2nd Doctoral Summer School on Robotics and Intelligent Machines – DRIMS2 a.y. 2023/2024

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Course description

The DRIMS2 course is a summer school that is part of the educational program of the National PhD Program in Robotics and Intelligent Machines. It is primarily aimed at PhD students of the program, and it is also open to students from other relevant PhD courses. The course has been designed to provide advanced and specialized training in this rapidly evolving field, with an interdisciplinary approach that integrates theory and practice.

Specifically, the course aims to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to develop robots and intelligent machines capable of operating in complex environments, such as those found in biomedical, industrial, and service applications. Participants will gain advanced expertise in fields such as robot design, sensors and artificial perception, control, and human-machine interaction.

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Course target

PhD students enrolled in the PhD program of national interest in Robotics and Intelligent Machines (DRIM) and to PhD students currently attending other PhD courses related to robotics or intelligent machines.

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Training objectives

The DRIMS2 Course has the objective to offer knowledge on mechanical design, sensors and actuators, fundamentals of vision and control to robotic students, engaging them in a multidisciplinary teamwork. During the course, students will have the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge of the main theoretical approaches and emerging technologies in the field of robotics and intelligent machines and apply them to real-world problems such as object manipulation using sensorized robots. By the end of the course, participants will be able to design, develop, and test robots and intelligent machines for a wide range of applications, and evaluate their performance based on the specific requirements of the environment in which they operate.

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Teaching methods

The DRIMS2 course applies innovative teaching methodologies, including practical laboratories, group projects, and research-based learning, in addition to traditional lectures, in order to provide students with a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. Participants will work on concrete research and development projects, utilizing advanced software and hardware tools such as collaborative robots, robotic manipulators, artificial vision sensors, and tactile sensors. Participants will also be introduced to advanced programming techniques. Additionally, roundtable discussions on cross-cutting topics will be organized, including meetings with industry leaders, and cross-disciplinary discussions on the ethical, legal, social, and economic implications of robotics and intelligent machines, as well as the preparation of research funding proposals.

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Course programme

Each day of the school will be devoted to theoretical and hands/on activity related to a major thematic area in robotics and intelligent machines, namely i) Robot Sensing & Actuators; ii) Tactile Sensing, iii) Vision sensing, iv) Control and Human centred Robotics.

In addition, the 2nd School day will include the topic Robot-based Additive Manufacturing (developed within the RAISE project). The school will close with a poster session, along with project presentations from students.

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How to apply

An admission application may be submitted by persons who are currently attending PhD courses related to robotics or intelligent machines.

The following documentation is to be attached to the enrolment application:

•  curriculum vitae, reporting the PhD program in which the student is enrolled;
• a currently valid identity document.

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Course fee

The registration fee consists of two components: enrolment fee and accommodation and meals fee. The tuition fee will be paid to the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, while the accommodation and meals fee will be paid to the Volterra International School of Higher Education (SIAF), as follows:

Tuition fee, to be paid to Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna by July 19, 2024:

• 300 €: enrolment fee for participants members of the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (I-RIM) Association
• 375 €: enrolment fee for participants who are students of a PhD program of the European network EELISA, the BRIEF research infrastructure, the RAISE Ecosystem, or of partners of the competence centers ARTES 4.0, START 4.0, MEDITECH, or MADE, of the ARTES 5.0 EDIH, or members of a chapter of the Italian section of the IEEE or of the Italian section of the ASME  
• 450 €: enrolment fee for remaining participants

Those who intend to benefit from the fee reduction must document their membership at the time of the enrolment application.

Accommodation and meals fee, to be paid to the Volterra International School of Higher Education (SIAF):

•  500 €: Accommodation and meals fee, if paid to SIAF by July 19, 2024
• 575 €: Accommodation and meals fee, if paid to SIAF by August 19, 2024
• 650 €: Accommodation and meals fee, if paid to SIAF on-site at the beginning of the Summer School (September 5, 2024)

Download accomodation fee form available here 

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Participation in the Summer School is open to listeners too

Interested persons aiming at joining the event can address a request by e-mail at drims2@santannapisa.it to the attention of the Summer School Coordinator, prof. Calogero Oddo, enclosing their CV and highlighting the reasons of their participation and connections with the Robotics and Intelligent Machines field.

Participation as listeners can be on remote modality or in presence. For remote modality the tuition fee only will be charged, without accommodation fee. A certificate of attendance will be released to listeners, after verification of their remote participation.

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Technical Scientific Committee

• Prof. Giovanni Berselli - Università di Genova
• Prof. Matteo Bianchi - Università di Pisa
• Prof.ssa Elena De Momi - Politecnico di Milano
• Prof. Matteo Matteucci - Politecnico di Milano
• Prof. Calogero Maria Oddo - Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
• Dott. Nicola Pedrocchi - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
• Prof. Andrea Maria Zanchettin - Politecnico di Milano
• Dott. Alberto Parmiggiani - Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
• Dott. Andrea Orlandini - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
• Prof.ssa Fanny Ficuciello - Università Federico II di Napoli
• Dott.ssa Francesca Cordella - Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
• Prof. Gabriele Costante - Università degli Studi di Perugia
• Prof. Gastone Ciuti - Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
• Prof. Gionata Salvietti - Università degli Studi di Siena

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Attendance certificate

Certificate of attendance will be issued with value to the extent permitted by law and, with details of the ECTS obtained, to the students who attended at least 65% of the entire training program and passed the final assessment tests and are up-to-date with the payment of the enrolment fee.

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