Conferences Calendar

http://www.ieeerobot-tepra.org/
TePRA is positioned mid-way between an academic conference and a trade show. More so than academic conferences, TePRA emphasizes practical applications and industrial participation. More so than trade shows, TePRA has a serious review process, and is targeted at future applications.

Why should I participate?

The practical application of robots to real world problems has been made possible by a number of enabling technologies, from high speed computation (which enabled the first CNC machines) to LIDAR (which enables most of today’s autonomous vehicles).

TePRA’s goals are:

1. to expose robot designers to new enabling tools, techniques, and technologies

2. to expose tool, technique, and technology developers to the needs of robot designers

TePRA invites you to come and share:

1. new tools, techniques and technologies that may be of use in the robotics field

2. new practical applications of robots that could benefit from a technical/technology breakthrough

Papers and Posters:

Participants interested in presenting a paper for either an oral or poster presentation, should submit an abstract (500 words maximum) by February 15, 2008. Authors should emphasize either the utility of particular tools, techniques, or technology to enable practical robot applications, or the need of particular practical robot applications for tools, techniques, or technology. Abstract submission instructions can be found below.

Exhibits

We invite interested companies to participate in the Technology Exhibits on robotics and related components and technologies relevant to the robotics field. The exhibits will be featured prominently for all attendees during breaks. Interested parties must submit an exhibit registration form, available on the conference web site.

The call for exhibits is open to any organization involved in the robotics and related manufacturing, research and development areas. The exhibits should present products/prototypes of robotic devices and/or robotic related technologies of reasonable physical sizes. See web site for details.

Demonstrations

There will be an opportunity for robot demonstration at the conference. The demonstrations will be limited to those who have accepted papers at the conference. Full details will be posted on the conference web site after January 1, 2008.

Tutorials

We invite interested participants to submit a proposal to give a tutorial on robotics and related components and technologies relevant to the robotics field. Interested parties must submit an abstract of the tutorial. Further details are available on the conference web site.

Sponsorships

The conference is seeking companies interested in sponsorship opportunities. In addition, the conference will offer a limited number of supporting organization sponsorships to non-profit, industry and other affiliate organizations who can make a significant contribution to the promotion of this conference. See the conference website for details.
Abstract Submission Procedure

2-page, MS Word with maximum 500 words + author(s) title, name, address, phone, fax, email and organization affiliation must be submitted. In the same file, but on a separate page, principal presenting author biography {max 100 words}.

Submission will be acknowledged via email.

Email to: abstractsubmit@ieeerobot-tepra.org

Publishing Information

All papers and posters will be published on the conference CD-ROM and distributed to conference attendees. Selected full technical papers that meet the publishing requirements will be published in IEEE Xplore as part of the IEEE Conference Publication Program.
One Centre Street, Suite 203

http://www.promoteresearch.org
Activity/behavior recognition
Adaptive control
Aerospace control systems
Alarming and fault diagnosis systems
Automatic control of chemical processes
Automotive control systems and autonomous vehicles
Autonomous traffic and transport systems
Biologically inspired control techniques
Biomedical control systems
Biomedical instrumentation and applications
Biometrics
CAD/CAM/CIM
Complex systems
Control analysis of social and human systems
Control applications
Control engineering education
Control of biological systems
Data acquisition and measurement engineering
Defense and military systems control
Delay systems
Device technology for automation
Dexterous manipulation
Digital and analogue control
Discrete event systems
E -automation and e-factory
E -business integration
E -diagnostics and e-maintenance
Embedded control systems.
Equipment and process technology for automation
Factory modeling and simulation
Fuzzy systems
Genetic algorithms
Home, laboratory and service automation
Human centered systems
Human-computer interactions
Hybrid systems
Identification and estimation
Image/video analysis
Industrial control electronics
Industrial information technology
Instrumentation systems
Intelligent automation
Intelligent systems
Large scale control systems
Linear and non-linear systems
Lisp programming
Localization, navigation and mapping
Machinery for automation
Mechanism design and applications
Mechatronics sensing and control technology
Medical robots and bio-robotics
MEMS/ NEMS
Micro robots and micro-manipulation
Mobile robotics
Mobile sensor networks
Model-based diagnosis
Modeling and identification
Modeling and simulator building
Modeling, estimation and prediction
Motion and navigation control
Multidimensional Systems
Nano-scale automation and assembly
Network-based systems
Networked control systems
Neural networks
Neuro controllers
Neuro-fuzzy controllers
Nonlinear systems
Object-oriented Petri nets
Opto-mechatronic technology for automation
Perception systems
Petri Nets
Planning, scheduling and coordination
Power system control
Precision motion control
Process automation
Process control
Pursuing and tracking
Real-time and fault-tolerant systems
Robot and manipulator control
Robot sensing and data fusion
Robotics
Robust control
Search, rescue and field robotics
Sensors, actuators and transducers
Space and underwater robots
Stability, controllability and observations
Stochastic control
Studies on nuclear systems control
Studies on signal and system
System integration technology for automation
Tele-robotics
Temporal and spectral system analysis
Thermal system control
Tracking and surveillance

http://lsc.univ-evry.fr/cisa08/
The Universities of Evry (France) and Annaba (Algeria) will co-organize the first Mediterranean Conference on Intelligent Systems and Automation (CISA?08). The event will take place in Annaba, Algeria, on June 30 - July 02, 2008.

