Don't wait! The Award Nomination Deadline is Saturday,1 August 2021

Awards

Who are Leaders in the robotics and automation field? Who should be honored with a prestigious IEEE RAS Award? Consider nominating them! But hurry, the deadline for IEEE Robotics & Automation Society Award nominations is midnight (US EST) 1 August 2021.

Details for each award, including eligibility, nomination requirements and lists of previous recipients, may be found here:
www.ieee-ras.org/awards-recognition/society-awards

Anyone who is involved in organizing an IEEE or RAS conference, large or small, or is thinking about organizing a conference is encouraged to attend. Get answers to your questions about the organization, requirements, logistics and finances of conferences, both large and small. Speak with the experts for advice on how to make sure your conference is executed flawlessly! We will also offer advice on COVID-19 policies and best-practices for in-person events with allowance for remote attendees.

RAS will be presenting a FREE Conference Organizers Workshop to assist current and future Organizers.
The workshop will take place on Wednesday, 23 June 2021 from 9:00-11:00am EDT (UTC -4).

ICRA plenary

 

The Goal of this interactive workshop is to assist and guide Organizers with any questions or concerns they might have. The RAS Support Team has extensive experience in organizing conferences both large and small, in person and virtual. Best Practices and innovative solutions will be discussed. Topics covered can be any or all of the following: Conference Committee Roles, Publication and Program, Finance, Logistics, Virtual, Hybrid and In-Person formats, and many other aspects of YOUR event. Bring YOUR questions and concerns, and ASK THE EXPERTS!

 

The 2021 Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automation (IERA) goes toPixelPaint technology of ABB. Two high-precision robots make car painting faster, more sustainable and flexible – helping manufacturers to efficiently respond to individual demands. Two-tone and customized designs are applied in one pass. The technology eliminates overspray benefitting the environment.

 

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The 2021 IEEE International Conference on Multisensor Fusion and Integration (MFI 2021) invites submissions!

 

Extended deadline 15 June 2021
Conference dates 23-25 September 2021
Innovative hybrid format including real and virtual components
Remote participation and presentation is possible
Papers are published on IEEE Xplore
Sponsored by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) and the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES)
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
For details, please see: https://mfi2021.org

Calling all RAS Members: We want to connect with YOU during our upcoming virtual RAS Town Hall. This live event will feature discussion around Diversity & Inclusion, RAS CARES committee & Code of Conduct, Gender Diversity, and the Developing Country Faculty Engagement Program!

 

When: LIVE on Thursday, 3 June from 10:00-11:00am EDT
Where: Join the live online event here: https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/onstage/g.php?MTID=e9d143e0bfe4327e7ca789d2a5f96000f

This session will also be recorded.

Tea with TCs flyer

 

8 June 2021, 1:00-2:30pm GMT

Continue the fun of ICRA by joining us virtually on 8 June 2021 for an interactive meeting with some representatives of our invaluable Technical Committees!

This virtual event is for Young Professionals interested in learning more about some of the amazing Technical Committees (TCs) within the Robotics and Automation Society

Details: A virtual networking event, beginning with an introductory panel where TC representatives will highlight their committee activities before moving to breakout sessions where YOU have an opportunity to talk directly with representatives- Because a warm cup of tea (or beverage of choice!) is always better when you get to share it with other inspiring roboticists and learn something new! 

TCs represented: Model-Based Optimization for Robotics, Multi-Robot Systems, Automation in Logistics, PEBRAS, Verification of Autonomous Systems and Haptics.

No need to register in advance. Please join this FREE event using the following link: https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/j.php?MTID=m755680c1dd3f12020901eb44ce837a8e

Tuesday, 1 June 2021 from 9:00-11:00am US Eastern time
In Partnership with the RAS Industrial Activities Board (IAB) and the Construction Industry Institute (CII)

Advances in robotics and automation offer new solutions to humanity’s oldest problems of clean water, food and shelter. Join us at the 2021 ICRA Industrial Forum as we focus on the challenges in today’s construction industry, with potential new solutions coming out of research labs around the world. What are the needs for mobility at the construction site? How should materials be moved? How should data be provided to onsite workers, and how do we keep people safe? What can be done remotely, and what other tactics can make construction resilient to weather? These and other challenges will be presented, with an opportunity to ask questions in live and interactive sessions with the speakers. This forum is being developed in partnership between the RAS Industrial Activities Board and the Construction Industry Institute, a leader in new approaches for this fundamental sector of modern life.

The IEEE/IFR Joint Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics and Automation to be held in conjunction with ICRA 2021. Presentations by FOUR Finalists! The Winner of the IERA Award to be decided immediately following the Live Virtual Session.

Monday, 31 May 2021, 9:00-10:30am EDT (UTC -4)

Friday, 4 June, 9:00 -10:00 am EDT (UTC-4 hours)


The IEEE RAS Women in Engineering (WIE) Committee recently completed a several year study of gender representation in conference leading roles at RAS-supported conferences. Individuals who hold these roles select organizing committees, choose speakers, and make final decisions on paper acceptances. The authors will lead a discussion about the findings and the story behind the study. In addition to presenting detailed data and releasing anonymized datasets for further study, the authors will provide suggestions on changes to help ensure a more diverse and representative robotics community where anyone can thrive.

