Robotic Systems Designed for Underrepresented Communities

Keynote #1

"From Ground Up: Teaching Core Robotics Concepts Through the Biped Bootcamp"

Wami Ogunbi (she/her)

Talk Description

Teaching robotics requires a delicate balance of software, hardware, and theory. This talk explores a foundational curriculum built around the core triad of robotics: Sensing, Reasoning, and Acting, with a specialized focus on the control mechanics of the "Acting" phase. We will explore how the “Biped Bootcamp” document is being transformed into an open-source teaching platform. Join us to discover how grounding students in the complexities of bipedal locomotion can demystify core robotics concepts and create a more accessible entry point for the next generation of engineers. 

Speaker Bio

Oluwami (Wami) Dosunmu-Ogunbi (or, Wami) is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Ohio Northern University. She is the first Black woman to receive a PhD in Robotics at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on controls with applications in bipedal locomotion and engineering education. During her Ph.D., she developed the Biped Bootcamp technical document, which she is transforming into a two-tier undergraduate curriculum—introducing first- and second-year students to bipedal robotics while providing advanced coursework for juniors and seniors. She is also developing a hardware teaching platform to complement these courses, bridging the gap between theoretical learning and hands-on experience. 

Spotlight on the State of Robotics in Africa (SORA) Report

Paul Amayo

Speaker Bio

Paul Amayo is a Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator in the African Robotics Unit at the University of Cape Town. He has broad experience in both hardware and software development over various sectors (from self-driving cars in the UK to paratransit in Kenya) with a primary focus on robotics. He has Dphil in Engineering Science from the Oxford Robotics Institute, University of Oxford. Paul strongly believes that technology holds the key to solving some of the world's and in particular Africa's most pressing problems. His interests are therefore not only in advancement of technology through research but also in its subsequent education that ensures that this technology is adopted into communities where it would do the most good. Paul is a visiting faculty researcher at google research Africa.

Keynote #2

"Brain Circulation: The Diaspora's Role in African Robotics"

Amir Patel

Talk Description

While the global artificial intelligence community has made significant strides in democratising access to software, physical robotics remains heavily constrained by financial and infrastructural inequities. In Africa, these barriers are compounded by historical resource limitations and a persistent "brain drain" of engineering talent. However, when research output is normalised by GDP, a remarkably different narrative emerges. African institutions consistently punch above their weight, leveraging unique geographical and environmental constraints to drive world-class innovation. This talk will explore these successes, highlighting how local researchers are tackling critical global challenges, from cheetah biomechanics to Antarctic monitoring, using advanced control engineering and locally adapted hardware.

Crucially, this keynote will challenge the global robotics community to rethink how it engages with underrepresented regions. To prevent the continent from being treated as a mere "data mine" for the Global North, we must actively transition from a brain drain model to "brain circulation." By redefining the role of the African diaspora, we can establish tangible bridges for knowledge transfer, remote hardware access, and equitable co-supervision. The presentation will outline mechanisms to end "helicopter research" and propose actionable policies for collaborative funding. By mandating capacity-building and infrastructural legacies in international grants, we can ensure African institutions are equal partners in downstream design, ultimately paving the way for major robotics conferences to reach African shores.

Speaker Bio

Amir Patel is a robotics researcher with over 16 years of experience in both industry and academia. He is currently an Associate Professor in Robotics & AI the Department of Computer Science at University College London (UCL). Prior to this, he was in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT), as well as the director of the African Robotics Unit (ARU) where he currently holds an adjunct professor role. His research involves studying the manoeuvrability of robotic and biological systems such as the cheetah. He has held visiting positions at Carnegie Mellon University (2018) and Johns Hopkins University (2018) as well as University of Oxford (2023). Some of his accolades include a Google Research Scholar (one of the first two African recipients), two Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Fellowships, a MathWorks Research Award (the first ever African recipient) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) Emerging Researcher Award.