CISA?08 deals with the study of complex systems and intelligent machines acting on known or unknown, virtual or real, environments in an autonomous way or in cooperation with humans. This field requires skills in automation and control, perception of the environment, human-computer interfaces, mechanics and design, simulation,?

The conference aims at presenting new ideas, methods and their applications on real prototypes. Its also aims at encouraging scientific cooperation between North and South and promoting scientific exchanges through a durable event.
Relevant topics

CISA?08 is encouraging submissions in the following themes or any topic related to Intelligent Systems and Automation areas :

1.
Control and automation,
2.
Sensing, perception and interfaces,
3.
Mechanics, design and simulation,
4.
Robotics applications,
5.
Others.

Important dates

November 12, 2007: Deadline for paper submission,
February 15, 2008: Acceptance notification,
February 29, 2008: Final paper due,
March 15, 2008: Registration opening,
June 15, 2008: Registration deadline.

UFR Sciences et Technologies, Universit? d’Evry Val d’Essonne

http://www.ttcus.com/conferences.php
This outstanding conference brings together many of the key movers and shakers in the unmanned and military robotics community.
FEE
30 Days or more before Event-
Individual: $1,945
NMIA, AIE, or NAF member: $1,645
Team of 3 or More: $1,295
US Gov’t: $1,545
PO Box 722

http://electros.in/electrofest-2007
Electros.in community is proud to announce ‘ElectroFest 2007′, an online symposium to be organized on March 31, 2007.

ElectroFest is community driven event, and will be the first ever paper presentation contest to be conducted online in India. You can participate by submitting paper, or you can volunteer, or you can donate !

Call for Papers

Technical papers are solicited in all areas consistent with the fields stated below. Topics may range from basic research to advanced analysis/technologies. The papers may include theoretical, experimental, and/or numerical approaches representing original work.

The subject areas for technical papers are categorized broadly as:

* Digital Signal Processing
* VLSI Design
* Embedded Systems
* Communications
* Robotics & AI
Rules

* Students (B.Tech/M.Tech) and Professionals (Engineers, Researchers, and Hobbyists) can participate.
* Utmost 3 participants per team.
* A copy of the paper (PDF format) along with an abstract of not more than 200 words to be submitted before March 15th, 2007.
* Paper not to exceed 20 single-sided A4 sheets, Times New Roman font size 14, in double columns.
* 10 papers will be selected in each category for presentation.
* Selected authors will be informed to submit a 20 min presentation, in Powerpoint with recorded narrations.
* A 10 min. question session (@ Electros.in chatrooms) will be scheduled for the selected authors.
* No registration fee i.e of Rs. 0/- per team, Donations are welcome.

Prizes

* Prizes worth Rs. 20,000/- for each category, depends on Sponsors. (1st Rs. 10,000/-, 2nd Rs .6,000/-, 3rd Rs. 4000/-)
* Certificates and Official Electros T-shirts for the Top3 in each category.

Dates
Paper submission- 15th March 2007
Selected papers-20th March 2007
Presentation-31st March 2007

Electros Community

http://www.sepeo.org/conference/conmain.htm
International Conferenc about modern research fields such as AI,Robotics,Nano technology, Neural Networks, Space robotics, Fuzzy Logic, Quantum Computers and more. The Conferennce will be in Athens Greece

http://www.epigenetic-robotics.org
Call for Papers: Epigenetic Robotics 2006, 20-22 September 2006, Paris, France

Sixth International Conference on Epigenetic Robotics: Modeling Cognitive Development in Robotic Systems
http://www.epigenetic-robotics.org

Location: Hopital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France

Submission Deadline: April 3rd, 2006

In the past 5 years, the Epigenetic Robotics annual workshop has established itself as a unique place where original research combining developmental sciences, neuroscience, biology, and cognitive robotics and artificial intelligence is being presented.

Epigenetic systems, either natural or artificial, share a prolonged developmental process through which varied and complex cognitive and perceptual structures emerge as a result of the interaction of an embodied system with a physical and social environment.

Epigenetic robotics includes the two-fold goal of understanding biological systems by the interdisciplinary integration between social and engineering sciences and, simultaneously, that of enabling robots and artificial systems to develop skills for any particular environment instead of programming them for solving particular goals for the environment in which they happen to reside.

Psychological theory and empirical evidence is being used to inform epigenetic robotic models, and these models should be used as theoretical tools to make experimental predictions in developmental psychology.

