Event details
October 13-15, 2026
Daejeon, South Korea
In-Person Event
The conference will bring together scientists, engineers, and researchers in industry to discuss the future of intelligent machines. It will provide a forum to examine the integration of physical and core robotic intelligence, and to consider advances in the perception, control, and autonomy of such systems and ultimately the development of adaptive, embodied agents that are both capable and trustworthy.
Sessions will explore the full spectrum of Autonomous Robotics, from the foundations of embodied intelligence, neuromorphic intelligence, and physical AI to data-driven learning, perception, and manipulation. The conference will emphasize application-driven research in field robotics, addressing robust autonomy in unstructured, resource-constrained, and safety-critical environments. It will also discuss humanoids and dexterous manipulation, where robotic autonomy enhances physical and perceptual interaction, and human-centred robotics, where assistive and collaborative systems integrate safety, adaptability, and social intelligence.
Speakers
Sami Haddadin
Vice President Of Research and Professor of Robotics
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Haddadin was the founding and executive director of Europe’s largest center of robotics and machine intelligence, TUM’s Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI). MIRMI became one of the world’s leading centers, ranked number one in robotics according to csrankings.org and number two by airankings.org.
Haddadin established himself as a foremost expert in robotics worldwide as professor and chair of robotics and systems intelligence at TUM. He is widely recognized for his pioneering work in tactile mechatronics, contact-aware robots, safety methodologies in human-robot interaction, and autonomous manipulation learning. His innovations range from manipulators and unmanned aerial vehicles to mobile systems, humanoids, intelligent prosthetics, and exoskeletons.
He holds degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, and technology management (TUM/LMU), earned his doctorate with high distinction from RWTH Aachen and became an IEEE fellow in 2024.
Chiara Bartolozzi
Senior Researcher
Italian Institute of Technology (Genoa, Italy)
Chiara Bartolozzi is Senior Tenured Researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology. She earned a degree in Engineering at University of Genova (Italy) and a Ph.D. in Neuroinformatics at ETH Zurich, developing analog subthreshold circuits for emulating biophysical neuronal properties onto silicon and modelling selective attention on hierarchical multi-chip systems.
She is currently leading the Event-Driven Perception for Robotics group, with the aim of applying the "neuromorphic" engineering approach to the design of robotic platforms as enabling technology towards the design of autonomous machines.
Chiara has participated to a number of EU funded projects, she coordinated the European Training Network "NeuTouch", where 15 PhD students studied how touch perception works in humans and animals, in order to develop artificial touch perception systems for robots and hand prosthesis. As leader of the educational activities of the coordination and support action NEUROTECH, she co-organised the Neuromorphic Colloquium, a series of online events to build up educational material for the next generation of neuromorphic researchers.
She is in the scientific board of the Capocaccia Workshop on Neuromorphic Intelligence. She is Senior Editor for NPJ Robotics, IOP Neuromorphic Computing and Engineering, IEEE JETCAS and editor in Frontiers in Neuroscience and IEEE TCASI.
She is an IEEE member, actively supporting the CAS and RAS societies, previous chair of WiCAS committee, and NSA Technical Committee. In 2020, she was general chair of "AICAS2020", on Circuits and systems for efficient embedded AI.
Steven H. Collins
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Stanford University, California, USA
Steve Collins is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, where he teaches courses on design and robotics and directs the Stanford Biomechatronics Laboratory. His primary focus is to speed and systematize the design and prescription of prostheses and exoskeletons using versatile device emulator hardware and human-in-the-loop optimization algorithms (Zhang et al. 2017, Science). Another interest is efficient autonomous devices, such as highly energy-efficient walking robots (Collins et al. 2005, Science) and exoskeletons that use no energy yet reduce the metabolic energy cost of human walking (Collins et al. 2015, Nature).
Prof. Collins received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2002 from Cornell University, where he performed undergraduate research on passive dynamic walking robots. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2008 from the University of Michigan, where he performed research on the dynamics and control of human walking. He performed postdoctoral research on humanoid robots at T. U. Delft in the Netherlands. He was a professor of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University for seven years. In 2017, he joined the faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University.
