We are pleased to announce that at the European Robotics Forum 2025 (ERF2025), PAL Robotics and PILLAR-Robots will co-organise the workshop Mobile Manipulation of Rigid and Deformable Objects: Community Challenges and Opportunities alongside leading experts from academia and industry. The event will take place in Stuttgart, Germany, from 25-27 March 2025.

What is ERF?

The European Robotics Forum (ERF) is one of Europe’s premier robotics and AI events, bringing together key stakeholders, including researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and end-users. It serves as a dynamic platform for fostering collaboration, sharing cutting-edge research, and discussing the future of robotics across various industries.

About the Workshop

When: Wednesday 26th March, 11:10 (GTM +1)

Where: Conference Room 22-24, Floor 1

Cutting-edge robotic systems designed to move around and manipulate objects—both rigid and deformable—are poised to reshape industries ranging from healthcare and agriculture to logistics and manufacturing. At this year’s European Robotics Forum (ERF 2025), the dedicated workshop on Mobile Manipulation(MoMa) will explore how these advancements are already making an impact and what lies ahead for researchers, industry experts, and society at large.

Mobile Manipulation combines the agility of mobile robots with sophisticated manipulation capabilities. This powerful combination opens up new possibilities for tasks requiring fine-grained handling, real-time adaptability, and safe human-robot collaboration. Recent breakthroughs in machine learning, perception, and grasping technology are driving notable progress, but real-world challenges, especially in dealing with unpredictable objects or environments, remain a major focus of ongoing research.

Key themes and questions

• Real-World Impact: How will MoMa technology transform everyday processes in healthcare, agriculture, and beyond?
• Recent Breakthroughs & Ongoing Challenges: From perceiving and manipulating unknown or deformable objects to ensuring reliability outside controlled lab environments.
• Collaboration & Growth: How can researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders across different sectors get involved or benefit from mobile manipulation advancements?

Workshop highlights

• Welcome & Introduction
  An overview of what Mobile Manipulation entails, its relevance across various sectors, and the major technical and societal challenges it addresses.
  • Marco Rosa (PAL Robotics)
• Project Presentations
  A rapid-fire introduction to Horizon Europe “sister projects” leading the field with Richard Duro(PILLAR-Robots), Nicolas Mansard (AGIMUS), Gianluca Palli (IntelliMan), Lorenzo Natale (CONVINCE), Francesco Grella (SestoSenso), Ganix Lasa (Inverse) and Florian Pokorny (SoftEnable) speaking. Attendees will learn about new approaches to handling diverse objects, advances in human-robot interaction, and adaptations for dynamic environments.
• Interactive Q&A and Panel Session
  A lively discussion addressing the gap between expectations and realities in mobile manipulation, market trends, and future opportunities. Participants will be encouraged to join the conversation with their own insights and questions the speakers attending:
  • Francesco Ferro (PAL Robotics)
  • Enrico Mingo (euROBIN)
  • Stephane Doncieux (PILLAR-Robots)
  • Maximo Roa (DLR)
  • Radhika Gudipati (ARIA)
• And the following moderators:
  • Marco Rosa (PAL Robotics)
  • Ashok Meenakshi Sundaram (DLR)
  • Florian Pokorny (KTH)

Why attend?

• Up-to-Date Insights: Learn about the latest tech, research, and use-case demonstrations in MoMa.
• Networking & Collaboration: Identify potential partnerships or shared research interests across academia, industry, and government.
• Strategic Outlook: Understand market needs and emerging opportunities to help shape your next project or venture.

Join us at ERF2025 for this in-depth look at the future of mobile manipulation. Whether you’re an industry professional scouting new tech, a researcher diving into the latest robotics trends, or simply curious about the next big developments in automation, this workshop will offer a comprehensive perspective on the state of MoMa—and what’s coming next.