Workshops

Workshops and tutorials are scheduled for September 1, both in-person and online. Participants with a full or student registration enjoy complimentary free access to these sessions. Alternatively, one may exclusively register for the workshop day at a reduced fee. Further details can be found on our registration page.

AURA – Acceptance and trUst of Robots in Automation 5.0

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-18:00 | Room T1 (virtual link on Infovaya)

Automation 5.0 represents the cutting-edge evolution of automation technologies within the framework of Industry 5.0, a revolution that further integrates humans into the automation chain. Central to the success of Automation 5.0 is the acceptance and trust of robots by humans. The social acceptance concept, defined as “an individual’s psychological state with regard to his or her voluntary or intended use of a particular technology” is crucial in Automation 5.0 for seamless robots’ integration into various domains, including manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation. Trust is another fundamental aspect of the HRC in Automation 5.0, enabling humans to rely on robots to perform tasks safely, accurately, and efficiently. Humans should feel confident that robots will operate within defined parameters and respond appropriately to unexpected situations. The aim of this workshop is to bridge roboticists from academia and industry to exchange insights and perspectives on fostering acceptance and trust of robots in Automation 5.0. In the discussion, particular attention will be devoted to the measurement of the key factors influencing human acceptance of robots in industrial settings, i.e., perceived occupational safety, physical ergonomics, cognitive ergonomics, efficiency, design, and privacy. In fact, certain metrics for these factors have already been established in existing literature, while others necessitate additional efforts for quantification and integration into robot design and control. Therefore, the perspectives of experts in this field will be presented aiming at delineating the path for the definition of appropriate functional and non-functional requirements for robots’ acceptance to be integrated into their architecture and design.

Organizers
– Silvia Proia | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) | E-mail: silvia.proia@unimore.it
– Lorenzo Sabattini | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) | E-mail: lorenzo.sabattini@unimore.it
– Valeria Villani | University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) | E-mail: valeria.villani@unimore.it
– Raffaele Carli | Polytechnic of Bari (Italy) | E-mail: raffaele.carli@poliba.it
– Graziana Cavone | University Roma Tre (Italy) | E-mail: graziana.cavone@uniroma3.it

Constrained Control of Vehicle Formations in Industry and Intelligent Transportation Systems: from Model-based to Data-driven Solutions

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-16:00 | Room T10 (virtual link on Infovaya)

This workshop delves into the contemporary challenges of autonomous multi-vehicle systems, particularly focusing on formation control and collision avoidance for multi-agent configurations in the context of Smart Cities and Industry 5.0. The increasing attention to these issues arises from the successful deployment of Unmanned Vehicles (UVs) in Industry 5.0 and Intelligent Transportation Systems. Designing fully autonomous vehicle systems requires addressing key requirements such as precise signal tracking, goal attainment for each vehicle, coordination through formation control tools, and ensuring collision avoidance. However, existing approaches often lack efficiency when overlooking physical limitations in vehicle modelling, compromising their effectiveness in scenarios where geometrical constraints and saturation effects are crucial. The workshop aims to analyze recent advancements in constrained control for multi-vehicle systems, exploring how traditional constrained control techniques and data-driven approaches can be employed independently or in tandem to devise innovative and efficient hybrid control architectures for autonomous multi-vehicle systems moving in shared environments.

Organizers
– Walter Lucia | Associate Professor, Concordia University (Canada) | E-mail: walter.lucia@concordia.ca
– MengChu Zhou | Professor, New Jersey Institute of Technology (USA) | E-mail: mengchu.zhou@njit.edu
– Giancarlo Fortino | Professor, University of Calabria (Italy) | E-mail: g.fortino@unical.it
– Giuseppe Franzè | Professor, University of Calabria (Italy) | Email: giuseppe.franze@unical.it

Control, Cooperation, and Resilience in Rural Energy Communities

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-13:30 | Room T3 (virtual link on Infovaya)