Prof. Collins is a member of the Scientific Board of Dynamic Walking and the Editorial Board of Science Robotics. He has received the Young Scientist Award from the American Society of Biomechanics, the Best Medical Devices Paper from the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, and the student-voted Professor of the Year in his department.
Prof. Collins received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2002 from Cornell University, where he performed undergraduate research on passive dynamic walking robots. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in 2008 from the University of Michigan, where he performed research on the dynamics and control of human walking. He performed postdoctoral research on humanoid robots at T. U. Delft in the Netherlands. He was a professor of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics at Carnegie Mellon University for seven years. In 2017, he joined the faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University.
Prof. Collins is a member of the Scientific Board of Dynamic Walking and the Editorial Board of Science Robotics. He has received the Young Scientist Award from the American Society of Biomechanics, the Best Medical Devices Paper from the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, and the student-voted Professor of the Year in his department.
Yulia Sandamirskaya
Head of Research Centre: Cognitive Computing in Life Sciences
Zurich University of Applied Science (Winterthur, Switzerland)
Dr. Yulia Sandamirskaya is a leading figure in the field of neuromorphic computing and embodied artificial intelligence, currently serving as a Full Professor and the Head of the Research Center "Cognitive Computing in Life Sciences" at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW). She leads the Neuromorphic Computing Group, focusing on the development of brain-inspired computing architectures and algorithms for energy-efficient, real-time AI systems, particularly within the domain of robotics. Her academic journey began with a degree in Physics from the Belarusian State University, followed by a doctorate in Physics and Neural Computation from the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
Throughout her career, Dr. Sandamirskaya has held significant research and industry positions, including leading research groups at the Institute of Neuroinformatics (INI) at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich. Notably, she served as the Applications Research Lead for the Neuromorphic Computing Lab at Intel, where she oversaw the development of spiking neural network algorithms for the Intel Loihi hardware platform. Her research leverages the Dynamic Neural Fields (DNF) framework to enable autonomous agents to perform tasks like spatial cognition, navigation, and sensorimotor control, integrating these models with robotic platforms for low-latency interaction. Recognized as a Business Insider Future Maker and a prominent woman in robotics by Robohub, Dr. Sandamirskaya's work bridges the gap between theoretical neuroscience, cognitive science, and practical robotic applications, pushing the boundaries of AI for real-world scenarios in areas such as health and elderly care.
Guido de Croon
Full Professor, Bio-inspired Micro Air Vehicles/Scientific Lead, Micro Air Vehicle Laboratory (MAVLab)
Delft University of Technology (Delft, Netherlands)
Guido de Croon is a Full Professor of Bio-inspired Micro Air Vehicles at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), where he serves as the scientific lead of the Micro Air Vehicle Laboratory (MAVLab). He earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Maastricht University and previously worked as a research fellow at the European Space Agency's Advanced Concepts Team. His research focuses on creating computationally efficient, bio-inspired algorithms for autonomous, light-weight flying robots, with an emphasis on computer vision. Prof. de Croon's work includes leading the development of the "DelFly Explorer," a flapping-wing drone capable of autonomous flight and obstacle avoidance, and contributing to a swarm of nano-copters designed for environmental exploration, research that has been published in Science and Science Robotics. Inspired by insect intelligence, his current work involves developing neuromorphic sensing for drones and utilizing principles of biological intelligence to create robust swarms of small drones for applications such as search and rescue and precision agriculture, a research area for which he was awarded the NWO Vici grant in 2024.
Hae-Won Park
Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
KAIST (Daejeon, South Korea)
Hae-Won Park is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) and serves as the director of its humanoid robot research center. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2012, following master's and bachelor's degrees from Yonsei University. Prior to his tenure at KAIST, Park held roles as an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and as a research scientist and postdoctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, where he contributed to social robotics projects aimed at children's language education. At KAIST, he leads the Dynamic Robot Control and Design Laboratory, concentrating his research on the control and design of dynamic robot systems, particularly legged locomotion, bio-inspired robots, model predictive control, reinforcement learning, and innovative robot mechanisms. His work has led to the development of agile climbing robots designed for navigating challenging environments. Professor Park's contributions to the field have been acknowledged with honors such as an Early Career Spotlight award at the 2021 Robotics Science & Systems conference, an editorial board membership for the IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics, and the ICRA DARwIn-OP Humanoids Application Challenge Winner award in 2013.
