EMERGE partners are keynote speakers at ICRA 2025

26 June 2025

Last month, EMERGE partners Cosimo Della Santina from TU Delft and Sabine Hauert from the University of Bristol were keynote speakers at the 2025 edition of the prestigious IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) which took place 19–23 May in Atlanta, USA. 

Watch below Cosimo Della Santina's presentation “Moving Without Thinking: Embodied Intelligence in Locomotion”.

Abstract: What does it mean for a body to move intelligently without a brain? In this talk, I will explore how mechanical systems can exhibit motor intelligence through their physical structure alone, with a focus on locomotion. I will then show how this embodied intelligence can be algorithmically leveraged—using a combination of model-based control and machine learning—to build locomotion strategies that work with, rather than against, natural dynamics. The result is robust, efficient motion that requires minimal sensing and control effort.

Watch below Sabine Hauert's presentation “Breaking Swarm Stereotypes: Enabling Real-World Applications”.

Abstract: Building on 20 years of progress, swarm robotics is now ready to enable out-of-the-box solutions in real-world environments that adapt, scale, and are robust. Realising this potential requires moving beyond the traditional view of swarms as large collectives of simple, autonomous, and homogeneous agents relying solely on local sensing and interactions. Instead, we propose a shift towards swarms with emergent properties that are easy to design, monitor, control, and validate by humans. These swarms can leverage AI, integrate advanced local perception, and share information not only locally but also globally or quasi-globally. Ultimately, we envision a future where specialised robots operate with shared situational awareness, coexisting and coordinating seamlessly in environments such as construction sites, farms, logistics hubs, and natural ecosystems. The goal is to foster an ecosystem where next-generation robots collaborate with each other—and with humans—at scale.

About ICRA

The IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) is the world’s foremost event aimed at advancing the field of robotics, drawing more than 7,000 of the world’s top researchers, experts, leading robotics organizations, and industry professionals. ICRA 2025 took place 19–23 May in Atlanta, USA.