The bridge between research and IA applied to robotics took centre stage at yet another edition of RobSummit

The event brought together members of academia and industry to reflect on the current challenges facing the field of Robotics considering the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

The application of AI to Robotics, both in research and in industry, was the central theme of the second edition of RobSummit, an initiative promoted by INESC TEC’s Robotics domain. Over the course of a day, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto served as a space for reflection and exchange between academics and business professionals, driven by the need to discuss scientific advances, emerging technological challenges and the industrial implications associated with this integration. 

“Scientific and technological relevance” as well as “potential industrial impact” were the two criteria guiding the selection of topics addressed, highlighted Catarina Rema, an INESC TEC researcher and member of the RobSummit organising committee. “We sought to select themes that reflect both advances in research and the practical challenges of implementing them in real-world contexts,” she explained. This approach ensured a sense of “balance” and helped to “improve the debate with complementary perspectives”. 

According to Catarina Rema, this is the “deciding factor” that sets RobSummit apart from other robotics events: “an integrative approach oriented towards dialogue” – unlike events that are exclusively academic or strictly industry-focused. In addition to presentations delivered by Luís Paulo Reis (U.Porto/LIACC), Nuno Lau (University of Aveiro), Michele Olivieri (HIRO Robotics) and Narcis Palomeras (VICOROB, Girona), a key feature was the session featuring student presentations and the final round-table discussion among the speakers. 

The diversity of outlooks contributed to a “deeper and more critical” discussion and, according to the researcher, one that was closely associated with the event’s purpose – which also aimed to “strengthen the visibility of the work developed at INESC TEC, highlighting the contribution of researchers in a strategic area for the future of technological innovation”. 

Catarina Rema described the second edition of RobSummit (aimed to become an annual initiative) as “clearly positive”. “I’d like to emphasise the quality of the contributions and the maturity of the debate, where differing views emerged regarding the future impact of Artificial Intelligence on Robotics.” 

Looking ahead, the researcher has already identified the guiding principle for selecting topics in future editions: “a relevant and emerging central theme within the field of Robotics”. “If this year the focus was on AI in Robotics, future editions may address areas like humanoids or other hot topics,” she explained. Expanding the initiative is also on the agenda, with plans to include technical workshops, more interactive sessions and invitations to new national and international speakers. “The goal is to reinforce RobSummit’s position as a leading forum within the technological ecosystem,” she concluded.