Robot algorithms are a fundamental component of robotic systems. These algorithms process inputs from sensors that provide noisy and partial data, build geometric and physical models of the world, plan high-and low-level actions at different time horizons, and execute these actions on actuators with limited precision. The design and analysis of robot algorithms raise a unique combination of questions from many fields, including control theory, computational geometry and topology, geometrical and physical modeling, reasoning under uncertainty, probabilistic algorithms, game theory, and theoretical computer science.

The International Workshop on the Algorithmic Foundations of Robotics (WAFR) is a single-track workshop devoted to recent advances on algorithmic problems in robotics. The workshop proceedings will be published in a hardcover volume in the Springer STAR series, and selected papers will be invited for publication in a special issue of the International Journal of Robotics Research.

Topics

The focus of WAFR is on the design and analysis of robot algorithms from both theoretical and practical angles. The topics of interest are very broad. We encourage papers on fundamental algorithmic issues, such as complexity, completeness, machine learning, probabilistic reasoning, and new programming paradigms, to name a few. We also encourage papers on applications of robot algorithms to important or new domains, such as manufacturing, legged locomotion, distributed robotics, human-robot interaction, surgical robots, intelligent prosthetics, and brain-controlled robots. Furthermore, robot algorithms are being applied in domains beyond the traditional scope of robotics, e.g., computational biology, computer animation, sensor networks, etc. Papers on these topics are also welcomed.
Format

WAFR 2014 will place strong emphasis on interactions and discussions among participants. Each presentation will be followed by ample time for discussions. There will also be time dedicated for discussions at the end of sessions. To facilitate discussions, all papers will be made available on-line prior to the workshop. The goal will be to encourage interesting and constructive discussions throughout the workshop.

The accepted papers will be published in a Springer book after the meeting.
Important Dates

Paper submission deadline: March 10, 2014
Notification of acceptance: May 12, 2014
Workshop : August 3-5, 2014
Final Manuscript: September 1, 2014

Organizing Committee

H. Levent Akın H. Levent Akın, Boğaziçi University, Turkey
Nancy Amato Nancy Amato, Texas A&M University, USA
Volkan İşler Volkan İşler, University of Minnesota, USA
Frank van der Stappen Frank van der Stappen, Utrect University, The Netherlands