Debates on the
Future of Robotics Research
Full Day Workshop at ICRA 2019 in Montreal
Friday, May 24 | Room 519a
It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.
We believe the time is ripe for a series of highly visible debates by researchers and industry leaders on several important topics concerning the present and future trajectory of robotics research and practice. To this end, we are organizing a full-day workshop consisting of several debates on salient topics such as the state of robotics as an academic discipline, its relationship with other fields in computer science and engineering, and its broader social and economic impact. We believe that creating space for events such as this could play an important role in fostering constructive dialogue across multiple areas of robotics research and drive the field forward.
2019 Workshop Debrief
Thank you to all of the debaters, moderators and lightning talk participants who made this such a successful workshop! We were delighted to see that each debate and lightning talk generated so much fruitful discussion and engagement from the robotics community. We are working on a Robotics & Automation Magazine article to summarize the event.
If you are interested in helping organize this type of workshop at next year's ICRA, please email us at icradebates2019 @ robotics.utias.utoronto.ca.
Photos
Courtesy of Olivier Lamarre.
Debate #1
Debate #2
Debate #2
Debate #3
Lightning talk #1
Lightning talk #2
Lightning talk #3
Lightning talk #4
Organizers
Workshop Schedule
Friday, 24 May, 2019 | 8:30 - 17:00, Room 519a
| Time | Debate or Event | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 - 8:45 | Opening Remarks | ||
| 8:45 - 10:00 |
ICRA, IROS and other major robotics conferences cover too broad a range of topics for meaningful discourse.
Moderated by John Leonard MIT
For Jonathan How MIT Hadas Kress-Gazit Cornell
Against Peter Corke QUT Chad Jenkins Michigan
|
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| 10:00 - 10:30 | ☕ Coffee Break | ||
| 10:30 - 11:30 | ⚡ Lightning Talks (5 minutes + 5 minute question period) PDF Position Papers
Different Degrees of Regulations for Robotics
Bias In, Bias Out - Diversity In, Diversity Out
Play, Explore, Challenge: A design strategy for innovation
Robotics: An Academic Discipline
The Pervasiveness of Deep Learning in Robotics Research Does Not Impede Scientific Insights into Robotics Problems |
||
| 11:30 - 13:30 | 🍽 Lunch Break | ||
| 13:30 - 15:00 |
The pervasiveness of deep learning in robotics research is an impediment to gaining scientific insights into robotics problems.
Moderated by Michael Milford QUT
For Oliver Brock TU Berlin Ryan Gariepy Clearpath Robotics Against Nick Roy MIT Angela Schoellig Toronto
|
||
| 15:00 - 15:30 | ☕ Coffee Break | ||
| 15:30 - 16:45 |
Robotics needs a similar level of regulation and certification as other engineering disciplines (e.g., aviation), even if this results in slower technological innovation.
Moderated by Hallie Siegel OCAD
For James Mickens Harvard Ludovic Righetti NYU Against Aude Billard EPFL Melonee Wise Fetch Robotics
|
||
| 16:45 - 17:00 | Closing Remarks | ||
Debate Structure
- Moderator/debater introductions + initial audience poll (5 min)
- Opening arguments (20 min = 4 debaters x 5 min each)
- Moderated discussion between debaters + audience Q&A (15 min)
- Closing remarks (10 min = 4 debaters x 2.5 min each)
- Final audience poll + polling results (5 min)
- Moderated panel debrief + audience Q&A (15 to 20 min)
Organizing Committee
Contact
Please address all inquiries and questions about the workshop to icradebates2019 @ robotics.utias.utoronto.ca.