#IROS2023: A glimpse into the next generation of robotics

The 2023 EEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2023) kicks off today at the Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan. This year’s theme, “The Next Generation of Robotics,” is a call to the young and senior researchers to create a forum where the past, present, and future of robotics converge.

The program of IROS 2023 is a blend of theoretical insights and practical demonstrations, designed to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration. Among the highlights are the plenary and keynote talks by eminent personalities in the field of robotics.

Plenaries and keynotes

On the plenary front, Marcie O’Malley from Rice University will delve into the realm of robots that teach and learn with a human touch. Yuto Nakanishi of GITAI, Japan, will share his insights on the challenges of developing space robots for building a moonbase. Matt Johnson-Roberson from Carnegie Mellon University will explore the shared history and convergent future of AI and Robotics.

The keynote sessions are equally thought-provoking. On Monday, October 2nd, Sven Behnke from the University of Bonn, Germany, will discuss the transition from intuitive immersive telepresence systems to conscious service robots, while Michelle Johnson from the University of Pennsylvania, USA, will talk about the journey towards more inclusive rehabilitation robots. Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio from Yale University, USA, will also share insights on shape-shifting soft robots that adapt to changing tasks and environments.

On Tuesday, October 3rd, Kostas Alexis from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway, will share experiences from the DARPA Subterranean Challenge focusing on resilient robotic autonomy. Serena Ivaldi from Inria, France, will discuss the transition from humanoids to exoskeletons, aiming at assisting and collaborating with humans. Mario Santillo from Ford Motor Company, USA, will provide a glimpse into the future of manufacturing automation.

The series continues on Wednesday, October 4th, with Moritz Bächer (Switzerland) and Morgan Pope (USA) from Disney Research discussing the design and control of expressive robotic characters. Tetsuya Ogata from Waseda University/AIST, Japan, will delve into deep predictive learning in robotics, optimizing models for adaptive perception and action. Lastly, Teresa Vidal-Calleja from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, will talk about empowering robots with continuous space and time representations.

Competitions

The competitions segment of IROS 2023 will be a space for innovation and creativity. The Functional Fashion competition invites teams to design and demonstrate robotic clothing that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional. The F1/10 Autonomous Racing challenges participants to build a 1:10 scaled autonomous race car and compete in minimizing lap time while avoiding crashes. The Soft Robotics Balloon Robots competition encourages the creation of locomoting and swimming soft robots using balloons as a substrate, exploring rapid design and deployment of soft robotic structures.

Technical programme & demonstrations

The technical sessions and workshops/tutorials at IROS 2023 are designed to foster a rich exchange of ideas among the attendees. These sessions will feature presentations on cutting-edge research and innovative projects from across the globe, providing a platform for researchers to share their findings, receive feedback, and engage in meaningful discussions. In additions, the demonstrations segment will bring theories to life as participants showcase their working prototypes and models, offering a tangible glimpse into the advancements in robotics.

Participate in IROS 2023 remotely with Ohmni telepresence robots

If you are unable to participate in the conference in person, Ohmnilabs has provided three of their Ohmni telepresence robots to facilitate participation in the conference virtually. The telepresence robots will be active from October 2-4 from 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. EDT. You can secure a time slot in advance using this link.

The telepresence robots will allow you to:

Explore the exhibit hall and speak with exhibitors
Interact with authors and other attendees during interactive poster sessions
Attend a plenary or keynote presentation

You can check in real-time here to see if any of the robots are available throughout the day.

Watch out our blog during the following days for updates and results from the best paper awards. And enjoy IROS 2023!