The greatest difficulty in implementing RECs is related to connecting the multidisciplinary nature of all the social elements with technological perspectives. These characteristics put in evidence the opportunity, presented by RECs, aimed at defining economic, social, and technical policies to determine changes in a macro sector by acting at a local level. The technical impact of a single REC makes the overall system globally smart while however each local community retain its independence. The starting point of any technical approaches for the construction of RECs must necessarily be linked to the characterization of the reference area, studying the possibility of creating independent or autonomous realities exploiting the territorial resources. The technological development must exploit all possible elements of a REC and all possible optimization and control architectures. The plant technology and energy conversion system must be characterized, on the basis of the available resource. Therefore, the impact of new technologies of RECs in the energy sector is indispensable since it is possible to reduce emissions and reach technological development and to solve energy congestion through incentives and the promotion of energy policies. RECs are also implementable in low energy efficiency contexts. Promoting innovative and replicable models of local and rural community management through hi-tech tools, new collaborations with local authorities and institutions is, therefore, necessary to step forward to a carbon-free society.

Organizers
– Raffaele Carli | Assistant Professor, Polytechnic of Bari (Italy) | E-mail: raffaele.carli@poliba.it
– Mariagrazia Dotoli | Full Professor, Polytechnic of Bari (Italy) | E-mail: mariagrazia.dotoli@poliba.it
– Roberto Sacile | Full Professor, University of Genoa (Italy) | E-mail: roberto.sacile@unige.it
– Enrico Zero | Assistant Professor, University of Genoa (Italy) | E-mail: enrico.zero@dibris.unige.it

Empowering Human-Robot Collaboration: Shared Autonomy, System Transparency, and Trustworthiness

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-16:00 | Room T8 (virtual link on Infovaya)

The ultimate aspiration of collaborative robotics is to bring robots to a level where they can interact with people in a manner that mirrors human-human interaction. This involves establishing a paradigm of shared autonomy, where robots neither function independently nor act subserviently to humans. Instead, they actively collaborate with human operators and coexist seamlessly, complementing each other’s strengths and capabilities to achieve common goals.  In this shared autonomy framework, when humans can actively participate in robots’ decisional processes and understand the causal relationships of actions, they are more likely to trust robots’ autonomous behaviors and collaborate effectively. In turn, when robots leverage shared abstraction models of human reasoning and the context they are operating in, they can better adapt and act proactively to achieve complex objectives. As humans understand robots’ actions, they can also provide feedback to refine the shared abstraction models, promoting continuous adaptation and improvement of the collaboration process. Establishing this interconnection is key to building a trustworthy collaboration and unlocking the full potential of human-robot synergy. This workshop aims to bring together different expertise and perspectives in designing, deploying, and evaluating shared autonomy and transparent collaboration to create a common ground for efficient and safe human-robot collaboration.

Organizers
– Marco Faroni | Polytechnic University of Milan (Italy) | Email: marco.faroni@polimi.it
– Martina Lippi | Roma Tre University (Italy) | Email: martina.lippi@uniroma3.it;
– Alessandro Umbrico | Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (Italy) | Email: alessandro.umbrico@cnr.it;
– Alessandro Marino | University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (Italy) | Email: alessandro.marino@unicas.it;
– Cesare Tonola | University of Brescia (Italy) | Email: c.tonola001@unibs.it

Empowering the Future Workforce: Design Thinking Workshop with LEGO®

September 1, 2024 | 14:30-16:00 | Room T4 (virtual link on Infovaya)

This workshop empowers engineers and scientists to thrive in the robotics and automation design revolution. Through hands-on activities with LEGO®s, you’ll gain the skills to design innovative and impactful solutions. 

1. Design Thinking:
– User-Centric Design: Develop empathy to users, understanding their needs and challenges.
– Creative Problem-Solving: Learn to brainstorm and explore solutions for real-world challenges.
– Rapid Prototyping: Craft physical prototypes to quickly test and refine your ideas.
– Collaborative Innovation: Master teamwork skills essential for successful development in multidisciplinary teams. 

2. 21st Century Skills:
– Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Sharpen your ability to analyze complex challenges and develop innovative solutions.
– Data-Driven Decisions: Learn to leverage data to make informed choices for your designs.
– Effective Communication: Master communication and collaboration within diverse teams with varying technical backgrounds. 

