Latest News
Over the last decade there has been a significant increase of research activities focusing on robotic grasping and dexterous manipulation in dynamic and unstructured environments. The special issue “Robotic Grasping and Manipulation Challenges and Progress” of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters aims to summarize the state of the art and recent progress that has been achieved by the teams participating in the grasping and manipulation competitions of the IEEE-RAS Technical Committee on Robotic Hands, Grasping and Manipulation.
Due to the impact and disruption from Covid-19, the nominations deadline has been extended by one week. We hope that this will allow for a broader response in all categories.
Don't wait! The Award Nomination Deadline is Saturday, 1 August - NOW 8 August!!!.
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) 8 August 2020.
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
Congratulations to the following Authors for their outstanding achievement as recipients of RAS Publication Awards!
While automated vehicle are ready to evolve in restricted and dedicated areas, autonomous vehicles are still facing difficulties to sense, interpret and decide their actions when facing situations in different environments. Various environments concern offroad environment, shared environment, crowdy and human populated environment, Among the difficulties, the first one is to succeed in the task to sense and interpret the scene in order to be aware about the situation and its evolution. The second one is to deal with the uncertainty of modelling, sensing, interpretation in decision and control. The third one is to take into account human behavior as manual drivers, pedestrians or human using new electric mobility system. The most challenging is to the understand and incorporate the changes in the environment for long term and safe navigation. With the recent revival of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data and Model driven approaches and algorithms offer the new opportunity to develop autonomous vehicles by improving their perception, Decision and control. This special issue aims to present the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence, Modelling, Perception, Decision and Control for extending the autonomy of robots. This is an opportunity to gather researchers in developing fundamental principles to discuss and share original research works and practical experiences.
TC Poster Session and Networking Event Associated with ICRA 2020
Happy summer! We hope you all are staying safe and well, and perhaps starting to get back into the labs with your robots. The co-chairs of the RAS Technical Committee on Model-Based Optimization for Robotics are happy to announce the networking event surrounding ICRA 2020.
In the absence of in-person interactions at ICRA 2020, our TC will hold a virtual poster session and networking event on Thursday, 16 July 2020, 9:30-11:00 AM EST (13:30-15:00 GMT).
We will kick off the event with a short welcome on zoom and then hold two 40-minute poster sessions. We will use the platform spatial.chat to replicate informal interactions and conversations (inspired by its success at Dynamic Walking 2020 -- thanks to Michael Posa and Aaron Johnson!).
If you plan to participate in the TC event with a poster, please register here.
Posters covering ICRA papers, recent journals, and/or other work in progress are encouraged.
Deadlines:
Poster Registration and Submission: July 13th- register here
Event Registration: Not required, access links and info provided here.
You can test drive spatial.chat using one of our poster rooms here (https://spatial.chat/s/tc-)
TC-Related ICRA 2020 Paper Repository Combing through over 1500 ICRA papers has been daunting for many. To help us all out, please register your TC-related ICRA paper here. You can view the aggregated list here.
Did you miss the RAS 2020 Town Hall on 9 June 2020? Watch this event on-demand at your convenience!
The first ever virtual RAS Town Hall. This live event featured a Panel of the Past, Present and Future RAS Presidents, as they talked about the history of the Society, where we are right now, and opportunities and ideas for the future of the organization and the robotics community.
Tuesday, 9 June 2020
PANELISTS
Wolfram Burgard, President 2018-2019
Seth Hutchinson, President 2020-2021
Frank Park, President 2022-2023
Moderator- Karinne Ramirez Amaro
In addition to our Panelist presentations an open discussion was held, and member's questions were answered and discussed.
RAS Staff Support- Kathy Colabaugh, Amy Reeder, Alexis Simoes
Did you miss the RAS Technical Committee Showcase Networking event on 19 June 2020? Watch this event on-demand at your convenience!
