Some of the brightest minds in the field of robotics and automation from India and all over the world assembled at Amrita University’s Amritapuri campus at Kollam, Kerala for a three-day conference titled RAHA 2016. Hosted from December 18 to 20, RAHA 2016 is the world’s first-ever event focusing on the use of robotics and automation for humanitarian applications. With more than 385 participants and 18 speakers from 12 countries, comprising a unique mix of field workers, humanitarian teams, and robotics experts, the event paved the way for a blueprint in the applications of robotics and automation to bring about true societal changes.
Prominent dignitaries such as Suresh Chandra, union law secretary, Government of India, and M. Sivasankar, secretary, Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Govt. of Kerala, graced the inaugural function of RAHA 2016, along with Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, president of Amrita University, Dr. P Venkat Rangan, vice chancellor, Amrita University, and others.
On the occasion, Sivasankar said, “Robotics, automatic and intelligent computing are the next wave of technology that is going to hit us soon and transform our lives, much like mobile phones. This industry is going to have a serious impact on the entire society in a beneficial way. RAHA 2016 is a great initiative by Amrita University to showcase the advancements in robotics and how this technology can help in humanitarian work such as health and disaster management. Kerala is largely a knowledge-driven economy. We now need to give a serious thought about how to blend robotics and automation with it to empower the society further.”
Delivering the inaugural speech, Bhavani R Rao, director of AMMACHI Labs, highlighted the vast areas in which robotics and automation are making progress today and the immense potential of robotics for humanitarian applications, citing examples of recently developed assistive technologies in the global scenario, and humanitarian-driven robotics initiatives at Amrita University. In her welcome address, Professor Rao R. Bhavani, conference co-chair, stressed on the “humanitarian” aspect of RAHA 2016. “Humanitarian usually refers to efforts towards promoting human welfare. This often includes technologies that increase human efficiency, those which make life easier and safer or even just more comfortable for humans. However, we would like to expand this definition to include efforts towards the collective good of all humanity, in harmony and sustainable coexistence with other life forms and the environment. Over the next three days, we have the opportunity - the responsibility - to learn from each other, on how to successfully wield these technologies with empathy to serve a higher purpose, to determine potential areas of application that would help mankind towards a sustainable existence."
Added Ronald Arkin, Regents’ professor and associate dean for Research in the College of Computing at Georgia Tech, US, “RAHA 2016 is one of the first full conferences in the world devoted to robotics and humanitarian applications. It is vitally important that we not only as a robotics community but as world citizens discuss how robotics and automation can help solve many of humanity’s problems.” RAHA 2016 saw 5 plenary and 13 keynote lectures by international speakers, complemented by multiple tutorials and workshops, poster sessions, and student competitions. With the future in mind, the conference took a special initiative to start a task force consisting of top researchers and experts in the field of robotics and automation. This expert body gathered to define an important research agenda towards policy and practice. The conference served as a bridge between researchers in the robotics field, social workers, and development agencies, giving way to a constructive dialogue and feasible solutions to society’s challenges through the use of robotics and automation technologies.
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