3. Human-Centered Development:
– Designing with Purpose: Explore the power of technology to address critical humanitarian challenges and improve lives.
– Ethical Considerations: Integrate ethical principles and social responsibility into your designs.
– Building Sustainable Solutions: Consider the environmental and social impact of your designs.  Become a leader in the future of work. Design solutions that address real-world needs, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and promoting positive humanitarian impact.

Organizers
– Pía Torres | Growtec Co-Founder | Roboteam Co-Founder | Professor at Di Tella University (Argentina) | E-mail: pia.torres@ieee.org
– Romina Fairbairn | Growtec Co-Founder | Roboteam Co-Founder | Professor at Di Tella University (Argentina) | E-mail: romina.fair@ieee.org

Enhancing Human-Centered Automation: Mastering Resilient Multi-Robot Systems with Dynamic Collaboration and Heterogeneity

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-13:30 | Room T12 (virtual link on Infovaya)

The current utilization of multi-robot system (MRS) in industry and logistics has delineated a clear demarcation between tasks performed by humans and those by robots, often lacking efficient collaboration and adaptability. Despite their ability to perform numerous tasks, MRS are not sufficiently flexible, particularly in resilient and adaptive operations, which are crucial for dynamic industrial environments. As technology advances, the potential of MRS expands, yet the complexity and challenges within these systems also escalate. This underscores the need for a transformative approach in how these systems are integrated and managed to enhance not only their functionality but also their interaction within human-centric environments. One of the foremost challenges lies in developing systems that are not only resilient, adaptive, dynamic, and scalable but are also designed to transition from human support to automation in a modular fashion as technology and algorithms advance. This modular transition is designed to facilitate a seamless switch between robot and human operation. This includes using teleoperation as a method to bridge the gap when a situation demands human intervention or insight. The system should be equipped with decision-making capabilities to autonomously determine when it requires human assistance, depending on the complexity or unpredictability of the task at hand. Additionally, the system can learn from these human-led interventions, gradually incorporating human strategies and solutions into its algorithms to enhance future autonomous operations, thereby improving adaptability and resilience in dynamic environments. During the workshop, we will explore the potential to construct such systems through a smart orchestrating architecture. This architecture leverages various services in a modular manner, enhancing the flexibility of MRS and fostering a symbiotic relationship with human operators.

Organizers
– Natalia Ogorelysheva | Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute for Material flow and Logistics (Germany) | E-mail: natalia.ogorelysheva@iml.fraunhofer.de
– Julia Freytag | Researcher, Fraunhofer Institute for Material flow and Logistics (Germany) | E-mail: julia.freytag@iml.fraunhofer.de

French-Italian Workshop on Robotics 4.0

September 1, 2024 | 14:30-18:00 | Room T3 (virtual link on Infovaya)

Recent development and practice of Robotics 4.0 technologies are getting huge momentum to improve citizens quality of life and well-being and enhance society conditions. Latest advancements delve into the progression from traditional automation to collaborative and cognitive automation, emphasizing the importance of human-robot interaction and cooperation. In this context, the proposed workshop aims at exploring the evolution of robotics and automation across different human-centric technological domains, such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and household tasks, while investing the effectiveness of new solutions for helping people, improving working conditions, transferring applications and economic enhancement of research. 

Organizers
– Raffaele Carli | Assistant Professor, Polytechnic of Bari (Italy) | E-mail: raffaele.carli@poliba.it
– Mariagrazia Dotoli | Full Professor, Polytechnic of Bari (Italy) | E-mail: mariagrazia.dotoli@poliba.it
– Andrea Cherubini | Full Professor, University of Montpellier (France) | E-mail: andrea.cherubini@lirmm.fr

Human Movement Understanding, Whole-Body Control, and Human-Robot Interfaces in Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Underwater Exploration.

