“Is China Leading the Humanoid Race?”
Minas Liarokapis, Acumino
The rapid advancements in humanoid robotics have intensified global competition, raising important questions about leadership, innovation, and long-term trajectories. The workshop, “Is China Leading the Humanoid Race?”, will provide a critical analysis of China’s position within the international humanoid robotics landscape. We will examine the country’s research output, industrial strategies, and policy frameworks, and situate them in relation to developments in other leading nations. We will also see the advancements of the humanoid systems of Unitree, Booster Robotics, and LymX Dynamics as three examples.
In particular, the workshop will review significant events—including the Robot World Conference and the World Humanoid Robot Games—as markers of technological progress, state support, and global engagement. By analyzing these milestones, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics shaping the humanoid robotics race, and the extent to which China may be establishing leadership in this rapidly evolving domain.
“Reinforcement Learning for Robotic Control“
Henry Williams & Masahiro Kobayashi, The University of Auckland
Reinforcement Learning (RL) has emerged as a powerful framework for training autonomous systems to learn complex behaviours through interaction and feedback. In the context of robotic control, RL enables machines to learn motion, manipulation, and decision-making strategies that are difficult to hand-code. This workshop offers a practical and engaging introduction to RL with a particular focus on real-world applications in robotics. Designed for participants with an interest in AI, robotics, or intelligent systems, the session will cover key concepts including states, actions, rewards, exploration, and policies. Using examples from New Zealand’s robotics research and innovation ecosystem, we will highlight both the promise and the challenges of deploying RL outside the lab. What sets this workshop apart is its hands-on activity that turns you into the RL agent. You’ll experience the learning process from the inside out.
“Robotics Spotlights Around the World: New Zealand and Latin America”
New Zealand Robotics, Automation, and Sensing | ICRA – Colombia
Robotics is advancing through a globally interconnected ecosystem, where diverse research communities contribute unique perspectives, technical innovations, and application domains. This workshop brings together two vibrant hubs of activity.
Participants will gain an overview of emerging research trends, flagship projects, and institutional initiatives shaping the future of robotics in each region. Topics will include developments in sensing and perception, automation in challenging environments, human–robot interaction, and robotics for societal impact. By highlighting both academic and industry-driven initiatives, the workshop will provide insight into how local strengths—from New Zealand’s focus on dexterous manipulation and automation, to Latin America’s growing presence in international robotics research—converge within a global innovation landscape.
The session is designed to foster cross-regional collaboration, encourage the exchange of best practices, and identify opportunities for joint initiatives across continents. Attendees will leave with a deeper appreciation of how these communities are contributing to the global robotics agenda and how international engagement can accelerate progress toward impactful robotic technologies.
“HERMES – Research and Development of Robotic Exoskeleton System”
HERMES Team, University of Thessaly
This workshop aims to introduce participants to the fundamental principles of kinematic analysis and robotic system modeling, with a particular focus on their application to a robotic exoskeleton. Through a balanced combination of theoretical lectures and hands‑on demonstrations, attendees will become familiar with the essential tools and methodologies employed in motion analysis and dynamic simulation of exoskeletal systems. Covering both the theory and practice of robotic exoskeleton development, the session will first establish the mathematical and physical foundations of kinematics underlying robotic mechanisms. Participants will then engage with specialized software platforms to model and simulate a state‑of‑the‑art exoskeleton prototype developed by the HERMES Team. A live demonstration will showcase the system’s capabilities, illustrating how design choices influence performance and user interaction. Designed for students and early‑career researchers with a basic background in robotics, no prior expertise in kinematic analysis or modeling is required. By the end of the workshop, attendees will possess a coherent understanding of the R&D lifecycle for wearable robotic devices and the practical skills needed to initiate their own exoskeleton projects.
“Educating the Next Generation of Roboticists and Physical AI Engineers”
Hellenic Educational Robotics Organization | MakerLab
As robotics and Physical AI become central to the future of work and society, there is a growing need to introduce these fields early in the educational pipeline. This workshop will focus on strategies for engaging students aged through STEM-focused curricula, hands-on projects, and experiential learning environments. By fostering curiosity at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, we can equip young learners with the foundational skills necessary to explore robotics, artificial intelligence, and their physical embodiment. We will discuss effective models of K–12 robotics education, including school-based programs, competitions, makerspaces, and online platforms, as well as their integration with secondary and pre-university pathways. Particular emphasis will be placed on cultivating creativity, problem-solving, ethical reasoning, and teamwork, alongside technical proficiencies in programming, electronics, and design. Through case studies and collaborative discussion, the workshop will highlight how early exposure to robotics and Physical AI can inspire the next generation of innovators and ensure a diverse, well-prepared pipeline of future roboticists and engineers.