sophisticated capabilities.  With the emergence of new materials and manufacturing techniques, morphological computation is set to become a core element of robot design, and we can anticipate significant developments in this area in the very near future.

Themes:  Localisation and Mapping Medical and Surgical Robotics Grasping and Micromanipulation  Prosthetics, Exoskeletons, and Rehabilitation Optimal Control and Object Detection Calibration, Identifi ...

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Robot hardware is getting better and better, their perception improves on almost a daily basis, and their physical skills are advancing by leaps and bounds.  But robots are still almost as dumb as doo ...

The AgriFood industry is another area in which robotics is having high impact, and our keynote session on AgriFood Robotics will be examining those aspects of agriculture and food production that are being transformed by automation. Within agriculture, robots can be used for a variety of tasks such as crop monitoring, precision spraying - with targeted use of pesticides and fertilizers - as well as harvesting and crop picking. The net result includes reduced labour costs, better yield quality and ultimately a reduction in food waste. Similarly, in food manufacturing there are clear benefits to be seen in production, packaging, and distribution, that between them, can lead to more efficient, more cost-effective, and more sustainable systems. This keynote session will showcase the latest research in this area and identify those aspects of robotics that are key to us overcoming the specific challenges posed by AgriFood environments.

ICRA is breaking boundaries this year with an innovative hybrid format that delivers an immersive experience to both in-person and online attendees. With all oral events being live-streamed, the confe ...

Themes:  SLAM & Navigation  Force and Tactile Sensing and Haptics and Haptic Interfaces Bioinspiration and Biomimetics Sensing and Control  Kinematics, Dynamics, and Motion Control Swarms and Multi-Ag ...

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Our not-to-be-missed AI in Robotics session will focus on recent developments at the forefronts of these two interlinked areas. With the development of generative pre-trained transformers in natural language processing, we are witnessing a new era in AI-powered robotics, the benefits of which are monumental, with significant advances already under way in fields such as perception, sensor fusion, control, navigation, and human-robot interaction. Self-driving cars, with their real-time capabilities, are great examples of where these technologies can take us, but there are many more advances on the horizon, enabling robots to learn high-level and complex tasks that were previously deemed beyond their capabilities. This keynote session looks at the latest trends in AI and robotics and presents cutting-edge research that demonstrates the immense potential offered by the convergence of these two disciplines.

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