Frontiers of Optimization for Robotics

This workshop is organized in response to the great advances in optimization for robotics and by roboticists and the resulting need for an in-depth treatment of this topic. The workshop has three central motivations, which are outlined below. 

Exchange ideas across fields

Optimization is ubiquitous in robotics, and the tools developed in one application area can foster innovation in other areas. This workshop brings together people from different fields, creating an environment where they can learn from each other and find common ground in the optimization tools and theories developed across all fields of robotics.

Establish future directions for optimization

Optimization research is moving fast! Recent developments in the machine learning community have become competitive with classical model-based methods in robotics. At the same time, theoretical concepts from non-convex optimization and other advanced fields in mathematics have found applications in robotics in recent years. New methods seek to combine learning and model-based methods to capitalize on their combined strengths. This workshop aims to contextualize and summarize these advances and provide a platform for establishing consensus in terms of the future of optimization in robotics.

Foster a community around software and beyond
Through several invited talks by creators of widely used open-source software, and a targeted call for contributions highlighting reusable software, this workshop aims to create a platform to showcase and appreciate these important contributions to our community. Furthermore, to facilitate connections among researchers at all career stages, we are pioneering a mentorship program during the workshop's coffee breaks. You can find more information about it here. 

Organizers