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-13:30 | Room T4 (virtual link on Infovaya)

Robotics research has drawn much inspiration from humans as a system: in the design of the anthropomorphic aspects of manipulators, sensors, and actuators, approaches for coordinating full body motions, and the higher-level strategies for realizing complex tasks and interacting with the external environment and other humans. Today, robotics as a field has matured to the point where methodologies developed and used in robotics may be leveraged to address research questions in many other fields, ranging from neuroscience to computer animation. Together with the tools from biomechanics, robotics enables our efforts to explore natural human motion, leading to improvements in treatments for patients with neuro­-musculoskeletal disorders, and facilitating development of human inspired robots. In recent years, expectations for remotely controlled robots have increased. Progress is being made in the development of technology that allows humans to perform tasks that were previously difficult to be done manually using remote-controlled robots. There are also high expectations for the use of remote-control technology for robots operating in various environments such as underwater and space. Interface technology for remote control using 5th generation mobile communication systems is attracting attention. The main objectives of the proposed TC are: 1)Achieving natural human behavior in remote operations and enabling more sophisticated strategies in complex tasks and interaction with the external environment; 2)Estimating and predicting human movement status and promoting applications in rehabilitation, prosthetic limbs, and exoskeleton design; and 3) Development of strategies to reconstruct human behavior on artificial anthropomorphic systems.

Organizers
– Emel Demircan | Associate Professor, California State University Long Beach (USA) | E-mail: emel.demircan@csulb.edu
– Taizo Yoshikawa | Honda R&D (Japan) | E-mail: taizoy@alumni.stanford.edu
– Tadej Petric | Department of Automatics, Biocybernetics, and Robotics, Jozef Stefan Institute | E-mail: tadej.petric@ijs.si

Industrial Exoskeletons: Market Demands, Open Challenges and Research Opportunities

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-18:00 | Room T7 (virtual link on Infovaya)

Regularly lifting heavy loads is considered one of the main factors contributing to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Industrial exoskeletons have recently seen great developments, with dozens of devices literally invading the market. Robotic exoskeletons have the potential to protect the musculoskeletal system from injury and to reduce the occurrence of chronic musculoskeletal disorders. At the same time, we can observe that the adoption rate is still rather low, suggesting that despite the potential of occupational exoskeletons, there is still room for improvement.  This workshop can be seen as a crossing point between the views of industry and academia in the development of exoskeleton technologies. The main objective of this workshop is to make academia aware of market demands and requirements and to make the industry aware of existing solutions and research opportunities. The workshop also includes live demonstrations from both industrial and academic sides, with the main objective of soliciting discussions.

Organizers

– Andrea Calanca | Associate Professor, University of Verona (Italy) 
– Mohamed Irfan Refai | Assistant Professor, University of Twente (Netherlands)
– Francesco Pascucci | PhD Student, University of Verona (Italy) 
– Eldison Dimo | PhD Student, University of Verona (Italy)

Advisors

– Paolo Fiorini | IEEE Fellow, University of Verona (Italy) 
– Massimo Sartori | Full Professor, University of Twente (Netherlands) 

Machine Learning for Automation

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-18:00 | Room T5 (virtual link on Infovaya)

This workshop on Machine Learning for Automation (MLA) provides a unique opportunity to explore the cutting edge research and practice on how machine learning is transforming automation, and vice versa. How is ML transforming semiconductor manufacturing? Accelerating the design of next-generation batteries? Making buildings smarter? Achieving safe, green, and inclusive mobility in cities? Evolving automatic virtual metrology? And how to advance fundamental theories and algorithms in MLA practice, such as solving mixed-binary linear programming problems, combining constrained programming and satisfiability solvers, improving data efficiency and robustness, and making AI models explainable? What are the options in commercial software such as Matlab and Simulink for MLA? We provide 10 exciting talks from leading experts to address these questions. Beyond that, a poster session, a demo session, and a panel session would provide great hands-on experience and opportunities to interact with the experts in MLA. This will be a memorable full day workshop for the participants. This workshop is organized by the IEEE RAS TC on MLA, with support from TC on Logistics, TC on Semiconductor Manufacturing, TC on Smart Buildings, and TC on Digital Manufacturing and Human Machine Interaction.

