Co-organizing the Summer School on Deformations in Robotics (3rd edition)
Deformations in Robotics
The 3rd edition of the Summer School on Deformations in Robotics will take place June 29 – July 3, 2026 in Villeneuve d’Ascq (Lille), France, co-organized with colleagues from the consortium.
This summer school brings together Inria, the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, and the University of Lille to offer a focused, high-quality training week for researchers and engineers working on deformable materials and their applications in robotics.
What to Expect
Over five days, participants will attend lectures, keynotes, and hands-on practical sessions covering the full spectrum of deformations in robotics:
- Overviews of the field — soft robotics, continuum robotics, hybrid rigid/deformable systems, and rigid robots interacting with deformable environments
- Design and fabrication of deformable robotic systems
- Bio-inspired approaches and mechanisms
- Modeling, sensing, and control of deformable structures
- Applications across medical robotics, manipulation, and beyond
- Hands-on sessions to provide practical experience
This edition also includes an interdisciplinary dimension: through the participation of the PEPRO2R project, intersections between robotics, social sciences, humanities, and arts will be explored — a perspective that substantially enriches the programme.
The week is complemented by a poster session (providing an opportunity to present ongoing work) and several social events to facilitate exchanges among participants.
Registration — Free, Limited Spots
Registration is free for up to 40 participants, covering lunches, the welcome reception, and the banquet, in order to make this event accessible to as many motivated students and researchers as possible.
IEEE RAS Student Members may also apply for travel grants — interested candidates are encouraged to reach out directly.
Spots are limited, and early registration is strongly encouraged.
🔗 Full details, program, and registration: defrobotics2026.sciencesconf.org