Programme time: 13-Oct | 11:00 | 60 min
Room: Arrabida Room (SOTA Benchmark)
Word count: Full description and objectives: 193 | Why you want to join: 182
Organiser / moderator
Organiser / proposal contact: Dimitra Triantafyllou (Center for Research and Technology Hellas)
Moderator: To be confirmed.
Speakers
•    Dr Dimitrios Giakoumis — MANiBOT project coordinator (CERTH)
•    Dr Antonios Porichis (University of Essex; ARISE project)
•    Dr Georgia Chalvatzaki (TUDa)
•    Mrs Angeliki Gkalimaridou (Fraport Hellas)

Full description and objectives

Advanced robotic manipulation is a key technology for automating complex object handling tasks across a wide range of application domains, enabling robots to operate autonomously in dynamic, unstructured, and highly variable environments. Recent advances in AI, perception, learning, adaptive task planning, and edge AI are expanding robotic capabilities beyond traditional automation based on predefined motions and controlled conditions.
This session will present emerging technologies developed within the Horizon Europe projects MANiBOT and ARISE through concise technical presentations supported by video demonstrations. Researchers, technology developers, and an industrial end-user representative will showcase innovative approaches for robust robotic object manipulation, highlighting solutions for real-world environments characterized by high variability and uncertainty.
The session combines technical presentations with interactive discussion. In particular, it will address the following questions: (i) How can emerging robotic and AI technologies transform object handling in retail, agriculture, logistics, and other domains that still rely heavily on human labour? (ii) What technical limitations and challenges must be overcome to enable their widespread deployment? (iii) What are the expectations, requirements, and concerns of end-users regarding adopting these technologies? The discussion will help identify key challenges and inform future research directions and deployment strategies.

Why do you want to join?

This session strongly aligns with ADRForum’s focus on the convergence of AI, Data and Robotics (ADR) to address key challenges in advanced robotic manipulation. Drawing on the Horizon Europe projects MANiBOT and ARISE, the session will showcase how AI-driven perception, data-centric learning, adaptive planning, and advanced manipulation technologies can be combined to enable robots to operate in dynamic and unstructured environments.
Through technical presentations and video demonstrations, the session will highlight innovative approaches currently being developed and validated to increase robotic autonomy, flexibility, and robustness in applications where variability and uncertainty remain major challenges. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of ADR technologies in enabling next-generation robotic systems capable of addressing real industrial needs and future deployment requirements.
The session contributes directly to ADRForum’s objectives of fostering innovation, strengthening collaboration between research and industry, and accelerating the translation of cutting-edge ADR technologies towards practical applications. By bringing together researchers, technology developers, and an end-user representative, it will promote knowledge exchange, discussion of industrial requirements and future adoption pathways, while reinforcing Europe’s leadership and strategic autonomy in robotics and AI-enabled automation.

Running agenda