This year we particularly encourage research resulting from actual interdisciplinary collaboration.
Epigenetic Robotics themes include, but are not limited to:

* The development of: emotion, imitation, synchrony processing, intersubjectivity, joint attention, intentionality, non-verbal and verbal communication, sensorimotor schemata, shared meaning and symbolic reference, social learning, social relationships, social cognition
(”mind reading”, “theory of mind”);
* The scope and limits of maturation, the mechanisms of open-ended development;
* The mechanisms of stage formation and stage transitions;
* The epistemological foundations of using robots to study development;
* The role of motivations, emotions, and value systems in development;
* Interaction between innate structure, ongoing developing structure, and experience;
* The interplay between embodiment, learning biases and environment;
* The differences between learning and development;
* Algorithms for self-supervision, autonomous exploration, representation making, and methods for evolving new representations during ontogeny;
* Robots that can undergo morphological changes and how they can be used to study the interplay between cognitive and morphological development;

Important Dates
April 3rd, 2006: Deadline for submission of papers and posters
May 15th, 2006: Notification of acceptance for papers and posters
July 17th, 2006: Deadline for camera ready-papers & posters
September 20-22, 2006: Epirob 2006

Modes of submission
(1) Regular Submission (8-page max). After review, regular submission will either be accepted or rejected (No revision as short papers or posters)

(2) Abstract Submission where authors submit one-page abstract. After the review, selected authors will be invited to present a poster. Posters will be allocated 1 or 2 pages in the Proceedings.

Submission instructions are available from the EpiRob website: http://www.epigenetic-robotics.org

Papers should be sent to: epirob06@csl.sony.fr

Related Events
On September 19, a day before EpiRob 2006 , an international symposium on autism will be organized at the Hopital La Salpétrière
From September, 25 to September, 30, the week just after EpiRob 2006, The Ninth International Conference on the Simulation of Adaptive Behavior (SAB’06) (SAB’06) will be organized in Rome (http://www.sab06.org/)

Invited speakers 2006

Karen Adolph (Psychology Dpt, New York University, USA)

Andrew Barto (Computer Science Dpt, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA)

Philippe Rochat (Psychology Dpt, University of Emory, USA)

Gregor Schoener (Institut für Neuroinformatik, Ruhr-Universität-Bochum, Germany)

Bruno Wicker (Laboratoire Neurosciences Physiologiques et Cognitives, Marseille, CNRS, France)

Organizing Committee 2006

Christian Balkenius (Cognitive Science, Lund University, Sweden)

Luc Berthouze (Neuroscience Research Institute, AIST, Japan)

Philippe Gaussier (Neurocybernetics team, ETIS CNRS, Cergy Pontoise University, France)

Frédéric Kaplan (Sony Computer Science Laboratory Paris, France)

Hideki Kozima (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan)

Jacqueline Nadel (Hopital de la Salpêtrière, CNRS, France)

Pierre-Yves Oudeyer (Sony Computer Science Laboratory Paris, France)

Christopher G. Prince (Computer Science Dpt, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA)

Arnaud Revel (Neurocybernetics team, ETIS CNRS, ENSEA, France)

Program Committee 2006

Pierre Andry (Neurocybernetics team, ETIS CNRS, Cergy Pontoise University, France)

Minoru Asada (Dpt of Mechanical Engineering, Osaka University, Japan)

Christian Balkenius (Cognitive Science, Lund University, Sweden)

Douglas Bank (Computer Science Dpt, Bryn Mawr College, USA)

Alexander Bernardino (Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisboa, Portugal)

Luc Berthouze (Neuroscience Research Institute, AIST, Japan)

Nadia Berthouze (Computer Science Dpt, Aizu University, Japan)

Mark H. Bickhard (Psychology Dpt, Lehigh University)

Aude Billard (Autonomous Systems Lab, EPFL, Switzerland)

Lola Canamero (Adaptive Systems Research Group, University of Hertfordshire, UK)

Robert Clowes (Center for Research in Cognitive Science, University of Sussex, UK)

Kerstin Dautenhahn (Adaptive Systems Research Group, University of Hertfordshire, UK)

Yiannis Demiris (Intelligent and Interactive Systems, Imperial College, UK)

Luciano Fadiga (University of Ferrara, Italy)

Simone Fiori (Faculty of Engineering, Perugia University, Italy)

Paul Fitzpatrick (CSAIL, MIT, USA)

Philippe Gaussier (Neurocybernetics team, ETIS CNRS, Cergy Pontoise University, France)

Lakshmi Gogate (SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, USA)

George Hollich (Infant Language Lab, Purdue University, USA)

Frédéric Kaplan (Sony Computer Science Laboratory Paris, France)

Annette Karmiloff-Smith (Institute of Child Health, UC London, UK)

Benjamin Kuipers (Computer Science Dpt, University of Texas, USA)

Hideki Kozima (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan)

Max Lungarella (Dpt of Mechano-Informatic, University of Tokyo, Japan)

Yuval Marom (School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Monash University, Australia)

Lisa Meeden (Swarthmore college, USA)

Giorgio Metta (LIRA-Lab, Genoa, Italy)

Jacqueline Nadel (Hopital de la Salpêtrière, CNRS, France)

Yukie Nagai (National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan)

Chrystopher Nehaniv (Adaptive Systems Research Group, University of Hertfordshire, UK)

