We cordially invite you to the 2025 Symposium on the Future of Soft Robotics, to be held at the Werkhof in Hannover, Germany. This prestigious event will feature keynote addresses from leading experts, as well as poster and teaser presentations showcasing the latest research and innovations in soft robotics. Participants will also engage in thought-provoking discussions on the future directions of this rapidly evolving field. Join us to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and contribute to shaping the next generation of soft robotics technologies.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the upcoming Symposium on the Future of Soft Robotics, organized by the DFG Priority Programme SPP2100. The event will be held in person, providing an excellent opportunity to engage with leading experts in the fields of Soft Robotics, modelling and control, morphological computation and embodied intelligence, and material science.
We are seeking teaser talks from attendees that would like to take the opportunity to introduce their research and open discussions on potential future collaborations. Each teaser talk will be followed by a poster session, where you can dive deeper into your research with fellow attendees and explore possibilities for collaboration.
Submission guidelines
We look forward to your participation and the exciting discussions that will shape the future of soft robotics research!
For more information and submission details, please contact the organizing team at spp2100@match.uni-hannover.de.
Perla Maiolino is an Associate Professor in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford and a member of the Oxford Robotics Institute. She earned her BEng, MEng, and PhD from the University of Genoa, focusing on developing large-area tactile sensors for robots. Her research centers on providing robots with a sense of touch, crucial for tasks like object manipulation and human-robot interaction. She has developed soft tactile sensors that mimic human touch, enabling robots to perceive textures, pressure, and shapes with high precision.
Prof Jamie Paik is the director of the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at EPFL. She is a pioneer in soft robotics, known for developing robogamis, foldable robots inspired by origami that can change shape and function. Her work focuses on creating adaptable, lightweight, and sustainable robots for medical, exploratory, and everyday applications. Paik’s innovative designs challenge traditional robotics, emphasizing flexibility and integration into daily life. She continues to shape the future of robotics with her groundbreaking contributions.
Helge Wurdemann is a leading researcher in soft robotics and a professor at University College London (UCL), where he heads the Soft Haptics and Robotics Lab. His work focuses on creating highly dexterous and compliant robotic systems inspired by natural structures and movements. Wurdemann has pioneered developments in robotic manipulators with soft, adaptable properties for use in medical and industrial applications. His designs aim to enhance human-robot interaction, particularly in delicate tasks like minimally invasive surgery.
Day 1 - Wednesday 9th April 2025
Time | Topic | Speaker |
08:30 | Welcome Snacks + Coffee | |
09:00 | Opening Remarks | Annika Raatz |
09:30 | Keynote Talk 1 | |
10:30 | Teaser Presentations | External Guests |
11:00 | Coffee Break | |
11:30 | Teaser Presentations | External Guests |
13:00 | Lunch Break | |
14:30 | Teaser Presentations | External Guests |
16:00 | Coffee Break | |
16:30 | Keynote Talk 2 | |
17:30 | Break / Room Preparation | |
17:45 | Poster & Demos Session + Drink & Snacks | |
19:15 | Break | |
19:30 | Welcome Dinner |
Day 2 - Thursday 10th April 2025
Time | Topic | Speaker |
09:00 | DFG Funding Options | DFG Representative |
09:15 | Coherent Methodology for Modelling and Design of Soft Material Robots - The Soft Material Robotics Toolbox | Annika Raatz & Thomas Seel & Jörg Wallashek |
09:45 | Soft Material Tendon-Driven Serial Manipulators | Remco I. Leine & Bastian Deutschmann |
10:15 | Intelligent Polymer Materials as Actuators and Sensors for Soft Robotics Applications | Sabine Ludwigs & Holger Steeb |
10:45 | Coffee Break | |
11:15 | Smart Elastomers for Soft Robotics Application | Amit Das & Andreas Fery |
11:45 | Wireless Miniature Medical Soft Robots Inside our Body | Christoph Keplinger |
12:15 | Photomechanical Soft Grippers | Anne Staubitz & Stanislav N. Gorb |
12:45 | Lunch Break | |
14:15 | Soft Material Actuator / Sensor Concepts for Three-Dimensional Soft Robotic System | Gianluca Rizzello & Stephan Seelecke |
14:45 | Active Control of Stiffness Distribution Ajustement and its Application in Underwater Soft Robots | Wenqi Hu |
15:15 | Biomimetic Robots Autonomously Driven by Dielectric Elastomers | Tobias Kraus & E.-F. Markus Vorrath & Uwe Marschner |
15:45 | Coffee Break | |
16:15 | Soft Tensegrity Structures | Lena Zentner & Valter Böhm |
16:45 | Active Suction Device for Deep-Sea Applications | Annika Raatz & Tom Kwasnitschka |
17:15 | Break / Room Preparation | |
17:30 | Poster & Demos Session + Drink & Snacks | |
19:00 | Break | |
20:15 | Dinner |
Day 3 - Friday 11th April 2025
Time | Topic | Speaker |
09:00 | Keynote Speaker 3 | |
10:00 | Co-Design of Feedback Control and Soft Morphology for in-Hand Manipulation | Oliver Brock |
10:20 | Enhanced Robotic Gripper Optimization: Simulation using Machine-Learning | Thorsten Pöschel |
10:40 | Development and Characterization of Soft Magnetic Materials with Anisotropy in the Mechanical Properties and Multi-Stimulated Compliance | Stefan Odenbach & Klaus Zimmermann |
11:00 | Coffee Break + Snacks | |
11:30 | Discussion Round Table "Future of Soft Robotics" | |
13:00 | Closing Remarks | Annika Raatz |
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