Human-Robot Teaming, Artificial Intelligence, Perception, Art and Mathematics, Unsupervised Learning, Future of Robotics, Art and AI, Perception and Language, Creativity in AI

Exploring Human-Robot Teaming, Perception, and Artistic Innovation with Professor Marius Leordeanu

Dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Marius Leordeanu as he discusses the intersection of robotics, perception, art, and mathematics. Discover how AI is transforming our understanding of perception, elevating human creativity, and inspiring new ways to live and collaborate with machines.

Main Topics Covered:

• The essence of human-robot teaming: sharing space, forces, and decisions
• The deep connection between mathematics, poetry, art, and perception
• The role of perception at multiple levels: sensors, semantics, and consciousness
• Innovations in real-time art creation using AI and diffusion models
• The philosophical perspective: AI as an extension, not a replacement, of humanity
• How AI and robotics enhance creativity, exploration, and understanding of the world
• The importance of mathematics in technology and AI development
• The future of multimodal interfaces integrating sight, sound, touch, and potentially taste and smell
• Ethical considerations: security, trust, and the role of AI in society
• The concept of perception with intention and its significance in human-robot interaction

Timestamps:

• (00:00) - Introduction to Human-Robot Teaming: Collaboration in shared space and decision-making
• (02:00) - Professor Marius Leordeanu's background: Robotics, mathematics, and AI research
• (04:26) - From snake robots to search-and-rescue: Practical applications of robotics in extreme environments
• (06:10) - The intersection of mathematics, art, and perception: Deep analogies and metaphors
• (08:53) - Robots as extensions of human senses and capabilities: Transcendence through automation
• (12:24) - AI as a tool for increasing human consciousness and creativity
• (14:32) - The concept of teaming: robotics as a partnership, not a replacement
• (16:57) - The importance of perception at multiple levels for human-robot interaction
• (23:19) - The challenge of understanding metaphors: language, vision, and context in AI systems
• (25:43) - The connection between language and perception: building a unified understanding
• (31:16) - Limitations of humanoid robots and the importance of context and imitation in machine understanding
• (35:32) - The evolution of human-centered technology: smartphones and multimodal interfaces
• (38:29) - The role of mathematics and linear algebra in AI and perception
• (41:11) - Moving beyond pattern recognition: AI's potential to understand life, consciousness, and purpose
• (45:09) - Perception with intention: AI as a tool for serving human and societal goals
• (50:04) - Mathematics as the foundation of understanding our universe and AI's role in future innovations
• (54:45) - Art, AI, and the Smile Project: Creating interactive art responding to human emotions
• (69:40) - Artistic storytelling and virtual reality: Using AI for immersive narrative experiences
• (77:29) - Flying robots and extended perception: Exploring new frontiers in aerial AI systems
• (82:41) - Gratitude, inspiration, and calls to action for the future of AI and robotics

Resources & Links:

• Carnegie Mellon University
• Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE)
• Simeon Stoilov Institute of Mathematics

Connect with Professor Marius Leordeanu:

• LinkedIn

Join us for a visionary exploration into how AI is transforming perception, art, and human-robot collaboration, and what this means for our future society. Don't miss the final inspiring message from Professor Marius Leordeanu about elevating humanity through technology.

Human-Robot Teaming: Innovations in Exoskeletons and Haptic Interfaces with Professor Mihai Dragusanu

Explore how advanced robotics, soft actuators, and intuitive haptic interfaces are revolutionizing healthcare, rehabilitation, and industrial environments through collaborative human-robot teaming. In this episode, Professor Mihai Dragusanu shares insights into developing wearable exoskeletons, integrating AI for intention detection, and envisioning the future of multi-agent robotics.Key topics

• The evolution from rigid to soft exoskeletons and their benefits for usability and safety
• The role of AI and advanced sensors in understanding human intentions
• The importance of haptic feedback for trust and control in human-robot interaction
• Modular and customizable robotic systems for personalized rehabilitation
• Future perspectives on environment-aware exoskeletons communicating with other cobots and humans
• The societal impact of wearable robotics: from disability mitigation to superhuman capabilities
• Reusing design principles like AI integration across various robotic applications
• The vision of collaborative, community-based rehabilitation and industrial work environments
• Philosophical implications of technology extending human abilities beyond disabilities

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Professor Mihai Dragusanu and the theme of human-robot teaming

02:41 - Mihai’s research background in exoskeletons and soft robotics

04:37 - Achievements and recognition at ICRA for innovative exoskeleton research

07:01 - Core enabling technologies: sensors, actuators, and adaptive algorithms

09:02 - How personal disability experiences drive Mihai’s research focus

11:18 - Transition from rigid to soft exoskeletons and the development of twist string actuators

14:41 - Combining soft and rigid elements for powerful, lightweight exoskeletons

17:25 - Disabling vs. augmenting capabilities through wearable technology

19:17 - The significance of intuitive haptic interfaces for trust and control

20:09 - Personal experience with haptic feedback during robotic demonstrations

26:37 - Rehabilitation applications: modular, personalized, AI-driven exoskeletons

29:13 - Tele-rehabilitation and AI for intent recognition in therapy

31:20 - Wearable haptics and tactile feedback in healthcare and industrial tasks

33:04 - Future visions: environment-aware, multi-user, and community-based exoskeleton systems

35:44 - Shifting paradigms from one-to-one to many-to-many human-robot collaboration

40:20 - Envisioning a future where disabilities are integrated into the technological fabric of society

43:01 - Final reflections and upcoming collaborations, including conferences and esteemed colleaguesResources & Links

• Domenico Praticizzo - Collaborator

Connect with Mihai Dragusanu

• LinkedIn

This episode delves into cutting-edge research, philosophical reflections, and future visions that underscore the transformative potential of collaborative robotics rooted in soft, intuitive, and adaptive systems. Whether in healthcare or industry, the message is clear: technology today aims to extend human capabilities and foster inclusive, dynamic, and resilient team environments.

In this special episode recorded for the 40th ECMS International Conference on Modelling and Simulation (ECMS) in Grimstad, Norway, we bring together three perspectives on the future of simulation, AI, and human-centered robotics. From supply chain digital twins and agentic AI to wearable robotic devices and human-robot teaming in battery disassembly, this episode highlights how modeling and simulation are shaping practical innovation across research and industry.

Featured Talks

Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Dmitry Ivanov

• “Supply chain simulation, agentic AI and digital twins: from theory to use cases and implementation blueprints”

Prof. Monica Malvezzi

• “The Role Of Simulation In The Design Of Wearable Robotic Devices: A Human-Centered Perspective With Modular Gloves And Twisted String Actuators”

Prof. Filippo Sanfilippo and Cecilia Scoccia

• “Imitation Learning For Human–robot Teaming In Battery Disassembly: Enabling Technologies and a Collaborative Manipulation Pipeline”

What You’ll Learn

• How simulation supports resilient and intelligent supply chains
• Why digital twins and agentic AI are becoming central to implementation blueprints
• How human-centered design informs the next generation of wearable robotic devices
• How imitation learning can enable human-robot teaming in complex disassembly tasks
• The broader role of modeling and simulation in advancing Industry 4.0 and beyond

Conference Context

This episode is connected to the proceedings of the

40th ECMS International Conference on Modelling and Simulation, Grimstad, Norway, June 23rd to 26th, 2026.

Credits

ECMS