MOTIVATION AND RATIONALE

This interdisciplinary workshop explores the next generation of humanoid robots by bringing together advances in artificial intelligence, human–robot interaction (HRI), human evolution, and biomechanics.

In recent years, humanoid robots have achieved remarkable progress in dynamic motion and control. However, major challenges remain, including the gap between simulation and real-world performance, limited adaptability, and insufficient integration of human-centered interaction.

This workshop aims to address these challenges by fostering collaboration across disciplines and rethinking humanoid design through:

AI-based robotics co-design and multi-modal motion generation
Paleontological Evolution-Inspired Humanoid Design and Motion
Biomechanics for Adaptive Humanoid Morphology and Motion
Human-Robot Interaction for Powerful Humanoid

Our goal is to pave the way for humanoid robots that are adaptive, reliable, and truly useful in real-world environments.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. med. Hendrik Pott, is an orthopaedic surgeon and researcher specializing in hip and knee arthroplasty at Pius-Hospital, Carl-von-Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany. His work focuses on digital technologies that support both joint-preserving as well as joint-replacing surgeries of the lower limb. Main areas of research include robotic-assisted arthroplasty, 3D-printing and virtual reality in the operating theatre, as well as interdisciplinary projects on the ontogenetic and phylogenetic development of lower-limb alignment.

Keynote title:
Lower-limb alignment: Perspectives on the evolution of bipedal locomotion, modern arthroplasty andm biomechanical implications for implant and robotic design.

SCOPE AND TOPICS

The objective of this interdisciplinary workshop is to enable the exchange of ideas between research fields that are unaware of the other’s work. Bringing together these targeted research areas will foster the flourishing of AI-based humanoid robotics, HRI, human evolution (paleoanthropology), and biomechanics. Ultimately, the findings might pave the way for the next generation of humanoid robots, capable of being truly useful to society, while being safe and reliable by design. We invite contributions that include, but are not limited to, theoretical, computational, empirical, and embodied robotic contributions to the following topics:

Humanoid Design and Co-Design

Integrated robot design and simulation
Co-design based on optimization methods.
RL-driven humanoid co-design.
Robot’s structural co-design.

Humanoid Motion and Behaviors

Multi-modal generative models (VLA, VA, LA).
mitation Learning for Humanoid robots (locomotion, whole-body,…).
Reinforcement Learning for locomotion, manipulation, loco-manipulation and contact-rich behaviors.
Online stabilization in unstructured environments.

Human–Robot Interaction

Embodied HRI.
Robot nonverbal communication: gaze, posture, timing, coordination, full-body kinematics.
Trust by design, shared intent, and interaction safety.
Human-aware control for joint action.
Real-world human–humanoid cooperation.

Human-evolution Paleoanthropology and Paleoenvironment-Informed Design

Functional morphology of early hominins and implications for humanoid morphology.
Paleoenvironmental modeling (habitat structure, substrate variability, thermoregulatory constraints).
Evolutionary trade-offs and locomotor versatility as templates for adaptive robotic design.

Biomechanics for Robot Morphology and Control

Musculoskeletal models capturing joint dependencies, coupling, and deformable contact.
Multi-objective optimization: efficiency, stability, and agility.
Biomechanical criteria for robot modeling.
Biomechanical strategies for robot design and control approaches.

Applications, Benchmarks, and Demonstrations

Humanoid robots for rescue, disaster response, exploration, and high-risk human environments.
Evaluation of whole-body behaviors, interaction quality, and trustworthiness.
Open-source datasets, simulation environments, and reproducible pipelines.

Format

The workshop is a one-day event designed to maximize interaction and collaboration across disciplines.

It includes:

Keynote talk
Oral presentations
Poster sessions
Panel discussions
Networking opportunities
Guided visit of the DFKI Robotics Innovation Center

Important Dates

Submission Deadline: June 1
Notification of Acceptance: June 15
Workshop Dates: Between August 15–17 (final date to be confirmed)

Submission

Submission Types: extended abstracts, 2 pages maximum.

Submissions should be made via the following Google Form:

https://forms.gle/sN784Fy3XKf9n2UC6

Review Criteria

Novelty and technical depth;
Relevance to humanoid design, control, biomechanics, HRI, or human evolution;
Motivation across at least two core domains;
Clarity and rigor of methodology;

Workshop Schedule

Duration: 1 Day

Morning Session

09:00 – 09:05 – Opening Session
Introduction to the workshop, its motivation, and interdisciplinary vision.
09:05 – 09:25 – Invited Talk
Keynote presentation by Dr. med. Hendrik Pott, Pius-Hospital Oldenburg, Germany.
09:25 – 09:35 – Q&A Session
Discussion with the invited speaker.
09:35 – 10:35 – Contributed Paper Session
Oral presentations selected from submissions.
10:35 – 11:20 – Poster Session
Interactive poster presentations, demos, datasets, and tools.
11:20 – 12:05 – Panel Discussion
Discussion with organizers and invited speaker on integrating AI, HRI, human evolution, and biomechanics.
12:05 – 14:00 – Lunch Break & Networking

Afternoon Session

14:00 – 15:30 – Guided Visit – DFKI Robotics Innovation Center
Tour of the RIC facilities featuring terrestrial, space, underwater, and humanoid robotic platforms.
15:30 – 16:15 – Collaborative Discussion & Coffee Break
Informal discussions to foster interaction and future collaborations.
16:15 – 16:30 – Closing Session
Summary of key insights, future research directions, and collaboration opportunities.