Pierre-Yves Oudeyer (Sony Computer Science Laboratory Paris, France)

Christopher G. Prince (Computer Science Dpt, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA)

Arnaud Revel (Neurocybernetics team, ETIS CNRS, ENSEA, France)

Giulio Sandini (LIRA-Lab, Genoa, Italy)

Brian Scassellati (Computer Science Dpt, Yale University, USA)

Matthew Schlesinger (Psychology Dpt, Southern Illinois University, USA)

Sylvain Sirois (Psychology Dpt, Manchester University, UK)

Georgi Stojanov (Computer Science Institute, SS Cyril and Methodius University, Macedonia)

Gert Westermann (Psychology Dpt, Oxford Brookes University, UK)
Tom Ziemke (Computer Science Dpt, University of Skovde, Sweden)

For questions or more information, please contact : epirob06@csl.sony.fr

http://www.icgst.com/con06/aras06/index.html
ARAS-06 ScopeThe International Conference on Automation, Robotics and Autonomous Systems ARAS-06 is primarily devoted to the dissemination and the provision of an effective research in areas relevant to automation, robotics, and autonomous systems. Papers are published on all aspects of theoretical analysis, from low-level processing, as in early sensory perception, to high-level symbolic data processing needed for automation and autonomous interpretation. More specifically, the following topics are particularly central to what gets published in the ARAS-06:

The coverage includes:

Path Planning: Voronoi, Bug, potential field, visibility, reactive, road map.
Environment modelling: occupancy grid, topological graphs, integrated, 3D modelling.
Distributed sensors: IR, laser, sonar, E-nose, vision, artificial skin, artificial ear.
Sensors Integration: Bayes network, Kalman filter, fuzzy logic, particle filter.
Self localization: SLAM, Markov, Bayes network, expectation maximizing, maximum likelihood.
Robot human interaction: intention interpretation, man machine interface.
Robot intelligent control: fuzzy, neural, neuro-fuzzy, genetic controllers, SVM, Gaussian controllers.
Adaptive robot control: self tuning, robust control, modelling, estimation, controller design, optimizing.
Multimedia interaction: audio and video signal processing, sensor actuator interaction.
Adaptive navigation: visual based navigation, force control, speed control, position control.
Biomemetic sensors: electronic nose, artificial hair and skin, artificial ear, electronic binocular vision.
Medical robotics: task planning, assisted surgery, visual applications, precision control, robot-doctor cooperation.
Biologically inspired robots: biological behavior simulation, biosensing simulation.
Space robotics: appropriate sensors and actuators, trajectory planning, tele-operation.
Humanoids: Motion planning, multimedia interaction, intelligence, kinematics.
Underwater systems: sensor and actuators, ultrasonic applications, laser ranging.
Educational robots: tele-education, man robot interaction.
Aerial robots: intelligent control, aerial vision techniques, aerial ranging systems, motion control.
Multi robot integration: communication techniques, cooperation strategies, task planning.
Legged robots: motion control, biological inspired behavior, animators.
Robo cup: planning: sensors, actuators, maneuvers, plans, and intelligence.
Mobile platforms: motion planning, communication, sensors, actuators, energy, intelligence.
Locomotion robots: motion planning, biped robots.
Simulators, virtual reality and animators: virtual reality programming, robot simulator interface, 3D digital actors.
Robotic therapy and entertainment: psychological studies, experimental results, social interaction.
Sound Processing: command understanding, sound processing, natural language.
Visual tracking, guidance and servoing: object color detection, object texture recoginition, sensor itegration, adaptive control.
Tele robotics and operations: Java based programming, tele control strategies, internet baser control, remote control and sensing, remote communication techniques.
Robot manipulators: Manipulator kinematics, grasping, motion planning and object tracking.
Robot architecture: flexible robots and manipulators, programmable robots, special purpose hardware.
Rescue and security robots: tasks, architecture, special sensors and actuators, techniques and strategies.
Nano and micro robots: applications, sensors, actuators, control and performance.
Haptics: performance study. The English is the main working language of the conference

Towards self-aware robotics
Autonomous robotics has been studied from different perspectives for many machine learning researchers. This session is concerned about the ability to learn of autonomous robot and how it can be tested. We are talking about new architectural robotics approaches managing complex patterns from sensors and generating actions in order to satisfy an ending high-level goal. Evolutionary robotics, neuro-evolved procedures, reinforcement learning, cooperative control architectures, multiagent physical systems and experimental results on real robots are expected to be analyzed and discussed….Research communities addressed by this focus are also those concerned with artificial consciousness.

