Live Q&A with presenters November 9th at 13:30 GMT. To receive access to the workshop please join our mailing list by clicking here.
Workshop Format
This is a completely online workshop. Video keynotes and invited presentations can be accessed at your convenience. Please use the message boards to interact. In addition, we will host a live Q&A with presenters on November 9th at 13:30 GMT – register by clicking here.
Workshop Objectives
Robots have become more and more common in High-Income Countries (HICs) but use in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LICs and MICs, respectively) is virtually non-existent. While this lack of use is not surprising to most people, there are many issues facing these communities where robots could make a huge impact.
The application and success of robots in LICs and MICs is not just a matter of the specific robotic technology being available or feasible, but also involves a broad range of environmental, cultural, structural, political, socio-economic and resource constraints that are critical to consider when developing robots and other technologies for LICs and MICs. A fundamental reason behind failure of technology solutions in LICs and MICs is that there exists a disconnect between technology developers (e.g., academic researchers and companies) and humanitarian field workers and the communities they work in.
This workshop will bring together roboticists, policy makers, representatives from funding agencies, and humanitarian field workers to share their expertise and experience with each other and the greater IROS community. In the end, we hope that this workshop will result in new ideas and connections that will spur the development of robotic solutions to some of the most difficult challenges in the humanitarian world.
For further details, click here.
