The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) wants to encourage students to play an active role in existing robotics standardization efforts. IEEE-RAS has a number of approved and active standardization efforts, which you can read about here, and we have set aside funds to provide travel support to students interested in attending the 2026 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), which will be held in Vienna, Austria from June 1 – 5. ICRA 2026 will feature numerous IEEE robotics standardization meetings.

We expect to award 3 travel grants to cover flights, hotel reservations, and conference registration within the IEEE guidelines and not to exceed $3,000 each. Priority will be given to students that would not have otherwise attended ICRA (e.g., do not have a paper accepted), and priority will also be given to undergraduate students. You do not need to be an IEEE member to apply. Complimentary IEEE and RAS memberships will be included in the award.

Selected students will be expected to participate in the full-day standards coordination meeting (if scheduled) as well as in least one standards working group meeting. They will also be required to write a 2-3 page report, submitted to IEEE-RAS, describing their experiences at the conference and how they expect to use what they learned in the future. Reimbursements will be processed after attendance at ICRA. For more information on reimbursement, please follow this link.

Selected students will be expected to participate in the full-day standards coordination meeting (if scheduled), as well as participate in a number of standards working group meetings. They will also be required to write a 2 – 3 page report, submitted to IEEE RAS, describing their experiences at the conference and how they expect to use what they learned in the future. Lastly, one letter of recommendation is required.