Robotics and Intelligent Sensing

This session is reporting latest research activities in the area of intelligent sensing and its tight couple to robotics research. Papers are to be presented covering dual mode vision guided robotics, multiple moving object shape measurement, hand motion tracking, omni-directional vision based human motion detection, and manipulator path planning.
Task planning for Human-Robot Interaction
Human-robot interaction requires explicit reasoning on the human environment and on the robot capacities to achieve its tasks in a collaborative way with a human partner.
This session focuses on organization of the robot decisional abilities and more particularly on the management of human interaction as an integral part of the robot control architecture. Such an architecture should be the framework that will allow the robot to accomplish its tasks but also produce behaviors that support its engagement its human partner and interpret similar behaviors from him.
BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED INSTRUMENTATION, SENSORS, AND PERCEPTION TECHNIQUES
This special session will focus on all the aspects of the biologically inspired technologies for instrumentation and measurement applications. Original papers are solicited in, but are not limited to the following technical areas: models of the biological sensing and perception mechanisms, random-pulse/random-data instrumentation and artificial NN architectures, biologically inspired sensors (visual, haptic, audio, smell, etc.), distributed sensor agent networks, adaptability, configurability, emergence, self organization, self optimization etc.

SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES FOR INTELLIGENT ROBOTICS
In the past decade, significant advances have been made in the field of intelligent robotics including mobile robot systems and humanoid robot systems. A key feature of these robotic systems is the requirement to function in uncertain, dynamic environments, in close contact with humans. These challenges require new advanced sensor technologies that are able to integrate with the intelligent control systems that are under development. This special session on Sensor Technologies for Intelligent Robotics is intended to bring together leading researchers working in the field of sensor systems for robotics to present and discuss relevant issues including (but not restricted to) topics such as: Distributed sensors for Multi-robot systems, Performance measurement, Human-robot interface, Multi-sensor fusion in robotics, Service robotics, Robot Vision.

Human-Robot Interaction
The recent wide spreading of a new generation of robots, pervading our lives and environments, as humanoids, pets, or assistants, introduced the need for formulating proper paradigms of interaction between human beings and robots. Human-robot interaction poses multi-faceted problems, requiring not only technical but also cultural, sociological, psychological, philosophical and even ethical considerations. How to model the interaction of a human being with a robot? How to achieve the acceptability of the robot expected to interact with humans? How to manage the physical, intellectual and emotional exchange between human beings and robots?

Evolvable Machines
Methods for artificial evolution of components, such as programs and hardware, are rapidly developing branches of alternative design methodology for machine engineering. They include the development, evaluation and application of methods that mirror the process of the theory of natural selection and produce, as results, computational expressions, e.g. algorithms, or machines, e.g. mechanical or electronic devices. This special session will be devoted to reporting innovative and significant progress in automatic evolutionary design methodology of machines. The topics covered by the session: Evolvable Hardware; Genetic Programming; Evolutionary Robotics and Evolutionary Machine design Experiences.

Multi-robot systems
In the past decade robotics research has made many advances in control methodologies, sensory processing, and planning strategies. Robots are now increasingly expected to function in uncertain, dynamic real world environments, and to closely interact with untrained humans. Handling such environment poses many challenging problems. Control methodologies of multi-robot systems have also advanced considerably. Such systems can often deal with tasks that are difficult if not impossible for a single robot. This relatively new field offers many interesting research issues.

Multi-sensor and model based sensory systems
In order to improve the quality, availability and reliability of measurements several approaches can be pursued, which make use of multi sensor systems or model based sensor systems. Multi sensor systems exploit redundancy and diversity of sensor signals by using data fusion techniques. Model based sensor systems use a set of operating points of the sensor element for a better calculation of measurement values, correction of effects, self-test, self-validation, etc. This special session deals with all aspects related to the design, development, evaluation, and testing of multi sensor and model based sensor systems, such as: Multi sensor systems, Multi signal processing, data fusion, pattern recognition, Video measurement technology, Model-based sensor systems, Signal processing for smart sensor systems, Modeling of sensor signals, Model-based self-diagnosis and self-validation techniques.
Wireless sensor networks
The purpose of this special session is to present and discuss the latest analytic, systems, and deployment challenges in wireless sensor networks. Such networks, featuring myriads of tiny devices equipped with sensing, local actuation, communication, and processing, offer significant new problems in the design of real-time communication protocols, middleware services, and programming abstractions for massively distributed wireless computing. They bring about a need for new models of computation and real-time performance analysis, as well as new theory on which such models are based. The session hopes to bring together experts, practitioners and researchers, from academia and industry, to present challenges and solutions in this growing field.

Speech and language understanding by robots
Robots, and especially humanoid robots, will be undoubtedly one of the most advanced creatures made by human beings. The importance of robotics in general and humanoid robotics in particular is two-fold. First, it offers a unique platform for multidisciplinary research ranging from mechanics, electronics, control, information technology, artificial intelligence, to cognitive science. Second, it stimulates the science of human technology which aims at achieving a better understanding of human body, human brain and most importantly human mind & intelligence. It is true to say that in today?s state of the art, humans have to learn machine languages in order to instruct, or program, machines (or robots) for intended tasks. Could we reverse the trend? In other words, we should let machines, or robots, to master and speak human languages in future. With this objective in mind, this special session invites researchers, who share this common vision, to come together to present and discuss the latest development in the field of: speech acquisition, speech recognition, natural language learning, natural language understanding, conversational dialogue understanding, knowledge representation, human-robot interaction in natural ways, and mental architecture for autonomous learning of languages and speeches, etc.

