ICRA 2026 Workshop · Vienna

Advances and Challenges in
AI-Driven Automation and
Robotic System Integration
with Digital Twins

Half-day workshop at IEEE ICRA 2026•Friday, June 5, 2026•14:00–17:30

Overview

Integrating artificial intelligence and Digital Twin technologies into robotic and automated systems remains challenging, particularly in ensuring interoperability and seamless interaction among various components within complex operational environments. Although many individual technologies have matured significantly, standardized integration methodologies and robust interfaces remain underdeveloped, limiting broad industrial adoption and scalability.

This workshop addresses these critical gaps by focusing on AI-driven integration solutions enhanced through Digital Twin technologies, which provide real-time synchronization, accurate simulation, and improved reliability of robotic systems. By gathering experts from academia, industry, and startups, the workshop will discuss practical methodologies, standardization strategies, and successful case studies, emphasizing the importance of overcoming integration barriers to achieve scalable, efficient, and reliable robotic solutions.

Topics of Interest
  • AI-driven integration methodologies for robotic and automated systems
  • Practical case studies of robotic system integration in manufacturing, logistics, and construction
  • Standardization and interoperability in robotic integration
  • Reliability and robustness of integrated robotic systems
  • Ethical considerations and societal acceptance of AI-enhanced semi-automatic systems
  • Human-robot interaction and collaboration in automated and semi-automatic contexts
  • Accessibility and inclusivity through AI-enhanced robotics
  • Digital Twin technologies as enablers of robotic system integration
  • Industrial perspectives and experiences in adopting integrated robotic systems
  • Emerging trends and future directions in robotic and automated system integration

Program

(tentative)

Time Format Speaker Title
14:00–14:10 Opening & Welcome Organizers Digital-Twin–enabled integration: scope & goals
SESSION I: Methods & Architectures
14:10–14:35 Research Talk I Thrishantha Nanayakkara Situated Heuristics-Based Evolution of Mechanically Intelligent Systems (SHAPE)
14:35–15:00 Research Talk II Darius Burschka Vision-Based Parametrization of the Digital Twin in Dynamic Environments through Analysis of Action Constraints
15:00–15:15 Lightning Papers Contributors Authors of accepted submissions — 3 × 5 min
15:15–15:30 Poster Session — Poster session and networking
Coffee Break
15:30–16:00 Coffee Break — Networking and informal discussion
SESSION II: Validation, Deployment & Applied Perspectives
16:00–16:25 Research Talk III Agostino Marcello Mangini A Digital Twin Approach for a New Concept of Last-Mile Delivery
16:25–16:50 Research Talk IV Jing Xiao Dynamic Dense Packing of Novel Objects
16:50–17:00 Industry Talk I Viviana Crescitelli Generative AI for Industries
17:00–17:10 Industry Talk II Felix Ocker Title TBC
17:10–17:20 Startup Spotlight Startup teams (selected) 2 × 5 min short talks — TBC
SESSION III: Takeaways & Closing
17:20–17:25 Panel Speakers + organizers Standards, synchronization/verification, adoption
17:25–17:30 Closing — Closing remarks

Speakers

Thrishantha Nanayakkara
Thrishantha Nanayakkara Academic
Director, Morphlab — Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London (UK)
Darius Burschka
Darius Burschka Academic
Head, Machine Vision & Perception Group — Technical University of Munich (Germany)
Agostino Marcello Mangini
Agostino Marcello Mangini Academic
Dept. of Electrical & Information Engineering — Politecnico di Bari (Italy)
Jing Xiao
Jing Xiao Academic
Head, Dept. of Robotics Engineering; Director, AIR Lab — Worcester Polytechnic Institute (USA)
Viviana Crescitelli
Viviana Crescitelli Industry
Senior Researcher; Hitachi AI Ambassador — Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan)
Felix Ocker
Felix Ocker Industry
Senior Scientist — Honda Research Institute (Germany)

Participate

We invite short papers (2–4 pages) and extended abstracts (1–2 pages) on Digital-Twin–enabled integration for robotics—methods, tools, datasets, and case studies (interoperability, synchronization, simulation/verification, deployment experience). Contributions should emphasize new ideas, practical insights, and real-world integration experience. Accepted contributions will be presented as 5-minute lightning talks and posters, with selected teams featured in a dedicated Startup Spotlight session. Submissions should be provided as PDF (IEEE style preferred).

Startup Spotlight

Startup and industry teams developing AI-driven robotic integration and Digital Twin solutions are especially encouraged to apply. Selected startups will present in a dedicated 5-minute Spotlight session and poster/demo space focused on real-world deployment and integration challenges.

  • Submission deadline: April 20, 2026 (23:59 AoE)
  • Notification of acceptance: May 5, 2026
  • Submission format: 2–4 page short paper or 1–2 page extended abstract (PDF, IEEE style preferred)
  • Submission portal: Google Form
  • Presentation format: lightning talk + poster or Startup Spotlight

Awards & Participant Support

This workshop is supported by the IEEE RAS Automation Cluster . The workshop includes awards and participation grants to encourage early-career researchers and startup contributors.

  • Best Startup Perspective Award: USD 200
  • Best Lightning Talk Award: USD 200
  • Participation Grants: Two grants of USD 300 each for early-career researchers or young startup founders

Participation grants are intended to support early-career researchers and young startup founders. Awards and grants will be determined by the organizing committee based on submission quality and relevance to the workshop themes.

Organizers

Angela Faragasso
Angela Faragasso
Finger Vision, Japan
Birgit Vogel‑Heuser
Birgit Vogel‑Heuser
Technical University of Munich, Germany
Maria Pia Fanti
Maria Pia Fanti
Politecnico di Bari, Italy