11–12.07.2024
LARSyS Annual Meeting 2024
The Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems (LARSyS) held its Annual Meeting 2024 on July 11-12 at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, Lisbon. This event brought together over 200 researchers and students from LARSyS’s four R&D centers: ISR, IN+, ITI, and MARETEC, fostering interdisciplinary debates on current and future challenges in robotics and engineering systems.
The meeting started with an opening session where José Santos-Victor, the LARSyS Coordinator, addressed the attendees. The two-day event was structured to include thematic line sessions, pitch presentations, poster sessions, invited speakers and an industry panel, all designed to stimulate the exchange of ideas and collaborations.
The event featured three notable invited speakers who brought unique perspectives from their respective fields:
- João Coimbra, Director of Quinta da Cholda, delivered a compelling talk on “Technology for economic viability, soil conservation, reduced carbon emissions and biodiversity protection in a large-scale commercial farm.” Coimbra’s insights into sustainable farming practices captivated the audience, emphasizing the role of technology in environmental conservation.
- Joe Paton, Principal Investigator and Director of the Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, presented on the “Hierarchy and heterarchy of circuit mechanisms for behavioral control.” Paton’s discussion on the neural mechanisms underlying intelligent behavior and their overlap with modern AI research provided deep insights into the brain’s functionality and its applications in AI.
- Sylvia Rijmer, a dance artist and faculty member at the Superior School of Dance, and Claudia Sevivas, a professor at IADE – Creative University, led this session. Rijmer’s innovative use of VR, 3D motion capture, and AI in dance, combined with Sevivas’s expertise in deep learning algorithms for emotion recognition, showcased the intersection of human cognition, technology, and artistic expression. Their performance and subsequent discussion provided a thought-provoking exploration of how technology can enhance and transform artistic practices.
Industry Panel: Bridging Academia and Industry
The second day featured a dynamic industry panel that brought together leaders from various sectors to discuss innovation and collaboration:
- David Tempero from Critical Techworks, João Paulo Fernandes from NEC Portugal, Maria Vilar from Immersiv Studios, and Pedro Bizarro from Feedzai participated in this session. The panel debated strategies to increase collaboration between LARSyS and industry, highlighting real-world applications of research and the importance of bridging the gap between academia and the commercial sector. This session underscored the mutual benefits of such collaborations and provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in tech-driven industries.
Looking Ahead: The Road for LARSyS
A significant session titled “LARSyS: The Road Ahead” reviewed the achievements of the past five years and outlined plans for the future. This was particularly relevant as LARSyS prepares for the upcoming FCT evaluation, aiming to retain its status as an excellent institution and continue its tenure-track careers initiative.
The LARSyS Annual Meeting 2024 was a testament to the vibrant, multidisciplinary environment that LARSyS fosters. It provided a platform for researchers, industry experts, and students to collaborate, share ideas, and drive innovation in robotics and engineering systems. As the event concluded, the message was clear: inspire and be inspired, and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the intersection of technology, arts, and humanities.
