What inspires robot design? For standardized tasks, conventional morphologies such as multi-degree-of-freedom robot arms or quadcopters have emerged as reliable, widely commercialized solutions. In parallel, bio-inspiration has led to humanoid and zoomorphic platforms that mimic the capabilities of living systems. Yet, between these two sources of inspiration lies an expansive and underexplored design space, filled with novel morphologies that do not fit neatly within either an industrial or biological analogy. These unconventional robots promise resilience in complex, unstructured environments and new opportunities across domains, ranging from exploratory systems for space and Earth sciences, to modular platforms for industry, to soft robots for medicine and human interaction.

Building on the success of our previous workshops at ICRA 2024 and ICRA 2025, the 3rd Unconventional Robots Workshop will provide a platform to ask: How can we create systematic approaches for designing, manufacturing, and modeling complex robotic systems? How can embodied intelligence be integrated into design and control? What strategies can advance unconventional systems from laboratories to real-world applications? And how might unconventional and traditional robots coexist in the future? The challenge is not only in conceiving these robots but also in developing the mechanisms, models, and control strategies that can transform them from “unconventional” curiosities into practical, deployable solutions.

To push these discussions further, this year’s workshop introduces a structured debate on control versus morphology, asking whether advances in algorithms or innovations in physical design contribute more towards robotic capability. By presenting multiple viewpoints, the debate will illuminate trade-offs, synergies, and open research questions surrounding control and morphology. The debate brings participants' expert perspectives that can help guide future research and inspire hybrid approaches to robot design. 

Submission Link: https://forms.gle/psUa7vAvT3WwzUtX7

Debate Session