Special Sessions

The RAAD2025 conference encourages the organization of special sessions.

Each Special Session should address a specific topic in the field of robotics.

Please send your proposals for special sessions by November 30, 2024, to the conference chair’s email address kostaj@etf.rs.

Collaborative Robotics

The Special Session on Collaborative Robotics invites researchers, industry experts, and practitioners to explore cutting-edge advancements in human-robot collaboration, emphasizing safety, autonomy, and adaptability in shared environments. This session will showcase breakthrough methodologies and technologies that empower robots to work seamlessly and safely alongside humans, enhancing productivity and ergonomics across applications such as manufacturing, healthcare, and elderly care.
Topics of interest include haptic feedback control, adaptive behavior models, advanced perception systems, and ergonomic designs tailored for collaborative tasks. Presentations and discussions will cover challenges like real-time adaptability, compliance with safety standards, and intuitive robot operation, crucial for the widespread adoption of collaborative robots. By bringing together a community of experts, the session aims to inspire innovative solutions and foster partnerships that drive the development of human-centered robotic systems.

Organizers:
Tadej Petrič Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
Luka Peternel Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
Aljaž Kramberger University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Interoperable AI-Based Robotics for the Factory of the Future

In the context of international crises and increasing demands for climate neutrality, new approaches for effective, resilient, and sustainable industrial production are essential. The shortage of skilled workers and rising costs necessitate greater efficiency in production, work preparation, and engineering processes. Despite advancements in Industry 4.0, the integration of field devices and production systems remains insufficient for achieving desired autonomy and efficiency. Robotic integration often relies on specific hardware and software solutions, lacking flexibility and standardization. To address this, behavior-based robotics and reusable generic capabilities are proposed focusing on transferability, interoperability, and options for standardization. This session will present current research and solutions for end-to-end digitalization of robot-supported processes, including AI-based algorithms for planning, control, and quality assurance, emphasizing methods, interoperable models, digital twins, and modular control architectures.

Organizer:
Achim Wagner German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, Germany

Cognitive Intelligence in Industrial Robots and Manufacturing

The Special Session will contribute to the deployment of digital infrastructure through new cognitive intelligence mechanisms. With the implementation of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) based on Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and interconnection of all levels of automation pyramid, Industrial Control Systems (ICS) within Industry 4.0 are no longer isolated islands, but a part of connected world. They are realized through ubiquitous communication of smart devices. Autonomous systems as significant element of ICS applied in different manufacturing assets such as Numerically Controlled (NC) machine tools and Industrial Robots are the main stream of the interests within this session. They are already widely implemented using IIoT principles, but the competitiveness of experts in domain of cognitive issues needs to increase at international level. The main goal of this Special Session is to create Artificial Intelligence (AI) based solutions for cognitive intelligence within Industry 4.0 using Machine Learning (ML) based approaches, such as Deep Learning (Convolutional Neural Networks, Recurrent Neural Networks), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and biologically inspired optimization algorithms etc. In the focus of the session will be generation of new ML-based cognitive intelligence mechanisms for NC machine tools and visually controlled intelligent industrial/mobile robots, as well as the integrated process planning and scheduling/rescheduling of cyber-physical manufacturing systems in case that for example, cyber-attack occurs. The Special Session will have a direct impact on scientific community, industry, education, and society as a whole through the development of innovative solutions, generation of experts in the area of ICS and raising the awareness of industry, other stakeholders and general public about cognitive issues especially in ICS.

Organizers:
Zoran Đ. Miljković University of Belgrade, Serbia
Milica M. Petrović University of Belgrade, Serbia

Robots and Arts

The special session on Robots and Arts explores the synergy between artistic expression and robotic technologies, encouraging a multidisciplinary dialogue. Researchers, artists, and innovators are invited to examine how art-driven approaches can inspire novel robotic designs, redefine human-robot interactions, and address societal challenges with creative solutions.

The key themes are:

• • Art-inspired robotic designs for human-centered applications.
  • Exploring aesthetics, perception, and emotion in robotic systems.
  • Collaborative frameworks that merge artistic creativity with engineering innovation.
  • Case studies of art-driven robotic applications in fields like healthcare and education.

This session will highlight the potential of art to drive innovation in robotics, from shaping the design and functionality of robots to enhancing societal acceptance and trust in robotic systems. By bringing together artists and robotics and design researchers this session aims to foster collaborations that push the boundaries of what robots can achieve in service of humanity and the planet.

Organizers:
Maria Rita Canina, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Angelo Cangelosi, University of Manchester, UK
Petia Ivanova Radeva, University of Barselona, Spain
Maja Trumić, University of Belgrade, Serbia