Banquet

Brigit Thomas is a third-year B.Tech Computer Science Engineering student at Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, with a deep passion for robotics, artificial intelligence and assistive technology. Her work focuses on creating inclusive solutions that promote dignity, independence, and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Brigit has held multiple leadership roles within IEEE, including serving as the Electronics and Communications Coordinator for the IEEE Computer Society Kerala Chapter and Secretary of the IEEE Sahrdaya Student Branch. She has also contributed as a designer and organiser across various IEEE initiatives. She is currently involved with KDISC-STRIDE (Social Technology & Research for Inclusive Design Excellence), contributing to the development of assistive technologies for persons with disabilities. Through her advanced research-driven innovations she aims to bridge technology, social impact and empathy, building innovations that make everyday life more accessible and human-centered.

I am a Mechatronics Engineering student from El Salvador focused on robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable innovation. I'm the leader and founder of Agrismart, a project that applies intelligent systems to improve agricultural efficiency.

My work focuses on applying engineering to real-world challenges, particularly in developing regions, combining innovation with social impact. I am also actively involved in leadership and advocacy initiatives, promoting women’s participation in STEM through my role in Girl Up Robocore.

I have completed multiple certifications in robotics, cybersecurity, programming, and software development, and I continue to expand my knowledge in intelligent systems and Industry 4.0 technologies.

I am passionate about contributing to the future of robotics and using technology to create sustainable and inclusive solutions.

I am Camila Wara Zubieta Condori, a Biomedical Engineering student from La Paz, Bolivia. What truly defines me is my passion for building, creating, and growing ideas that help others. My experience with right unilateral microtia has taught me how important it is to develop accessible and inclusive technologies, and it sparked in me a strong desire to contribute to solutions that genuinely improve people’s quality of life.

That’s why I chose biomedical engineering and robotics: because I believe technology can make the world kinder and more equitable. I love building prototypes, experimenting with sensors and control systems, and actively participating in different groups and projects, where I organize workshops and support other students on their path in technology.

My greatest motivation is to keep growing so I can develop technologies that have a positive impact on health and everyday life for people in Bolivia and Latin America.

Aniela Ubillus is a Mechatronics Engineering student at PUCP and a lead member of the Intelligent Robotics Club. She focuses on autonomous navigation, computer vision, and IoT, with a track record of developing social robotics, from the FABRICUM barista robot to her intelligent mosquito trap, Chuspi (2024 Makerthon Finalist). Currently, Aniela is an intern at the Technological Research Group, where she is designing a self-balancing two-wheeled robot for mine inspections.

Lucero is a Computer Engineering student at the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC). She has a strong interest in data analysis, robotics, and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Through her participation in academic research initiatives, she has developed analytical thinking and a deep motivation for scientific development. Her goal is to become a researcher and contribute to creating technological solutions with social impact.

Obed Honour Eje is a fourth year Mechatronics Engineering student at the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria, with research experience spanning intelligent robotics, embedded systems, probabilistic state estimation, and learning-based perception. His work in robotics has progressively engaged with the core computational challenges of autonomous systems: designing sensor fusion pipelines integrating LiDAR, IMU, and wheel odometry via Extended Kalman Filtering; building SLAM-based mapping and probabilistic localization systems; and training and deploying lightweight object detection models within ROS 2 control architectures. Across these efforts, a recurring theme has emerged around the fragility of perception under real-world distributional shift, and what it means to build systems that remain reliable beyond controlled evaluation conditions.

This concern now drives his broader interest in intelligent autonomous systems and human-robot interaction, particularly in how robots can reason formally about uncertainty and operate safely in human-centered, unstructured environments. He is committed to bridging the gap between implementation-driven robotics and the theoretical foundations in formal methods and probabilistic inference that principled deployment demands. Beyond research, he serves as the technical lead of Nigeria's first MATLAB student community, mentoring over 750 students across the country, and intends to pursue a PhD in intelligent robotics.

My name is Paula Andrea Bautista Castillo. I am a 19-year-old Electronic Engineering student, currently in my seventh semester at Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas in Bogotá. I am a member of IEEE and the Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), and I am really passionate about robotics, 3D printing, flexible materials, and biotechnology. Right now, I am getting hands-on experience through university projects. I'm working alongside my peers on emergency response drones, a submarine for marine analysis, and a robotic hand with electrodes.

Details Forthcoming.

Victor Opeyemi Omoniyi is a senior Mechatronics Engineering student at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria, working at the intersection of embedded systems, robotics, IoT, and renewable energy infrastructure. His engineering practice spans embedded C/C++ on ARM and AVR microcontrollers, circuit simulation and PCB design in Proteus and KiCad, MATLAB and Simulink for system modelling, simulation, and control, robotics development covering motor control, sensor integration, and autonomous navigation, and JavaScript and React for cloud-connected dashboards and real-time control. A recurring thread across his work is designing context-aware, sensor-driven systems that remain reliable under the power instability, connectivity gaps, and resource constraints typical of emerging-market deployment.

His current focus areas include hybrid energy management, solar-powered learning infrastructure for low-resource communities, and energy-harvesting platforms for autonomous and embedded systems. He is a 2025 World Technology Partners Honouree and serves as a WTP Partner for 2026, an MTN Foundation Scholar, and a recipient of multiple international grants for his contributions to engineering innovation. He also serves on the executive of the IEEE FUTMinna Student Branch, leading technical workshops and community-focused initiatives.

A strong advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those advancing affordable clean energy, quality education, and sustainable communities, Victor's long-term interest lies in renewable energy systems, intelligent embedded control, and resilient robotic and IoT infrastructure tailored for Africa and other emerging regions — driven by a broader commitment to building technologies that secure a more comfortable, dignified life for people everywhere on the planet.

Fathia Opeyemi Badmus is an undergraduate student of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria, where she combines agriculture, data science, and robotics to tackle food security challenges. Her main technical project is KANJIFLY, an AI‑powered drone intelligence system for precision farming that uses low‑cost UAVs and machine‑learning models to monitor crop health, optimize irrigation, and support smallholder farmers with data‑driven decisions.

She has been selected for programs such as the SDG Summer School (where her team’s KWIKSERVE AI project won the hackathon) and has completed DataCamp and FAO trainings in data science, machine learning, agricultural risk management, and science‑driven innovation. Fathia is a first‑generation university student from a low‑income background and actively mentors younger women in AgriTech and AI through campus communities, IEEE events, and online storytelling. Her long‑term goal is to build an Agricultural Data Hub that bridges robotics, AI, and extension services to make African farmers more resilient and economically empowered.

I am Ana Lucía Huallanca, a dedicated Biology undergraduate student at  Universidad Cayetano Heredia in Peru. My passion lies at the fascinating intersection of biological systems and advanced robotics. Receiving the ICRA 2026 IDEA Grant is an immense honor that validates my dedication to exploring bio-inspired automation. I am eager to learn from global experts in Vienna about soft robotics and AI, bringing that knowledge back to inspire the next generation of Peruvian scientists in STEM. This is an incredible opportunity to bridge two worlds!