The projects of RAISE Spokes at the IIT stand at the Humanoids 2024 Conference
From November 22 to 24, 2024, the IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots (Humanoids 2024) was held in Nancy, France. This international event hosted scientific contributions, workshop and tutorial proposals in the field of humanoid robotics, accompanied by a broad industrial exhibition and public outreach activities. Key initiatives included technological demonstrations by more than thirty exhibitors, robotic competitions, and a debate on the role of artificial intelligence in cognitive robotics.
The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) set up an exhibition stand at Humanoids 2024 where various research groups showcased advanced results and innovative applications developed within the RAISE ecosystem. This allowed all Spokes to present their technologies through live demonstrations and interactive presentations, contributing significantly to the conference.
Linda Lastrico, representing Spoke 1, introduced the haptic device iCube, designed for studying tactile manipulation with applications in rehabilitation, aligning with the research promoted by RAISE.
Ettore Landini, Francesco Brand, and Leonardo Gori from Spoke 2 presented advancements in the humanoid robot R1, focusing on its perception and interaction capabilities. The robot’s new arms, along with its ability to recognize and respond to human gestures, highlighted both hardware and software progress.
Spoke 3 featured Angelo Bratta, Chengjin Du, and Anderson Brazil Nardin, who contributed with two innovative demonstrations. Bratta showcased VERO, a quadruped robot equipped with a vacuum collection system for waste management, such as cigarette butts. During the conference, VERO performed live demonstrations, collecting cigarette butts from the floor, showcasing practical applications for environmental sustainability. Chengjin Du and Anderson Brazil Nardin exhibited the SoftMag Gripper, an innovative device for fruit handling and ripeness assessment. Thanks to integrated magnetic tactile sensors, the system is designed for applications in the food industry and soft robotics. Visitors interacted with the device through practical demonstrations and explanatory videos.
For Spoke 4, Giovanni Rosato, Mattia Poggiani, and Cristiano Petrocelli presented AlterEgo, a guide robot currently being tested at the Galata Museum in Genoa. In collaboration with the University of Genoa, AlterEgo stands out for its ability to autonomously interact with visitors, demonstrating the potential of social robots as cultural guides. The team also showcased significant updates to another robot, the humanoid robot R1: new robotic arms designed for more precise environmental interactions and advanced software capable of recognizing a specific set of human actions. The robot responded to gestures like greetings or handshakes, showcasing progress in non-verbal interactions. Additionally, Luca Garello introduced iCubHead, a robot equipped with a cognitive architecture for autonomous learning and multimodal perception. Capable of using audio and video information, the robot built a long-term memory of events and interactions during the exhibition, demonstrating advanced recognition abilities for visitors and recurring events.
Participation in the Humanoids 2024 conference was a crucial opportunity to promote technologies developed within the RAISE project and strengthen dialogue with the international scientific community. The success of the IIT stand and the presented demonstrations highlighted the importance of synergy between advanced research, practical applications, and social impact—key elements of the RAISE project.
