IEEE ICRA@40

Welcome to ICRA@40 Africa!

The robotics community in Africa, particularly South Africa, has been gathering momentum over the last few years with the number of contributions to premier robotics conferences such as ICRA steadily increasing. In connection with ICRA@40, this satellite conference seeks to formally connect those working in the robotics field from and for Africa, to celebrate their contributions and catalyze their future efforts. ICRA@40 marks the first IEEE Robotics and Automation Society conference on African soil.

Join us between 24 September and 26 September 2024 at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the 3 days, we will receive insights from established African researchers, upcoming researchers and students to showcase the work which the African community has produced. The conference will consist of keynote presentations, student talks, demonstration sessions, live link-ups to the main ICRA@40 event, and networking events in the African style!

The first contribution to ICRA from an African university was from the University of Cape Town to ICRA 10 years ago at ICRA 2014 in China. Since then there have been several other contributions from researchers from the African robotics community to ICRA, demonstrating the capability and potential of African researchers on the global scale.

Several robotics laboratories have been established at African universities such as the African Robotics Unit (ARU) at the University of Cape Town, the Robotics, Autonomous Intelligence and Learning Lab (RAIL) at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Centre for Robotics and Future Production at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Mechatronics and Research Group at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, to name a few.

There has been tremendous growth in undergraduate mechatronics and electronics courses offered at African universities like UCT, Stellenbosch and Wits, producing graduates with the skills to venture into the robotics and automation field and grow the African robotics and automation community.

Let us celebrate the past, inspire the present, and shape the future of robotics and automation together for the African continent!

ICRA Contribution Highlights

over the past 10 years

2024

A. Mukuddem and P. Amayo, “Osiris: Building Hierarchical Representations for Agricultural Environments,” 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Yokohama, Japan, 2024, pp. 15797-15803, doi: 10.1109/ICRA57147.2024.10610723.

D. Bright, S. Shield and A. Patel, “AeroDima: Cheetah-Inspired Aerodynamic Tail Design for Rapid Maneuverability,” 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Yokohama, Japan, 2024, pp. 1451-1456, doi: 10.1109/ICRA57147.2024.10610202.

2023

C. Mailer, S. Shield, R. Govender and A. Patel, “Getting Air: Modelling and Control of a Hybrid Pneumatic-Electric Legged Robot,” 2023 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), London, United Kingdom, 2023, pp. 9973-9979, doi: 10.1109/ICRA48891.2023.10160737.

2022

J. Pilbrough and P. Amayo, “Smoothing Away From The Edge For Mesh Estimation in Urban Outdoor Environments,” 2022 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Philadelphia, PA, USA, 2022, pp. 10898-10904, doi: 10.1109/ICRA46639.2022.9811563.

2021

C. Fisher, J. Van Zyl, R. Govender and A. Patel, “Optimization-Inspired Controller Design for Transient Legged Locomotion,” 2021 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Xi’an, China, 2021, pp. 8345-8351, doi: 10.1109/ICRA48506.2021.9560759.

D. Joska et al., “AcinoSet: A 3D Pose Estimation Dataset and Baseline Models for Cheetahs in the Wild,” 2021 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Xi’an, China, 2021, pp. 13901-13908, doi: 10.1109/ICRA48506.2021.9561338.

2018

A. Blom and A. Patel, “Investigation of a Bipedal Platform for Rapid Acceleration and Braking Manoeuvres,” 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2018, pp. 426-432, doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2018.8462879.

P. Amayo, P. Piniés, L. M. Paz and P. Newman, “Fast Global Labelling for Depth-Map Improvement Via Architectural Priors,” 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2018, pp. 4985-4992, doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2018.8460192.

N. Makondo, B. Rosman and O. Hasegawa, “Accelerating Model Learning with Inter-Robot Knowledge Transfer,” 2018 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2018, pp. 2417-2424, doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2018.8461218.

2016

P. Amayo, P. Piniés, L. M. Paz and P. Newman, “A unified representation for application of architectural constraints in large-scale mapping,” 2016 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Stockholm, Sweden, 2016, pp. 1339-1345, doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2016.7487267.

2014

A. Patel and M. Braae, “Rapid acceleration and braking: Inspirations from the cheetah’s tail,” 2014 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Hong Kong, China, 2014, pp. 793-799, doi: 10.1109/ICRA.2014.6906945.

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Ndivhuwo Makondo
General Chair

IBM Research – Africa & University of the Witwatersrand

Alexandra Barry
Secretary

University of the Witwatersrand

Jenalea Rajab
Program

Lelapa AI

Paul Amayo
Program

University of Cape Town

Tamlin Love
Program

Institut de Robòtica i Informàtica Industrial

Steven James
Local

University of the Witwatersrand

Geraud Nangue Tasse
Local

University of the Witwatersrand

Belinda Matebese
Local

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Thabisa Maweni
Local

University of Cape Town/Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Zimkhitha Sijovu
Local

Stellenbosch University

Adam Mukkudem
Publicity

University of Cape Town

Lifhasi Ramulondi
Finance

Milpark Education

ABOUT

Venue

University of Witwatersrand Professional Development Hub

Wits University is situated in Johannesburg, South Africa – a vibrant, leading commercial city on the African continent. The history of Wits is linked with mining, academic excellence, and with political and civic activism.