Intelligent UAV
Autonomous vehicles have capabilities to autonomously make decisions on future actions given a situation picture, available resources and a high level task that has been appointed to the vehicle. To achieve such capability a number of components can be required: different types of sensors, sensor data processing algorithms, hardware architecture with sufficient safety level, sensor fusion and decision support algorithms, functions for situation awareness, navigation functions, target identification algorithms, dynamic mission planning algorithms with components of flight trajectory optimization and cooperation between several vehicles, sensor management, data link functionality, etc. Moreover, to fully utilize an autonomous air vehicle, it is required to manage the issues of certification for flight in controlled air space. We encourage contributions from both civilian applications and defense applications. We expect the contributions to be in the range from successful demonstrations of autonomous unmanned air vehicles to presentations of specific algorithms from the list of components above, required to achieve autonomous behavior.

Self-Localization and Navigation for Mobile Robots
Mobile robotics is a very challenging research field and noticed an increasing interest from the scientific community in the recent years. The main problems related with mobile robotics are self-localization and navigation. Both aspects, knowing the current position in the current environment as well as the ability to detect and avoid obstacles, are fundamental for robot ’survival’ in the real world. Recent developments and breakthroughs in these areas, involving different techniques and
approaches, opened the way for new and exciting opportunities. The topics proposed for this session are related (but not limited) with the following aspects: visual self-localization, landmark extraction and selection, obstacle detection, collision avoidance, motion and path planning, map building, exploration of unknown environments.
Multi Agent based Systems
Agents and Multi Agent based Systems (MAS) are becoming widely used due to their ability to handle complex tasks and systems, in autonomous and intelligent ways. Agents are popular computational technologies contributing to diverse domains such as computer games, computer mediated collaboration, education and training, electronic commerce, information retrieval, pervasive and ubiquitous computing, robotics, service-oriented computing, social simulation, and user interfaces. Thanks to their growing communication abilities, agents can collaborate efficiently with each other, support human interaction, and even collaborate with humans. Nowadays many new areas of research and applications emerge using collaborative and communicative agents to perform a variety of complex tasks. There are theories of agent-based collaboration that model teamwork, coalitions, crowds, and embodied conversational agents

Rehabilitation Robotics
The goal of Rehabilitation Robotics is to investigate the application of robotics in motor therapy procedures, for recovering motor control and motor capabilities in persons with impairments following such diseases as stroke, as well as to develop robotic and mechatronic technical aids for independent living for disabled and elderly people. The recent advances of rehabilitation procedures, methodologies and tools tends to include more and more the cognitive aspects of motor control, also exploiting the new technologies for brain imaging, which allows to ‘close the loop’ from brain to action. This gives an increased role to robotics, which can be fruitfully employed in the rehabilitation of neuro-motor functions and motor capabilities, by providing tools that are in their nature flexible and programmable and that allow to set and assess procedures quantitatively. The objective of the proposed Special Session on Rehabilitation Robotics is to provide an overview of current experiences and main achievement by qualified scientists in this field and also an opportunity to share experiences and to discuss common research problems and challenges

Collaborative SenseMaking
This session will explore research in reasoning and learning technology in support of sensemaking for process of creating situation awareness in situations of uncertainty. Sensemaking and situation awareness are viewed as working concepts that enable us to investigate and improve the collaborative interaction between human and information technology. Within this perspective, it is recognized that humans play a significant role in adapting and responding to unexpected or unknown situations, as well as recognized situations. Accordingly, as we move from concepts, metrics, and analysis to testable theories, we need to attribute the relative contributions of both humans and information technology in models of system performance.

Microrobotics and Manipulation at Small Scales
The multi-disciplinary field of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) (or Microsystems Technology as it is known in Europe) is growing at a fast pace. Current applications of MEMS are a variety of microsensors and microactuators, micro-fluidics, micro chemical and bio-chemical analytical devices, micro opto-mechanical devices, mass data-storage, micro reactors and engines and more. Many of these devices involve mechanical manipulation at micro and meso (up to 1 cm) scales. The significance of being able to design small systems easily and fabricate them economically is becoming apparent as the range of applications of MEMS is growing. The topics of interest include (but not limited to): Micro mechanisms (passive or with on-chip actuation), Novel microactuators, Mechanical design issues in MEMS, Geometric design of MEMS and meso scale, Micro or meso scale systems made in silicon or other materials, Micro assembly, Microrobotics, Smart strucures

Robot Vision systems
Vision is increasingly becoming an integral part of autonomous robots and robotic systems. It is often the main input sensor used for obstacle detection, terrain mapping and navigation guidance. Robotic systems employing vision based inspection are now common on the shop floor. Much progress has also been made in on-board local vision processing techniques. We invite researchers to submit papers covering theory, design, development and applications of vision and intelligent systems for the special session on ?Robots with a vision?. Papers are invited that are related but not limited to the following topics: Image and Vision Computing in robotic systems, Vision based inspection robots, Fast vision processing algorithms for real-time object tracking, Fault Tolerance in vision processing, Stereo Vision, Mapping object contour, Surveillance and monitoring systems, Neural Networks in Vision processing, Vision Based Intelligent Robots, Visualization Techniques

Intelligent Behavior in Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is now very popular in the fields of Computer, control, etc. and those are applied to many areas of fields. However, it is true to say that those will not have the similar behavior of human in evaluation, action taking, deduction, thought in complexity, searching, and so on, which cause the AIs less intelligent. So through this session, by making clear mechanisms of those behaviors in Artificial Intelligences, it is aimed to get more generalized and human-like behavior in AI.

