Workshops

In this 2021 edition of the I-RIM Conference, we will hear from nine thematic Workshops

Friday afternoon (October 8)

Workshop 1: Innovative mechatronic solutions and approaches

Organizers: Giuseppe Carbone and Massimo Callegari

List of speakers: Carbone, Callegari, Trevisani, Frisoli, Vertechy, Giberti, Niola, Zoppi, Pagani

Brief description: At present, the role of mechatronics is rapidly changing, since it attracts increasing interest in innovative solutions with a fast-growing potential market e.g. in industry, service applications, medical/assistive devices, transportation systems, building/home automation. In this frame, significant attention still needs to be addressed at new concepts, solutions, and methodologies. This Workshop aims at attracting cutting-edge research and review presentations on any innovative design solution(s) and methodologies. Contributions are particularly welcome on topics that are related to theory, design, validations, and applications of mechatronics.

Where: NABA – room 0.02

Zoom Link

Workshop 2: The role of additive manufacturing in the era of industry 4.0

Organizers: Irene Sardellitti and Giuseppe De Marco

List of speakers: TBA

Brief description: Additive Manufacturing (AM) has advanced considerably, and it is increasingly demonstrating its potential through the numerous advantages it offers. AM allows to manufacture components with complex geometries increasingly demonstrating its ability to reduce material waste, saving time, costs and improving lead times for a better value chain. However, knowledge remains one of the greatest barriers to AM’s wider adoption. The central aim of this workshop is to promote engagement, reflective practice, critical thinking, and skill acquisition in the field of AM
This workshop will cover:
• Challenge areas in AM
• Materials used in AM processing
• AM processing technologies
• Process critical controls in AM
• AM technology advances in various markets
• Supply chain innovation
The workshop duration will be 2 hours, 20 minutes/speaker. It addresses managers, buyers, designers, process engineers operating in the manufacturing sector.

Where: NABA – room 2.02

Zoom Link

Workshop 3: Robotics for Education: how robots can improve and innovate learning and teaching for a better society

Organizers: Fiorella Operto, Emanuele Menegatti, Bruno Siciliano, Emanuele Micheli, David Scaradozzi and Marco Picarella

List of speakers: Linda Daniela, Bruno Siciliano, Gloria Sormani, Emanuele Menegatti, David Scaradozzi, Emanuele Micheli, Marco Picarella

Brief description: The workshop aims to offer an overview of the state of the art of educational robotics (ER) as a tool for inclusive education. A picture of the helpful link that educational robotics can offer between school, university and society as a whole. The development of ER from the pioneering interventions to today. To present some thought on model, identify and assess the new learning system differently, with reference to the ethical and societal aspects. To describe the benefits of AI and ER as an inclusive educational tool to support blended and distant education.

Where: NABA – room 2.03

Zoom Link

Workshop 4: How to migrate seamlessly from ROS1 to ROS2

Organizers: Giovanni Di Dio Bruno

List of speakers: Giovanni Di Dio Bruno

Brief description: Since its beginning in 2007, ROS (ROS1), the robot operating system, is one of the most used frameworks for robotics.
In 2017, the first ROS2 distribution was released and in 2021 last and final ROS1 release was announced.
There were big changes from available tools, how the software layer works and how a software is developed. Also communication from a central controller to hardware is modified to be realtime compliant and distributed over a network.
ROS2 allows to fix some inconveniences such as unstable network connectivity and the simplicity to coordinate multiple robots.
ROS2 integration could be difficult to understand and more complex to develop in a first moment due these changes but lots of concepts are similar.
In this workshop, a side by side comparison from a ROS1 and a ROS2 robot is proposed and how to migrate a robotic system seamlessly by learning how update a project.
microROS will be illustrated as substitute of ROSserial.