The Professional Development Hub is a modern, newly refurbished extension to Wits University’s Braamfontein Campus East. PDH is situated just off Empire Road and is easily accessible by all major highways. PDH offers a variety of venues suitable for conferences, corporate functions, gala dinners etc. and has 315 parking spaces with access control.

Contact

General Chair

Ndivhuwo Makondo, IBM Research – Africa & University of the Witwatersrand

ndivhuwo.makondo@wits.ac.za

PROGRAM

Tuesday, 24 September

08:00 – 12:00	Registration

08:30 - 09:30	Introduction (Dr. Ndivhuwo Makondo) & History of Robotics in Africa (video)

09:30 – 10:00	Coffee Break

10:00 – 12:15	Robot Learning
10:00 – 11:00 Keynote Prof. Benjamin Rosman 11:00 – 12:00 Keynote Dr. Pravesh Ranchod 12:00 – 12:15 Presentation Geraud Nangue Tasse

12:15 – 13:15	Lunch Break

16:15 – 14:45	Legged Robotics
13:15 - 14:00 Keynote Dr. Callen Fisher - 14:00 - 14:45 Keynote Dr. Stacey Shield

15:00 – 16:30	Travel to Opening Event

16:30 – 18:30	Tour

18:30 – 21:00	Opening Remarks (Dr. Paul Amayo) + Dinner

Wednesday, 25 September

08:00 – 12:00	Registration

08:30 - 10:00	Foundation Models for Robotics + Legged Robotics cont.
Foundation Models for Robotics 8:30-9:30 Keynote Dr. Asim Munawar Legged Robotics cont. 9:30 - 9:45 Presentation Kamryn Norton - 9:45 - 10:00 Presentation Jean van der Walt

10:00 – 10:30	Coffee Break

10:30 – 13:00	Robot Design
10:30 – 11:30 Keynote Prof. Michelle Johnson 11:30 – 12:30 Keynote Prof. Riaan Stopforth 12:30 – 12:45 Presentation Siphosethu Khuzwayo - 12:45 – 13:00 Presentation Nkosingiphile Khuzwayo

13:00 – 14:00	Lunch Break

14:00 – 15:30	Robotics at the CSIR + Robot Communication
Robotics at the CSIR 14:00 - 15:00 Keynote Dr. Steven Marais Robot Communication 15:00 - 15:30 Keynote Solomon Oluwole Akinola

15:30 – 16:00	Coffee Break

16:00 – 17:00	Poster Session

17:00 – 18:00	RoboCup
Keynote Dr. Branden Ingram

Thursday, 26 September

08:00 – 12:00	Registration

08:30 - 10:00	Control
8:30-9:30 Keynote Prof. Arthur Mutambara 9:30 - 9:45 Presentation Austin Kaburia

10:00 – 10:30	Coffee Break

10:30 – 13:00	Control
10:30 – 11:30 Keynote Prof. Elisha Markus 11:30 - 11:45 Presentation Teboho Ntsinyi Field Robotics 12:00 - 13:00 Keynote Dr. Steven James

13:00 – 14:00	Lunch Break

14:00 – 15:30	Industry and AI in Africa
14:00 - 14:30 Keynote Dr. Iretiayo Akinola 14:30 - 15:00 Keynote Betelhem Dessie 15:00 - 15:30 Keynote Dr. Olusola Ayoola

15:30 – 16:00	Coffee Break

16:00 – 17:00	Human Computer Interaction
16:00 - 16:45 Keynote Prof. Isaac Wiafe 16:45 - 17:00 Presentation Akon Obu Ekpezu

17:00 – 18:00	Research/Collaboration Discussion

18:00 – 21:00	Closing Ceremony Origin Center

The event will be live streamed from our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@ICRAat40Africa

EVENTS

Opening Event

Lesedi Cultural Centre
Date: 24 September
Time: 16:30 – 18:30

Visitors to Lesedi Cultural Village are immersed in a cultural tradition tour de force that connects the past with the present and shines a light on our collective humanity.

The experience begins with a multi-sensory presentation of the origins of South Africa’s indigenous inhabitants, followed by a guided walk through the myriad tribal homesteads located in the Lesedi Cultural Village.

The experience ends off with ancestral folklore and rituals that are brought to life in spectacular fashion. This “Ingoma”, told through choreographed movement, beating drums and song is thrilling history storytelling at its best.

Dinner will be served after the tour. Traditional African foods will be prepared.

Closing Event

WITS Origin Centre
Date: 26 September
Time: 18:00 – 21:00

The Origins Centre follows a path of hominin innovation that began over 2 million years ago. The museum delves into the fascinating beliefs of the San.

Opened by President Thabo Mbeki in 2006, the Origins Centre is dedicated to exploring and celebrating the history of modern humankind.

It contains evidence of ancient stone tools, artefacts of symbolic and spiritual significance, and examples of the region’s visually striking rock art. It also captures the impact of the colonial front and highlights examples of resistence.

The Origins Centre boasts an extensive collection of rock art from the Rock Art Research Institute (RARI) at Wits, affording visitors the opportunity to view some of the richest visual heritage found in South Africa and to learn about its history and meaning.

Conference attendees will be treated to a guided tour of the centre. Drinks and light snacks will be served in a social setting at the origin centre after the tour.

SPEAKERS

ICRA@40 will showcase presentations and talks from distinguished speakers from academia and industry working in Africa.
Topics vary from bio-inspired robotics to multi-robot systems and many more.