SATURDAY, 19. 4., AT 11.00

Dr. Andrej Olenšek, URI SOČA

Rehabilitation robotics is emerging in rehabilitation as a promising tool to support physically demanding manual physiotherapy, which is the dominant approach in movement rehabilitation. Such devices are used in various medical conditions, including stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and musculoskeletal disorders. They offer numerous benefits: reducing the workload of therapists, increasing the intensity of therapy, improving motivation and engagement of users through attractive interactive solutions, and increasing access to rehabilitation services.

SATURDAY, 19. 4., AT 12.00

Dr. Aleš Holobar, University of Maribor, FERI

For centuries, we have been looking for ways to interact effectively and naturally with technology – from the first mechanical devices to today's artificial intelligence systems. With the development of large-scale language and visual models, machines are increasingly understanding both spoken and non-verbal communication. However, they still do not perceive key physiological factors, such as fatigue, concentration or even the emotional state of a person – aspects that strongly affect the quality and efficiency of communication.

The lecture will shed light on the current state of human-machine communication interfaces, their advantages and limitations, and trends in their future development. We will discuss the role of artificial intelligence in understanding human expression and learn how we can upgrade technology towards greater intuitiveness and individual adaptation. We will touch on ethical issues that are or will be essential in shaping modern society.

We invite you to a glimpse into the future of communication that blurs the boundaries between humans and machines.

SATURDAY, 19. 4., AT 13.00

Mónica Rikić

Somoure is an ongoing artistic-research project that explores assistive robotics through an interdisciplinary perspective. It was created during the S+T+ARTS residency at the Institute of Industrial Robotics in Barcelona (IRI CSIC-UPC) and critically addresses the focus on the social acceptability of robotics without addressing systemic problems such as insecurity in care and the privatization of services.

The artistic output of the project includes a modified replica of the feeding assistance robot from IRI CSIC-UPC, which introduces critical perspectives into its design and operation. Using the philosophies of hacker and DIY culture, Somoure considers the development of robotics as a process of care itself.

Through collective discussions and co-design methodologies, the project brought together engineers, artists, sociologists, domestic workers’ unions, philosophers and anti-ableism activists. It thus highlights how artistic research can reshape assistive technology to better respond to community needs and redefine care in broader political and social contexts.

In addition, the lecture will offer critical insights and analyses based on my interdisciplinary research experiences as an artist at IRI CSIC-UPC.

SATURDAY, 19. 4., AT 2 PM

Jurij Krpan, KERSNIKOVA INSTITUTE

Since antiquity, many artists have created works of art that lacked perfection only in being able to speak, step down from their pedestals, and mingle with people. The animation of statues, i.e., breathing soul (anime) into the silent materiality of stone, clay, bronze, etc., first came to life in myths and stories, and soon after in mechanical sculptures of animals and people. We have been living with robots since the beginning of human civilization, and we still wonder how to make sense of this coexistence. On the one hand, the industrial instrumentalization of a cheaper and obedient workforce, and on the other, numerous life forms that are excited about the possibility of creating new, different from nature, liveliness.
At the lecture on robots in works of art, we will walk from the beginnings of robotics on the west coast of the United States and its influence on artistic creation in Europe. A special place will be given to Slovenian artists who have placed themselves on the international stage with their robotic works of art.

Saturday, April 19

Provided by Delavski dom Trbovlje

11:00 – Basics of programming with animal robots

Provided by Tehnopark Celje

12:00 – Artificial Intelligence with Robots, 60 min

13:00 – Robot Programming, 60 min

14:00 – Artificial Intelligence with Robots, 60 min

SATURDAY, 19. 4., from 10 am to 5 pm, the demonstration will take place in Platform 2 (no registration required!)

STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARIBOR

The Farmbeast project is an interdisciplinary student project that combines knowledge from the fields of agriculture, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science. Its main goal is to prepare students for the future by engaging in the development of advanced technologies and to stimulate their interest in the challenges of modern, digitally supported agriculture.

Working in a group, students practically upgrade the theoretical knowledge they acquire during their studies and supplement it with concrete experience and skills from various professional fields. They then use this interdisciplinary knowledge to develop or improve a small autonomous agricultural robot. They verify and upgrade their work every year by participating in the international field robot competition - Field Robot Event, where they test their solutions in practice and compare them with teams from all over the world.

The Farmbeast project has been running under the auspices of the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the Faculty of Agriculture and Biosystems Sciences of the University of Maribor since 2009. The project's topics are successfully intertwined with numerous development and research initiatives, such as the ŠI.UM, ŠI.UM (NOO), PKP and ŠIPK projects, thus providing students with additional opportunities to deepen their knowledge and gain practical experience.

Last year and this year, the project continued as part of interfaculty cooperation with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Informatics and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, which further emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the work and enriches the development of the robotic system with expert knowledge from various technical fields.