Mirko Kovac
Imperial College London (London, England)
Professor Mirko Kovac is a leading researcher in aerial and sustainability robotics, holding leadership positions at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He also holds an Honorary Professorship at Imperial College London, where he previously directed the Aerial Robotics Lab. His academic background includes degrees from ETH Zurich and EPFL, followed by post-doctoral work at Harvard University's Microrobotics Laboratory.
Prof. Kovac's research centers on bio-inspired mobile robots for distributed sensing and autonomous manufacturing in challenging environments. His work aims to create systems akin to an "artificial robotic immune system" for environmental protection and infrastructure repair. His expertise lies in robot design, hardware development, and multi-modal sensor mobility, often drawing inspiration from natural systems like insects. He has a substantial publication record, has received multiple awards, and provides expert advice to government and industry on robotics.
Prof. Kovac's research centers on bio-inspired mobile robots for distributed sensing and autonomous manufacturing in challenging environments. His work aims to create systems akin to an "artificial robotic immune system" for environmental protection and infrastructure repair. His expertise lies in robot design, hardware development, and multi-modal sensor mobility, often drawing inspiration from natural systems like insects. He has a substantial publication record, has received multiple awards, and provides expert advice to government and industry on robotics.
Shuran Song
Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering
Stanford University (California, USA)
Dr. Shuran Song is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and, by courtesy, Computer Science at Stanford University, where she directs the Robotics and Embodied Artificial Intelligence Lab (REALab@Stanford). A leading researcher in the intersection of computer vision and robotics, Dr. Song's academic journey began with a BEng from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, followed by a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Princeton University. Before her tenure at Stanford, which started in 2023, she served as an assistant professor at Columbia University and held visiting research roles at institutions like Google Brain Robotics and Microsoft Research. Her research is dedicated to developing machine learning algorithms that enable robots to acquire complex manipulation skills from various data sources. Dr. Song is particularly interested in changing computer vision's role from passive observation to active exploration, allowing robots to leverage physical dynamics like gravity and momentum—a concept she terms "Learning Meets Gravity"—to perform tasks such as throwing or unfolding objects efficiently. Her innovative work, including pioneering "diffusion policy" methods and creating low-cost robotic hearing systems, has earned her significant recognition, including an NSF Career Award, a Sloan Foundation Fellowship, the 2024 Samsung AI Researcher of the Year Award, and multiple best paper awards at top robotics conferences.
Perla Maiolino
Associate Professor, Engineering Science
University of Oxford (Oxford, England)
Perla Maiolino is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, where she directs the Soft Robotics Lab within the Oxford Robotics Institute and serves as a Tutorial Fellow at Brasenose College. She holds BEng, MEng, and PhD degrees in Robotics and Automation from the University of Genoa, Italy, where her doctoral research led to the development of CySkin, an artificial robot skin technology now featured at the Science Museum in London. Before joining Oxford in 2018, she conducted postdoctoral research on soft robotics and tactile perception at the Biologically Inspired Robotics Lab at the University of Cambridge.
Professor Maiolino's research is dedicated to providing robots with a sense of touch to facilitate safe and effective physical interaction with their environment and humans. Her work explores technological solutions for soft tactile sensors integrated into soft robotic bodies, investigating how this "embodied intelligence" influences perception and autonomy. A core focus of her lab is the exploration of advanced tactile data processing for human-robot interaction, enabling robots to assess contact parameters like texture, stiffness, and temperature, and to develop sophisticated sensory-motor coordination. Academically, she contributes to the undergraduate curriculum by teaching various Electronic and Information Engineering subjects, including Circuit Analysis, Digital Electronics, Control Theory, and Microcontroller Systems.
Professor Maiolino's research is dedicated to providing robots with a sense of touch to facilitate safe and effective physical interaction with their environment and humans. Her work explores technological solutions for soft tactile sensors integrated into soft robotic bodies, investigating how this "embodied intelligence" influences perception and autonomy. A core focus of her lab is the exploration of advanced tactile data processing for human-robot interaction, enabling robots to assess contact parameters like texture, stiffness, and temperature, and to develop sophisticated sensory-motor coordination. Academically, she contributes to the undergraduate curriculum by teaching various Electronic and Information Engineering subjects, including Circuit Analysis, Digital Electronics, Control Theory, and Microcontroller Systems.