Organizers
– (Samuel) Qing-Shan Jia | Professor, Tsinghua University, Beijing (China) | Email: jiaqs@tsinghua.edu.cn
– Bing Yan | Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology (USA) | Email: bxyeee@rit.edu
– Aparna Varde | Associate Professor, Montclair State University (USA) | Email: vardea@montclair.edu
– Bengt Lennartson | Professor, Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden) | Email: bengt.lennartson@chalmers.se
– Maria Pia Fanti | Professor, Polytechnic of Bari (Italy) | Email: mariapia.fanti@poliba.it

Machine-learning-driven Digital Twin Construction for Advanced Manufacturing

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-13:30 | Room T6 (virtual link on Infovaya)

This workshop will explore the convergence of machine learning (ML) with digital twin (DT) technology as a cornerstone for innovation in advanced manufacturing. As manufacturing moves towards and beyond Industry 4.0, the DT concept has emerged as a transformative tool for optimizing manufacturing processes and product lifecycle management. The integration of ML enables predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and dynamic optimization. This workshop will focus on the significance of merging ML with DT in the manufacturing sector, driving towards smarter, more efficient, and autonomous systems.

Organizers
– Hyunwoong Ko | Assistant Professor, Arizona State University (USA) | E-mail: Hyunwoong.Ko@asu.edu
– Yan Lu | Group Leader, Information Modeling and Testing Group, Systems Integration Division, Engineering Laboratory, The National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA) | E-mail: yan.lu@nist.gov

Soft Robots and Wearables for Flexible and Interactive Automation

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-18:00 | Room T9 (virtual link on Infovaya)

This workshop unites researchers in Soft Robotics, Wearable technologies, and Automation to explore the potential of interactive, flexible soft robotic components. These components hold the key to transitioning hardware automation from structured manufacturing environments to dynamic, human-populated settings where the automation needs can continuously change. We’ll discuss use cases ranging from soft grippers and exoskeletons to collaborative manipulators and robots designed for environmental interaction. AI technologies and their synergic use with flexible-reconfigurable hardware will also be covered.

Organizers
– Vito Cacucciolo | Associate Professor, Politecnico di Bari (Italy) | E-mail: vito.cacucciolo@poliba.it
– Francesco Giorgio-Serchi | Lecturer and Chancellor’s Fellow, The University of Edinburgh (UK) | E-mail: F.Giorgio-Serchi@ed.ac.uk
– Federico Renda | Associate Professor, Khalifa University (UAE) | E-mail: federico.renda@ku.ac.ae
– Shingo Maeda | Full Professor, Tokyo Ins5tute of Technology (Japan) | E-mail: maeda.s.ao@m.5tech.ac.jp

Translating Manufacturing Control and Automation Research to Practice: Examples, Challenges, and Opportunities

September 1, 2024 | 10:00-18:00 | Room T11 (virtual link on Infovaya)

Partnerships and collaborations between academia and industry are imperative for addressing many of the challenges in creating Automation 5.0. The development of sustainable tools and methods, the implementation of new shop floor automation, and the creation of intelligent control tools will require input from both academic and industry researchers. In this workshop, we will explore challenges in developing manufacturing control and automation research in practice, focusing on initiatives, barriers, and collaboration opportunities. As part of this workshop, there will be speakers from both academia and industry who will share their experiences and perspectives on establishing academic-industry relationships. Speakers with global perspectives (USA, Brazil, Switzerland, etc.) will be featured as part of the workshop. In addition, we will have an interactive breakout session and a poster session that will engage attendees and allow them to discuss the ‘best practices’ and ‘lessons learned’ from their experiences, as well as provide opportunities to establish close academic and industry partnerships.

Organizers
– Efe Balta | inspire AG (Switzerland) | E-mail: efe.balta@inspire.ch
– Kira Barton | University of Michigan (USA) | E-mail: bartonkl@umich.edu
– Ilya Kovalenko | Pennsylvania State University (USA) | E-mail: iqk5135@psu.edu
– Wesley Oliviera | Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (Brazil) | E-mail: wesleyro@ccm-ita.org.br
– Alisa Rupenyan | Zurich University for Applied Sciences (Switzerland) | E-mail: alisa.rupenyan@zhaw.ch
– Dawn Tilbury | University of Michigan (USA) | E-mail: tilbury@umich.edu

Contact

For any inquiries please contact the Workshop & Tutorial Chairs.

Maria Pia FANTI

Polytechnic of Bari

Christoforos HADJICOSTIS

University of Cyprus

Xinyu WU

Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced technology

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