Where: NABA – room 2.06

Zoom Link

Saturday morning (October 9)

Workshop 5: Next generation components for robotics

Organizers: Rocco Vertechy, Giovanni Berselli and Marco Fontana

List of speakers: Vito Cacucciolo, Carlo Canali, Federico Carpi, Giovanni Berselli, Marco Bolignari, Marco Fontana, Gianluca Rizzello, Michele A. Mandolino, Rocco Vertechy, Daniele Leonardis

Brief description: Metallic components and traditional electrical machines are very effective for robots operating in the manufacturing industry. The spread of robotics in other applications however requires machines that are soft to make them safe to humans and adaptable to the environment. This workshop presents recent advancements in the development of soft components for next robot applications; they include: artificial muscles (soft actuators) made by solid and liquid polymers, and shape memory alloys; thin film flexible grippers; deformable tunable lenses; compliant joints and transmissions; 3D-printed components.

Where: NABA – room 0.01

Zoom Link

Workshop 6: Ergonomics in Human-Robot Systems

Organizers: Giacinto Barresi, Daniele Pucci, Arash Ajoudani, Francesca Negrello and Federica Masci

List of speakers: Jacopo Zenzeri, Simona Crea, Fabio Vannucci, Fanny Ficuciello, Alberto Ranavolo

Brief description: This I-RIM 3D 2021 workshop (with the patronage of Società Italiana di Ergonomia – SIE) aims at presenting and discussing concepts of ergonomics in human-robot systems, based on interactions (e.g., collaboration) occurring between people and intelligent machines to face real-world problems. Experts in technological research will present their goals and the methodologies adopted in their activities, envisioning user-centered breakthrough ideas for implementing impactful robotic solutions.

Where: NABA – room 0.02

Zoom Link

Workshop 7: Ethics, Safety and human centricity: Intelligent Machines under the scope of the European AI Regulation Act

Organizers: Marilena Vendittelli and Riccardo Acciai

List of speakers: Federica Merenda, Daniele Nardi, Fabrizio Silvestri, Andrea Maria Zanchettin, Emanuela Girardi, Giacomo Bottos, Angelo Cianciosi, Andrea Puligheddu

Brief description: In April 2021 the European Commission published a first draft of the Artificial Intelligence Act, a set of norms that aim to regulate the complex legal issues involved in AI and to harmonize the amount of possible normative instruments across EU. Aim of the proposed workshop is to hearing the views of stakeholders and experts on the AI actions and regulations, as well as stimulating a discussion under the philosophical, technological, legal and economic perspectives. Trying to render the complexity of the topic and the quite wide range of the Act impact, the invited speakers have different professional backgrounds, from academic to institutional, to industrial/entrepreneurial.

Where: NABA – room 2.04

Zoom Link

Workshop 8: Field and Service Robotics: Towards deployment in highly challenging environments

Organizers: Giulio Reina, Giuseppe Quaglia, Marco Carricato, Edoardo Idà and Dario Guastella

List of speakers: Giuseppe Quaglia, Enrico di Maria, Martina Mammarella, Karl vonEllenrieder, Beniamino Gioli, Rocco Galati, Luca Bruzzone, Edoardo Idà, Daniele Leonardis, Dario Guastella

Brief description: The adoption of field robotics has rapidly increased with many notable examples that have been developed and validated for operations in overground (terrestrial or extraterrestrial), underground, marine, underwater, and in air or space settings. The current state-of-the-art in field and service robotics in Italy will be illustrated in this WS, with applications ranging from agriculture, mining, surveillance, and environmental monitoring, to search-and-rescue and disaster relief, and industrial operations.

Where: NABA – room 2.02

Zoom Link

Saturday afternoon (October 9)

Workshop 9: Workshop on I-RIM Technical Activities 2021

Organizers: Calogero Maria Oddo and Federica Pascucci

List of speakers: TBA

Brief description: The present workshop will be a forum to discuss the objectives and organization of the I-RIM Technical Activities Committee. The proposed taxonomy of working groups will be presented and discussed, in close connection with the European Multi Annual Roadmaps and Strategic Research Agendas in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. The active Chairs of the I-RIM Working Groups will present the scientific and technologies challenges and composition of the communities they represent. Links among academic and research initiatives and industrial impact will be promoted in the round table discussion, which will also aim at revising and consolidating the proposed structure of I-RIM Technical Activities Working Groups.

Where: NABA – room 0.01

Zoom Link