Questions to be answered

How can drones and robotics support an aging society and its infrastructure needs?

• The workshop will discuss how drones and robotics can assist in maintaining and upgrading infrastructure to meet the needs of an aging population, ensuring safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

How can drones and robotics revolutionize infrastructure inspection and maintenance?

• Attendees will learn about the latest advancements in drone and robotic technologies and how they can be applied to improve efficiency and accuracy in infrastructure projects.

What role does AI play in enhancing the capabilities of drones and robotics?

• The workshop will explore how AI integration can optimize the performance of drones and robotics, leading to smarter and more autonomous systems.

What are the practical applications and real-world case studies of these technologies?

• Participants will gain insights from real-world examples and case studies, demonstrating the successful implementation of these technologies in various infrastructure projects.

How can these technologies reduce costs and increase safety in infrastructure maintenance?

• The session will highlight the cost-saving benefits and safety improvements that drones, robotics, and AI can bring to infrastructure maintenance.

What are the future trends and innovations in this field?

• Attendees will get a glimpse into the future, learning about emerging trends and innovations that will shape the next generation of infrastructure inspection and maintenance.

Description

Drones and robotics are revolutionizing the inspection and maintenance of hard-to-reach infrastructures like powerlines, wind turbines, and bridges. Despite their growing use, both research and commercial platforms still need essential features for fully autonomous inspections, often requiring significant human intervention.

In this workshop, we’ll explore how these technologies can support aging societies by ensuring that infrastructure remains safe, accessible, and sustainable. As populations age, maintaining and upgrading infrastructure becomes even more crucial, and drones and robotics can play a vital role in meeting these challenges.

We’ll shine a light on the latest research and innovations in autonomous and intelligent drones and robotics for infrastructure inspection and interaction. You’ll discover the newest breakthroughs and impressive strides made in developing these technologies.

Participants will dive into cutting-edge technologies, methodologies, and best practices that push the limits of what drones and robotics can achieve in inspecting and maintaining critical infrastructures. This workshop is a fantastic opportunity for experts, researchers, and practitioners to share experiences and learn from each other.

Key topics will include autonomy, edge computing, energy harvesting, sensor integration, control, and AI in drones and robotics.

By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, this workshop aims to accelerate progress in autonomous drone and robotic-based inspections and drive the evolution of these essential technologies

Organisation of the WS

Proposed agenda (80 minutes)

Introduction and Overview (5 minutes)

• Welcome and introduction to the workshop objectives.
• Brief overview of the agenda and key topics to be covered.

Keynote Presentations (60 minutes)

• 4 expert speakers (from industry and academia) will present the latest research and innovations in drones, robotics, and AI for infrastructure inspection and maintenance.
• Focus on real-world applications and case studies, including support for aging societies.

Panel Discussion, Q&A and Closing Remarks (15 minutes)

• A panel of experts will discuss the challenges and future trends in the field.
• Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions.
• Summary of key takeaways from the workshop, and opportunities for further networking and collaboration

Intended outcome

We developed a practical solution for autonomous drone inspections at ERF2025.

We collaborated on innovative robotic applications for aging infrastructure at ERF2025.

Speakers, Panelists, etc

1. Aksel Andreas Transeth, SINTEF
2. Richard Moore, SINTEF
3. Etienne Dupont, Skydio
4. Jake Lahmann, Valmont
5. Stjepan Bogdan, University of Zagreb
6. Nicolaj Malle, SDU
7. James Riordan, University West Scotland
8. Gerard Dooly, University of Limerick
9. Marco Tognon, Inria
10. Matteo Fumagalli, DTU
11. Anibal Ollero, University of Sevilla
12. Antonio Alonso, ACCIONA
13. Frazer Robertson, CHEVRON
14. Carlos Matilla, FUVEX
15. Mathieu Claybrough, Donecle

Topic Groups and/or Innovation networks involved

euRobotics and ADRA

Projects involved

EU projects: Drones4Safety, RAPID, SPADE, SIMAR, BEEYONDERS, NATURE-DEMO

Further information

Organisers

• Emad Ebeid (University of Southern Denmark), esme@sdu.dk
• Francisco J. Perez-Grau (CATEC) fjperez@catec.aero