Four RAS Technical Committees (TCs) were showcased in this inaugural event held on Friday, 19 June at 9:00am EDT. The event began with an Overview of the TC, their current activities, and ways members can get involved. This was followed by an opportunity to connect in live conversation with TC Chairs via video conferencing.
Welcome and introduction from Megan Emmons, Chair of the RAS Young Professionals Committee, and Tony Maciejewski, RAS Vice President of RAS Technical Activities. Followed by an overview from each of the following RAS Technical Committees:
• TC on Aerial Robotics and Unmanned Aerial Systems
• TC on Algorithms for Planning and Control of Robot Motion
• TC on Automation In Logistics
• TC on Performance Evaluation & Benchmarking of Robotic and Automation Systems
For more information on how to get involved with an RAS Technical Committee- https://www.ieee-ras.org/technical-committees
We are pleased to offer you the June 2020 special issue on Deep learning and machine learning of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine!
IEEE Robotics and Automation Society is a co-sponsor of the IEEE Transactions on Cognitive and Developmental Systems and we are pleased to offer you an inside look on the June 2020 issue.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=7274989
Vol.12, No.2, June 2020
Please join us for the first event in a series of informal conversations and networking with the Chairs of RAS Technical Committees (TCs). Four TCs will be showcased in this inaugural event to be held on Friday, 19 June at 9:00am EDT.
The Event will begin with an Overview of the TC, their current activities, and how YOU might get involved. This will be followed by an opportunity to connect in live conversation with TC Chairs via video conferencing.
Part 1: Technical Committee Overview
9:00-9:30am EDT (GMT -4)
Welcome and introduction from Megan Emmons, Chair of the RAS Young Professionals Committee, and Tony Maciejewski, RAS Vice President of RAS Technical Activities.
Followed by an overview from each of the following RAS Technical Committees:
• TC on Aerial Robotics and Unmanned Aerial Systems
• TC on Algorithms for Planning and Control of Robot Motion
• TC on Automation In Logistics
• TC on Performance Evaluation & Benchmarking of Robotic and Automation Systems
Please join Part 1 of this Event here:
https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/onstage/g.php?MTID=e869c371556cfd663a84f1356b3724e44
Part 2: Meet the TC Chairs
Informal Networking and Conversation
9:30-10:00am EDT (GMT -4)
You can “visit” with any or ALL of the following TC Chairs, by joining the video conferences using the links provided. Stay for as long as you like...and hop out to join another “room" at any time. Our TC Chairs are eager to meet YOU!
TC on Aerial Robotics and Unmanned Aerial Systems:
• Giuseppe Loianno
Join here: https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/j.php?MTID=mcfd598db300e7c61f73b8cc12d77285c
TC on Algorithms for Planning and Control of Robot Motion:
• Tsz-Chiu Au
• Aleksandra Faust
• Vadim Indelman
• Marco Morales
Join here: https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/j.php?MTID=mfce884edd6388449369b788651d54efa
TC on Automation In Logistics:
• Maria Pia Fanti
• Walter Ukovich
Join here: https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/j.php?MTID=m16464265b1a62316d8986d7c9ac877d9
TC on Performance Evaluation & Benchmarking of Robotic and Automation Systems:
• Fabio Bonsignorio
Join here: https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/j.php?MTID=ma481f58ad59b449c4614ab9c1a821728
IEEE RAS Member and Volunteer, Edson Prestes, Federal University of RioGrande do Sul, Brazil, has been involved in the effort to launch the United Nations Roadmap on Digital Cooperation. Join in on the virtual presentation of The United Nations Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation which starts streaming today (11 June 2020, 13:30 – 15:30 EDT)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will launch his Roadmap for Digital Cooperation at the President of the General Assembly’s High-Level Thematic Debate. Joined by Heads of States and political leaders, technology industry CEOs, Eminent Persons and Civil Society leaders, the Secretary General will then kick-off a series of high-level virtual events elaborating on the Roadmap and its implementation.
