WAFR 2024: Call for Papers

The 16th International Workshop on the Algorithmic Foundations of Robotics (WAFR) will be held in Chicago, USA, from October 7-9, 2024.

WAFR is a biannual, multi-disciplinary, single-track meeting for international researchers presenting the latest advances on algorithmic problems in robotics. Established in 1994, WAFR has become a premier venue for presenting algorithmic work related to robotics, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024.

Focus

The workshop emphasizes the design and analysis of robot algorithms from both theoretical and practical perspectives. These algorithms handle inputs from noisy sensors, build geometric and physical models, plan actions, and execute them with actuators. WAFR addresses questions from various fields including control theory, computational geometry, and computer science.

Topics of Interest

• Core Robotics Algorithms:
  • Algorithmic approaches to human-robot interaction
  • Computational geometry and topology
  • Control theory and optimization
  • Distributed and parallel methods
  • Decision theory and game theory
  • Geometrical and physical modeling
  • Machine learning (supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement, representation, imitation)
  • Planning and reasoning under uncertainty
  • Probabilistic and sampling-based algorithms
  • Sensing and perception
  • Task and motion planning
  • Theoretical computer science
• Applications of Robot Algorithms:
  • Assistive and service robotics
  • Brain-controlled robots
  • Computational biology
  • Computer animation, graphics, VR/AR
  • Legged locomotion
  • Manufacturing and automation
  • Multi-agent systems
  • Sensor networks and IoT devices
  • Surgical robots, intelligent prosthetics, rehabilitation robots
  • Transportation networks and systems

Important Dates

• Paper submission deadline: June 13, 2024
• Acceptance notification: August 17, 2024
• Final manuscript for website: September 16, 2024
• Early Registration: September 23, 2024
• Travel Grants Applications (preference): September 23, 2024
• WAFR 2024 Conference: October 7-9, 2024
• Camera-ready manuscript for SPAR book: December 9, 2024

Submission Guidelines

• Information on manuscript preparation and the submission process is available at Information for Authors.
• AI Tools Policy for Authors: Generative AI tools may not be listed as authors. The use of AI-generated content (text, figures, images, code) must be disclosed in the acknowledgments section, identifying the AI system used and how it was employed. AI for editing and grammar enhancement is common practice and disclosure is recommended.
• AI Tools Policy for Reviewers: Information or content contained in or about a manuscript under review shall not be processed through an AI system, as this is considered a breach of confidentiality.
• Accepted file formats for submission are .pdf or .doc.

Publication

The workshop proceedings will be published in the Springer Proceedings in Advanced Robotics (SPAR) series. Selected papers will be invited for publication in special issues of relevant journals.

Committee

• Co-Chairs: Nancy Amato, Katie Driggs-Campbell, Chinwe Ekenna, Marco Morales, Jason O'Kane

Contact

• Email: wafr2024@gmail.com

Sponsors

• UIUC Center for Autonomy
• Siebel School of Computing and Data Science
• Parasol Lab