Robert Gregg
Director, Locomotor Control Systems Laboratory
University of Michigan (Michigan, USA)
Robert Gregg is a professor with joint appointments in Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, and Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan. He serves as the Associate Director for Graduate Education at Michigan Robotics and is the director of the Locomotor Control Systems Laboratory. His research focuses on developing high-performance, human-assistive wearable robots, such as powered prostheses and exoskeletons, using advanced control theories to improve mobility for individuals with disabilities.
Dr. Gregg's academic background includes a B.S. in electrical engineering and computer sciences from the University of California, Berkeley (2006), and M.S. (2007) and Ph.D. (2010) degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to his tenure at the University of Michigan, which began in 2019, he held positions as an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas and a research scientist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. His significant contributions to his field have been acknowledged with notable awards, such as the NIH Director's New Innovator Award and the NSF CAREER Award.
Lorenzo Masia
Professor, Intelligent Bio-Robotic Systems
Technical University of Munich (Munich, Germany)
Lorenzo Masia is the Executive Director of the Munich Institute of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MIRMI) and a Professor of Intelligent Bio-Robotic Systems at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). He holds a PhD from the University of Padua and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), following an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sapienza University of Rome. Masia's career trajectory includes roles as a Team Leader at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), an Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and professorships at the University of Twente and Heidelberg University before joining TUM in 2024. His research primarily focuses on soft, lightweight exosuits designed to augment human muscle activity and facilitate rehabilitation for individuals with neurological conditions, emphasizing intuitive control strategies for human-robot interaction in these mechatronic devices.
Kyoungchul Kong
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
KAIST (Daejeon, South Korea)
Kyoungchul Kong is a respected South Korean mechanical engineer, academic, and entrepreneur known for his work in human-assistive robotics. He is a professor in Mechanical Engineering at KAIST and directs the Exoskeleton Laboratory and Augmented Human Research Center. Kong earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and his bachelor's and master's degrees from Sogang University.
His research focuses on robust control systems and wearable robot design to help individuals with physical impairments. He has developed devices such as the WalkON Suit for complete lower body paralysis, the Angel Suit for partial paralysis, and Angel Legs for rehabilitation. To bring this technology to market, he founded Angel Robotics in 2017, where he is CEO.
Kong's team has achieved success at the Cybathlon competition, winning bronze in 2016 and gold and bronze in 2020. In 2024, his team won first place with an improved WalkON Suit. His work has been recognized with awards, including being named a "Leader Scientist" by the National Research Foundation of Korea and receiving commendations from the South Korean Prime Minister. He is also the author of the book, Intelligent Assistive Robots.
Hang Su
Professor, The IBISC Laboratory
University Paris-Saclay (Orsay, France)
Hang Su is a Professor at the University of Paris-Saclay, specifically affiliated with the IBISC Lab in Gif-sur-Yvette, France. His extensive research portfolio is centered on the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, and human interaction, with particular expertise in areas such as human-robot interaction, exoskeletons, surgical robotics, and fuzzy/adaptive control systems. Dr. Su is a highly recognized figure in his field, evidenced by his consistent inclusion in Stanford's list of the world's Top 2% Scientists since 2021 and numerous accolades, including the prestigious Andrew P. Sage Best Transactions Paper Award in 2021. In addition to his research and teaching roles, he actively contributes to the academic community through editorial positions for several leading IEEE Transactions and major robotics conferences.
In-So Kweon
Professor, Robotics and Computer Vision Lab
KAIST (Daejeon, South Korea)
In-So Kweon received the BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Design and Production Engineering from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, in 1981 and 1983, respectively, and the PhD degree in Robotics from the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1990. He worked for the Toshiba R&D Center, Japan, and joined the Department of Automation and Design Engineering, KAIST, Seoul, Korea, in 1992, where he is now a professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering. His research interests are sensor fusion, color modeling and analysis, visual tracking, and visual SLAM. He was the general chair for the Asian Conference on Computer Vision 2012 and he is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Computer Vision. He has been serving as a director for P3 DigiCar Center which is one of the National Core Research Center since 2010.