————————— Deadline approaching for the Invited Session at ICUAS2024  ——————

We would like to remind you that the submission deadline for the Invited Session Proposal titled “Aerial Robotics in Inspection and Maintenance Operations – From Design to Deployment,” to be presented at ICUAS24 in Chania, Crete, is drawing near and is set for January 19th, 2024.

https://sites.google.com/view/icuas-2024-special-session/home

Important Dates
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Interested authors looking to submit a paper for the upcoming conference and session should prepare a document containing:
– List of authors, proposed paper title, and a brief abstract, and send it by January 19th, 2024, through the email address icuas24session@googlegroups.com.
Authors will be notified about the decision and provided with further submission instructions by January 31st, 2024.

Abstract and Scope
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Aerial robots are becoming increasingly vital in inspection and maintenance operations, demonstrating advanced maneuverability for complex airborne tasks. These include visually examining electrical power line components, searching for cracks in pipelines at oil and gas facilities, and inspecting leading-edge erosion in wind turbine maintenance operations. Aerial robot technologies are revolutionizing high-altitude inspections and maintenance by utilizing onboard AI systems for detailed visual analysis and defect identification. They play a crucial role in high-risk environments, monitoring personnel safety with advanced sensors and enabling safe contactless interactions between humans and drones. Additionally, these robots are capable of performing direct physical tasks, such as delivering tools and conducting automated replacement operations. Despite their numerous advantages, they encounter challenges in development and control, necessitating precise navigation and operation within tight, unstructured spaces. A key focus is on ensuring safety, reliability, and autonomy, with designs that enable independent control of position and orientation in hard-to-access areas.

This special session is dedicated to highlighting state-of-the-art research in the field of aerial robotics, particularly as it pertains to inspection and maintenance operations. We are seeking contributions that explore a wide range of topics within this domain. Key areas of interest include innovative design, advanced control systems, autonomous navigation, direct physical interaction, safety monitoring in high-risk environments, and human-robot interaction, among others.

Topics
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The primary list of topics of interest includes, but is not limited to:

* Innovative Design and Engineering of Aerial Robots
* Advanced Dynamics and Control Systems
* Autonomous Navigation and Path Planning
* AI and Machine Learning in Aerial Robotics
* Sensor Fusion and Data Processing
* Human-Robot Interaction and Collaboration
* Physical Interaction and Aerial Manipulation
* Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

General Information
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Authors should follow the submission guidelines for regular papers at the 2024 Internal Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS2024). The deadline for paper submission is the same as for regular papers. Papers submitted to special sessions will undergo the same review process as the regular papers and will appear in the main conference proceedings. At least 4 papers are expected for the Special Session. In the case fewer papers are received for a Special Session, they will be moved to the main track and the Special Session will be canceled. If the amount of accepted papers is more than 8, multiple session slots will be organized.

Papers must be submitted electronically for peer review through PaperCept by February 4, 2024: https://ras.papercept.net/conferences/scripts/start.pl.
Please note that the deadline for submitting a contribution may be subject to extension. Since this website is not directly linked with the portal, always refer to the dates listed on PaperCept or the conference website at https://uasconferences.com/2024_icuas/ for the most accurate and current information.
In PaperCept, click on the ICUAS 2024 link “Submit a Contribution to ICUAS 2024”, then under “Type of Submission” choose “Special Session paper”. Finally, enter the code provided by the organizers in the “Code” field. All papers must be written in English and should describe original work. For the initial submission, a manuscript can be 6-8 pages including references. For the final submission, a manuscript should be of 6 pages, With 2 additional pages allowed with an extra charge (TBA). All papers are reviewed using a single-blind review process.

About the Conference
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The 2024 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, ICUAS ’24, will take place on June 4-7. It is organized for the first time in the historical Center of Mediterranean Architecture (KAM), which is hosted in the Great Shipyard (Megalo Arsenali) of Chania.
The conference is under the auspices of the Technical University of Crete (TUC), and it is technically co-sponsored by, the IEEE Control Systems Society, the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society, and the Mediterranean Control Association. The conference is financially supported and sponsored by the ICUAS Association, Inc., a non-profit organization.

ICUAS ’24 offers unique opportunities to meet, interact and shape the future of unmanned aviation, worldwide, bringing together the technical, regulatory, and legal communities.

Organizing Committee
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* Chiara Gabellieri, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, https://www.ram.eemcs.utwente.nl/about-us/staff/chiara-gabellieri.
* Giuseppe Silano, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, https://giuseppesilano.net
* Mario Selvaggio, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy, http://wpage.unina.it/mario.selvaggio/.