 

IEEE RAS Seasonal School on Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Based on Soft Robotics

Location: virtually from 14- 18 of June 2021

New RAS CEMRA project announced- the LearnHaptics initiative (http://learnhaptics.org). LearnHaptics is a short educational module on the basics of haptic science and technology. The module is composed of six short videos, selected readings, and example assignments that can be incorporated into existing university courses (e.g., robotics, virtual reality, human-computer interaction) or used for self-paced learning. The content is open and free to use with accreditation (CC BY Creative Commons license). We hope that the community finds it useful and contributes to it by providing their feedback or linking other relevant resources in the comment sections on the website. 

LearnHaptics was developed as part of the IEEE RAS CEMRA program. The content is developed by Hasti Seifi, David Gueorguiev, Hannah Elbaggari, and Samantha Melnyk  from the University of Copenhagen, Sorbonne University, CNRS, University of British Columbia, and Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems.

You can reach us at info@learnhaptics.org with any questions or to contribute to the content.

This Special Issue is motivated by recent developments of robotic control methods, learning algorithms and relevant technologies for compliant manipulation. A large number of researchers have reported their significant contributions to this topic. However, there lacks a Special Issue of any relevant journal concentrating on this interesting topic. We believe that the cognitive and learning abilities as well as intelligent control methods are very important in the development of the next generation of robots of compliant manipulation, and therefore deserve to be studied and discussed in a dedicated special issue.

 

For more information: https://www.ieee-ras.org/publications/ra-l/special-issues/cfp-learning-and-control-for-robot-compliant-manipulation-with-human-in-the-loop

 

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We are pleased to offer you the January-March 2021 issue of IEEE Transactions on Haptics:

The IEEE Technical Committee on the Verification of Autonomous Systems invites you to attend our monthly online Seminar Series. The next seminar will take place on 1 April 2021, 9:00 EDT13:00 GMT. The program is as follows:


Aurora Schmidt & Marin Kobilarov, "Verified Assured Learning for Unmanned Embedded Systems (VALUES)"

Ali Narenji Sheshkalani, "Verification of visibility-based properties on multiple moving robots in an environment with obstacles"

If you wish to attend this seminar please join the IEEE TC mailing list on our webpage- https://www.ieee-ras.org/verification-of-autonomous-systems

 

 

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society membership will elect six new members of the Administrative Committee in 2021, each to serve a three-year term beginning 1 January 2022. The AdCom is the governing body of the Society.

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADCOM MEMBERS

AdCom members must attend two formal meetings each year, one in conjunction with ICRA and the other usually in October/November in conjunction with another major conference. Each AdCom member is expected to serve on at least two boards and/or committees of the Society.

ELIGIBILITY

Any higher-grade member of the Society is eligible to serve and all higher-grade members plus graduate students may nominate candidates and vote.

TO NOMINATE A CANDIDATE

To nominate a candidate or offer yourself as a candidate, contact the Society at ras@ieee.org by 1 May 2021.

PETITION CANDIDATES

Candidates may also petition to be on the ballot. All persons who, by the deadline, submit petitions with valid signatures and IEEE member numbers with at least 2% of the year-end voting membership will be placed on the ballot. Only original signatures on paper or electronic signatures submitted through the RAS petition website will be accepted. Faxed or emailed signatures are NOT acceptable. Contact the Society at ras@ieee.org to obtain a paper petition form or to set up an electronic petition.

Completed petitions must be received by 1 May 2021 to be placed on the ballot.

SELECTION OF FINAL BALLOT

The Nominations Committee will consider all nominations and petitions and select the candidates to be placed on the ballot.

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society membership will elect six new members of the Administrative Committee in 2022, each to serve a three-year term beginning 1 January 2023. The AdCom is the governing body of the Society.

ras logo

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADCOM MEMBERS

AdCom members must attend two formal meetings each year, one in conjunction with ICRA and the other usually in October/November in conjunction with another major conference. Each AdCom member is expected to serve on at least two boards and/or committees of the Society.

ELIGIBILITY

Any higher-grade member of the Society is eligible to serve and all higher-grade members plus graduate students may nominate candidates and vote.

TO NOMINATE A CANDIDATE

To nominate a candidate or offer yourself as a candidate, contact the Society at ras@ieee.org by 1 May 2022.

PETITION CANDIDATES

Candidates may also petition to be on the ballot. All persons who, by the deadline, submit petitions with valid signatures and IEEE member numbers with at least 2% of the year-end voting membership will be placed on the ballot. Only original signatures on paper or electronic signatures submitted through the RAS petition website will be accepted. Faxed or emailed signatures are NOT acceptable. Contact the Society at ras@ieee.org to obtain a paper petition form or to set up an electronic petition.

Completed petitions must be received by 1 May 2022 to be placed on the ballot.

SELECTION OF FINAL BALLOT

The Nominations Committee will consider all nominations and petitions and select the candidates to be placed on the ballot.

dataset contest

The IEEE DataPort Spring Dataset Upload Contest is now open! Entering is easy: upload datasets of any file type up to 2TB in March or April to be eligible to win an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.

The dataset upload contest is designed to encourage authors and researchers to bring their research to the forefront of the global technical community through IEEE DataPort. Anyone who uploads a dataset to IEEE DataPort between 1 March 2021 at 12:00 am EST and 30 April 2021 at 11:59 pm EDT, will also have the opportunity to enter the spring dataset upload contest for a chance to win the prizes listed below.

When uploading standard or open access datasets to IEEE DataPort during this time, users will be prompted to review and agree to the official rules of the contest. If you agree, that’s all you need to do to enter! 

For more information- https://ieee-dataport.org/dataset-upload-contest

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