Medical Robotics
Medical Robotics is attracting substantial research interest and many robotics research groups developed solutions for the application of robotics in the different aspects of clinical activities. Medical Robotics includes a wide range of topics which can be grouped in three main areas: Surgery, Rehabilitation and Humanoids (humanoid robotics is included in Medical Robotics because it aims at investigating and imitating the anatomy and functions of human beings). The problems posed by medical applications are very different from the problems encountered in traditional robotics, and require a broader multidisciplinary approach, including considerations typical for clinicians, industrial designers, and psychologists.
ARAS-06 Specific Topics

Industrial Robots
Educational Robots
Space Robots
Underwater Robots
Field Robots
Robotic Therapy
Rescue Robots
Security Robots
Cairo, Egypt

http://www.kukum.edu.my/icomms
Effective use of automatic control was realized in 1940s, and has taken a high level of development due to WWII. Creating intelligent control (smart automation) has been the topic of interest since 1980s. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has played a key role in the design and applications of intelligent control. This has created several components of AI and expanded the application sphere. Man-machine system has been an important and a sustained area of research since long and several systems have been developed to assist and work with humans. This area encompasses several disciplines of Science and Engineering. New directions and applications of man machine systems are being understood and documented. They vary in capabilities from an automated car to robotic attachment to disabled, from robot assisted surgery to imbedded bio micro-systems for hospital patients and from simple avionic travel aids to the expanding areas of space explorations. The man-machine interface has been accepted as an inevitable, complex and as a very useful area of research.

This International Conference provides a forum for presentation and discussion of the state of current research in Man-Machine Systems Engineering. It plays an important role in providing a platform for young researchers for mutual exchange of knowledge towards improving the academic, scientific and higher research programs.

Papers relating to this general title of Man-Machine Systems are solicited especially including those in the areas of human system reliability, mechatronics, bio-mechatronics, man machine interactions, adaptive and intuitive interfaces, transportation and production systems. Other related themes include:

Man Machine Automation
Intelligent Process Systems
Information Management
Communication Systems
Vision Servo Drives
Mechatronics and Bio-Mechatronics
PLC, Microcontrollers and Microsystems
Soft Computing and Control methods
Environmental Aspects
Instrumentation
Quality and Reliability
System Integration

Robotics
Special Robotic Structures
Robot Applications
Robot Sensors and Actuators
Robot Control
Autonomous Vehicles
Tele Robots
Medical Robots
Robots for Disabled
Robots for Space Applications

AI Methodologies and Applications
Autonomous Agents
Man Machine Interfacing
Digital and Analog Control
Bio Sensors and Control
Data Storage and Retrieval
Tele-Operation
Expert Systems
Image Processing
Gaze, Emotion Detection
Pattern Recognition
Submission of Papers
The working language of the conference is English. Prospective authors are invited to submit extended abstract of original unpublished work by e-mail to icomms@kukum.edu.my not later than February 28, 2006. The extended abstract should be in word or pdf format and should not exceed 600 words, including figures, diagrams and data. The extended abstract should contain the title of the paper, authors? names and affiliation, name of corresponding author together with email and full postal address, fax and telephone numbers. The extended abstracts are to be sent via email only. Extended abstracts submitted by postal mail or fax will not be accepted. Full papers are to be submitted only after the acceptance of extended abstracts.

The venue and other details about the conference are available in the conference web site. For more information and queries, contact the ICoMMS 2006 Secretariat.

Paper Acceptance
Each accepted paper must be presented by one of the authors after paying the necessary registration fee. Only one paper will be allowed to be presented for each registration.

Author?s Schedule
Date line for receiving Abstract: 28/02/2006
Notification of Acceptance of Abstract: 31/03/2006
Date line for receiving Full Paper: 30/04/2006
Notification of Acceptance of Full Paper: 30/06/2006
Date line for receipt of Camera Ready Copy: 31/07/2006

Conference Web site: http://www.kukum.edu.my/icomms
Email:icomms@kukum.edu.my
and
icomms2006@yahoo.com
Northern Malaysia University College of Engineering, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia

http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2006/hawaii/ra.htm
The 12th IASTED International Conference on
ROBOTICS AND APPLICATIONS
~ RA 2006 ~

August 14-16, 2006
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

SPONSORS
The International Association of Science and Technology for Development (IASTED) Technical Committee on Robotics

PURPOSE
This conference will act as an international forum for researchers and practitioners interested in the advances in robotics and their applications. It is an opportunity to present and observe the latest research, results, and ideas in these areas. RA 2006 will aim to strengthen relationships between companies, research laboratories and universities. All papers submitted to this conference will be peer evaluated by at least two reviewers. Acceptance will be based primarily on originality and contribution.

