LARSyS Annual Meeting fosters collaboration

The much-anticipated LARSyS 2023 Annual Meeting is set to take place on July 17th and 18th at Culturgest in Lisbon. This two-day event promises to bring together nearly two hundred participants, including researchers, experts, and stakeholders, for a series of engaging discussions, presentations, workshops, and team-building activities.

LARSyS, the Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems, is an Associated Laboratory comprising four distinguished research and development units: ISR-Lisboa, IN+, ITI, and MARETEC. With over 400 researchers, LARSyS thrives on interdisciplinary collaborations, combining engineering technologies and systems with the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The institute aims to foster a scientific culture among researchers, university students, and other stakeholders interested in exploring the challenges and opportunities in Robotics and Engineering Systems.

The LARSyS 2023 Annual Meeting provides an ideal platform for researchers to engage in interdisciplinary debates, share their latest findings, and explore future collaboration opportunities. This year’s event introduces several exciting features, including thematic line sessions and workshops, a “peddy poster” session, and team-building activities.

The program features a range of activities designed to promote knowledge exchange and networking. Invited speakers and guests from both industry and academia will present recent developments in the field of robotics and engineering systems, highlighting the latest advancements and emerging trends. Thematic line sessions will delve into the specific research areas of LARSyS, namely AIR, INTERACTION, LIFE, OCEANS, and URBAN, encouraging researchers to exchange ideas and foster collaboration within these thematic domains.

The participative workshops will provide an opportunity for every researcher to contribute to the identification of research problems and propose innovative solutions within their respective thematic lines. Additionally, pitch sessions will allow Ph.D. and M.Sc. students, as well as junior researchers, to share their ongoing research ideas in a concise 2-minute format. These pitch presentations will serve as an introduction to poster discussions, which will take place during program breaks, enabling vibrant and interactive exchanges among participants.

Parallel discussions, organized by researcher categories, will focus on identifying opportunities, challenges, and recommendations for LARSyS. By bringing together Doctorate Researchers, M.Sc./Ph.D. students, and Faculty Members, these discussions aim to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue on the future direction and goals of the institute.

To promote greater awareness of the research conducted at LARSyS, a “peddy poster” session will provide an informal platform for researchers to showcase their work and engage with the wider LARSyS community. Additionally, a team-building activity will create a fun and competitive environment for participants to get to know their LARSyS colleagues better.

“We hope that this meeting will be an excellent opportunity to create and strengthen bridges fundamental for a highly multidisciplinary institution like LARSyS,” said José Santos-Victor, Nuno J. Nunes, Paulo Ferrão, Pedro Lima, and Tiago Domingos in a joint statement. “The LARSyS 2023 Annual Meeting represents a small but qualified sample of all the inspiring work developed in the various LARSyS research units.”

As LARSyS enters the next evaluation cycle, the significance of this year’s event cannot be overstated. Building upon their past achievements, LARSyS aims to continue striving for excellence and reinforcing their position as a leading research institution in Portugal and Europe.

The organizers express their gratitude to all the researchers involved in the LARSyS Associated Laboratory for their dedication and progress over the years. They encourage participants to make the most of this opportunity to interact with LARSyS colleagues and students, sparking new ideas and collaborations that will shape the future of robotics and engineering systems.

The LARSyS 2023 Annual Meeting promises to be a stimulating and rewarding event, fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange among researchers in the field. As participants gather to discuss the current and future challenges of robotics and engineering systems, the stage is set for inspiring breakthroughs and advancements in this exciting and rapidly evolving domain.

For more information about the LARSyS 2023 Annual Meeting and the research conducted by the Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems, please visit the official website of LARSyS at larsys.pt