The event will be broadcasted at: webtv.un.org
Don't wait! The Award Nomination Deadline is Saturday,1 August 2020
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 2020.
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
The IEEE Robotics & Automation Society recognizes and congratulates individuals for their outstanding accomplishments and service to RAS and the robotics and automation community.
Watch this recorded virtual ceremony hosted by RAS President- Seth Hutchinson, IEEE President - Toshio Fukuda, IEEE RAS Past Awards Chair- Raja Chatila, IEEE RAS Awards Chair - Satoshi Tadokoro as they introduce the winners of the 2020 Robotics and Automation Society Awards! Please join us in congratulating these outstanding recipients!
Learn More Nominate a Colleague today for 2021- Nominations are due 1 August 2020! Click to learn more about details for each award, including eligibility, nomination requirements and lists of previous recipients.
See how you can explore the world of robotics with the Interactive Robots Watch this on-demand #TryEngineering Live: Hands-on Design Challenge to learn more with Robots.ieee.org!
Available on Demand! Click here ro register!
The Biggest Robotics Research Conference Is Now More Accessible Than Ever- ICRA 2020
If it wasn’t for COVID-19, we’d probably be in Paris right now, enjoying the beautiful weather, stuffing ourselves with pastries, and getting ready for another amazing edition of the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), the world’s largest robotics research gathering. We’re not doing any of that, of course. Personally, I’ve barely left my house since March, and the in-person ICRA conference in Paris was quite sensibly cancelled a while ago. The good news, however, is that ICRA is now a virtual conference instead, and the reason that it’s good news (and not just some sad pandemic-y compromise) is that the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) and the ICRA conference committees have put in an astonishing amount of work in a very short period of time to bring the entire conference online in a way that actually seems like it might work out pretty well for everyone. Click to read the full article
For more information on ICRA 2020 virtual conference (31 May - 31 August)- www.icra2020.org
We are planning several virtual gatherings for RAS society members and students. Tune back here for more information.
These include:
4 Student Activities hosted by the Student Activities Committee (SAC), RAS Town Hall, a Women in Engineering (WIE) Summer Mentoring Event, as well as a Young Professionals Networking Event!
We are excited to offer 4 different virtual activities for all student attendees of ICRA 2020. If you're interested in testing your knowledge of robots, video or graphic design skills, or want to meet with world leaders in robotics, then sign up for one of the events below! Space is limited!
Calling all past, present and future RAS Members: We want to connect with YOU via the first ever virtual RAS Town Hall. This live event will feature a Panel of the Past, Present and Future RAS Presidents, as they talk about the history of the Society, where we are right now, and opportunities and ideas for the future of the organization and the robotics community.
When: LIVE on Tuesday, 9 June at 4:00pm CEST (10:00am EDT)
Where: Join the live online event here: https://ieee.webex.com/ieee/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea3fe27d004722d8f24fd720813472600
This session will also be recorded, and available until 31 August.
PANELISTS
WHERE DID WE COME FROM?
Wolfram Burgard, President 2018-2019
University of Freiburg, Germany
Toyota Research Institute (TRI)
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Seth Hutchinson, President 2020-2021
Georgia Tech, United States
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Frank Park, President 2022-2023
Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
In addition to our Panelist presentations an open discussion will be held, and YOUR questions will be answered and discussed. Please submit Questions to spark discussion or get answers! Your question can be general society or program related, or a question directly for one of our Presenters. We invite questions to be submitted in advance using this online form:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0290b860312a4af3b254fcc794824995
Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit questions during the live event via the chat feature.
We look forward to a lively discussion!
Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and Microsoft Teams
Check out our IEEE RAS branded virtual background images for video conferencing tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, and Microsoft Teams!
Note: For Google Meet, camera add-on or extension is required.
View instructions on how to upload background images for a Zoom meeting.
View instructions on how to upload background images for a Skype meeting.
View tips to use IEEE virtual backgrounds with Microsoft Teams.