RA 2006 will be held in conjunction with the IASTED International Conferences on:

* Intelligent Systems and Control (ISC 2006)
* Signal and Image Processing (SIP 2006)
* Internet and Multimedia Systems and Applications (IMSA 2006)

LOCATION
On the small island of O?ahu you will find Honolulu, Waikiki, and 75% of Hawaii?s population. It is possible to fall so in love with this island paradise that you will never want to leave. The charm and culture of the locals is enchanting, reflecting Hawaii?s unique history and geography, isolated in the Pacific, flanked at a distance by Eastern and Western cultures. The local cuisine, nightlife, and shopping are all superb, but are there to complement the real magic, which is the waters, sand, and glorious sun of the island itself. The weather stays between 17?C and 30?C (63?F and 85?F) year round. Bask in the sun at Waikiki Beach or Ala Moana, or take the hike to the must-see Diamond Head where you climb a volcanic crater to achieve breathtaking ocean views. Go into the water for swimming, world famous surfing, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, or a swim with the turtles at Mokule?ia Beach. Charter a deep-sea fishing boat or go whale watching, and you can even enjoy the coral reefs and thousands of unique sea creatures while on a submarine tour. The vibrant colours of the hibiscus will live forever in your memory. In Hawaii you will experience Aloha, ?the breath of life.?

SCOPE
The topics to be covered include, but are not limited to:

Robotics
Robot Design and Architecture
Programming
Artificial Intelligence
Modelling, Identification and Control
Motion Planning and Scheduling
Manipulators
Computer Vision
Robot Sensing and Data Fusion
Telerobotics
Micro-robotics
Multimedia Robotics
Robot Simulation
Space Robotics
Personal Robots

Applications
Aerospace
Agricultural Applications
Automotives
Biomechanics
Bioscience Applications
Construction Robotics
Design Automation
Education
Entertainment and Games
Flight Simulators
Health Care and Rehabilitation
Industrial Automation
Transportation
Manufacturing
Medical Robotics
Surgical Applications
Satellite Navigation
Unmanned and Underwater Vehicles
Others

SUBMISSION OF PAPERS
Initial Papers
Submit your paper via our website at:
http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2006/hawaii/submit-537.htm All submissions should be in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf), Postscript (.ps), or MS Word (.doc) format. The IASTED Secretariat must receive your paper by April 1, 2006. Receipt of paper submission will be confirmed by email.

Complete the online initial paper submission form designating an author who will attend the conference and providing four key words to indicate the subject area of your paper. One of the key words must be taken from the list of topics provided under Scope. Initial paper submissions should be approximately six pages. Formatting instructions are available at: http://www.iasted.org/formatting-initial.htm.

Authors are responsible for having their papers checked for style and grammar prior to submission to IASTED. Papers may be rejected if the language is not satisfactory.

Notification of acceptance will be sent via email by May 15, 2006. Final manuscripts are due by June 1, 2006. Registration and final payment are due by June 15, 2006. Late registration fees or paper submissions will result in the papers being excluded from the conference proceedings.

Final Papers
Send your final manuscripts via email to: finalpapers@iasted.org. The subject line for the final manuscript submission must include your six-digit paper number. The formatting instructions can be found at: http://www.iasted.org/formatting-final.htm and must be strictly followed. The page limit for final papers is six single-spaced pages in 10 point Times New Roman font. Only one paper of up to six pages is included in the regular registration fee. There will be an added charge for extra pages and additional papers.

TUTORIALS
Proposals for three-hour tutorials should be submitted online by April 1, 2006. Tutorials are to be submitted via the following website address:
http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2006/hawaii/tutorialsubmit-537.htm. A tutorial proposal should clearly indicate the topic, background knowledge expected of the participants, objectives, time allocations for the major course topics, and the qualifications of the instructor(s).

SPECIAL SESSIONS
Persons wishing to organize a special session should submit a proposal via email to: calgary@iasted.org. Proposals should include a session title, a list of the topics covered, and the qualifications and brief biography of the session organizer(s). Papers submitted to the special session must be received by April 1, 2006, unless otherwise stipulated by the Special Session Organizer. A minimum of five papers must be registered and fully paid in order for this session to be included in the conference program. More information on special sessions is available at:
http://www.iasted.org/conferences/2006/hawaii/sessionsubmit-537.htm.

JOURNALS
Expanded and enhanced versions of papers published in the conference proceedings can also be considered for inclusion in one of the IASTED journals. Information on the submission of papers to journals is available at http://www.actapress.com/SubmissionInfo.aspx.

Whole proceedings as well as single papers can now be purchased online. Please visit ACTA Press: http://www.actapress.com.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Submissions due April 1, 2006
Notification of acceptance May 15, 2006
Camera-ready manuscripts due June 1, 2006
Registration Deadline June 15, 2006