Outline and Scope

The emerging field of soft robotics is nowadays looking at innovative ways to create and apply robotic technology in our lives. It is a relatively new domain in the field of robotics, but one that has a lot of potential to change how we relate with robots and also how they are used. Technology that supports the advancement of robotics is coming out of many of the research labs today, which focus on creating new robotics structures that are soft, not rigid – blending together soft materials science and robotics to create new types of robots that enhance the autonomous operation and human-robot interaction. In natural environments and human-centric operations where safety and adaptability to uncertainty are fundamental requirements, soft robots may serve as a better alternative to rigid robots: they can conform to variable but sensitive environments, can adaptively move, manipulate and grasp unknown objects varying in size and shape and their soft condition allows them to squeeze through confined spaces. However, a fundamental limitation in designing robots to be softer and more compliant is that the robots become increasingly unconstrained, making predictable and controlled movement difficult

This workshop will address soft robotics research focusing on locomotion, posture and motion control of soft robotic systems. The main topics to be addressed are: design, modelling and control of soft actuators, control of variable compliance devices, motion control of soft mechanisms, biologically inspired control methods and control algorithms for locomotion of soft and hybrid soft-rigid robots. The workshop covers systems in which compliance is deliberately introduced at specific locations (e.g. in the joints) as well as systems in which the desired compliance is distributed over the structure. The main field of application will be related to walking and climbing robots. The workshop will feature plenary lectures from visionary and interdisciplinary leaders of the field of soft robotics and applications, as well as room for stimulating discussions among the participants about the future of this field and the questions related to it.

 

Topics of Interest

The scope of the workshop includes and is not limited to the following non-exhaustive list of topics:

  • Control of compliant mechanisms
  • Actuators with variable stiffness and damping
  • Modelling of soft-bodied robots
  • Bio-inspired soft mechanisms
  • Biologically inspired control methods
  • Control methods for tendon driven soft robots
  • Control of elastic soft robots: How to handle compliance?
  • Soft locomotion

 

Submission of Papers

Prospective authors are invited to submit their full draft papers in PDF format using the URL:(https://www.softconf.com/h/clawar2016/submit.html) or the paper submission link in the paper submission page of the CLAWAR2016 conference web-site by the deadline of 01 21 February 2016 for consideration for inclusion in this Workshop. Final accepted papers will be limited to 8 pages in length in the prescribed style format given in the paper submission page of the conference web-site.

All papers will be peer reviewed, and all accepted papers (subject to registration) will be published in the conference proceedings.

A selection of presented papers will also be recommended for possible publication in reputable international journals.

 

Workshop Organising Committee

Concepción A. Monje & Carlos Balaguer,
University Carlos III of Madrid, Spain,
Contact Emails: cmonje AT ing DOT uc3m DOT es, balaguer AT ing DOT uc3m DOT es

Christian Ott & Bastian Deutschmann,
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Contact Emails: christian DOT ott AT dlr DOT de, Bastian DOT Deutschmann AT dlr DOT de

 

CLAWAR 2016 Conference Key Submission Dates:

01 21 February 2016: Submission of Full Draft Papers [extended deadline]

14 March 2016: Notification of Paper Acceptance

15 April 2016: Submission of Final (accepted) Papers