Human-Robot Teaming cover art

Human-Robot Teaming

Human-Robot Teaming

By: Universitetet i Agder
Listen for free

About this listen

 Robots are no longer confined to factories or research labs. They are in our hospitals, our industries, our public spaces, and increasingly, in our homes. Among Us: Human-Robot Teaming is a podcast exploring what happens when humans and intelligent machines work together. Hosted by Professor Filippo Sanfilippo, this series brings together leading international researchers, engineers, innovators, and thinkers to discuss the technical, cognitive, ethical, and societal dimensions for different levels of human-robot collaboration. Each episode dives into the challenges and opportunities of designing robotic systems that are not just autonomous but collaborative. This is not about science fiction. It is about trust, shared control, responsibility, and the future of teamwork. Through thoughtful, coffee-style conversations, the podcast highlights cutting-edge research while making complex ideas accessible to students, academics, industry professionals, and anyone curious about how intelligent systems are reshaping our world. Because robots are no longer tools at the margins. They are among us.Copyright 2026 Universitetet i Agder Science
Episodes
  • How Passion Will Inspire Advances in Human-Robot Teaming

    How Passion Will Inspire Advances in Human-Robot Teaming
    Apr 8 2026
    Join us in this inspiring episode featuring Professor Bruno Siciliano, a pioneer in robotics and a highly esteemed IEEE Fellow. We explore his incredible journey, the role of passion in research, and the future of human-robot collaboration. Discover how soccer, culture, and scientific innovation intertwine to shape the next era of robotics.Main Topics Discussed:The influence of passion, especially football and culture, on robotics innovationThe concept of human-robot teaming and shared autonomyBarriers, standards, and the global landscape of robotics developmentThe ethical and societal implications of technological progressInspirational advice for future generations of researchersIn this episode:Professor Siciliano recounts his lifelong passion for Napoli football and its influence on his creativityInsight into the potential of collaborative autonomy and the balance between control and complianceExamples of unexpected applications of robotics, from fashion industry to surgical toolsThe importance of cultural, societal, and international perspectives in shaping robotics standardsPersonal stories of mentorship, international cooperation, and the responsibility of future innovatorsThe vision of a seamless, human-centered future powered by physical AI and hyper-connectivityTimestamps:00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Professor Siciliano's impact in robotics01:13 - The significance of his research and cultural background02:33 - Passion for football and its influence on engineering creativity03:43 - The role of adrenaline and emotional engagement in research and teaching05:03 - The social and cultural insights from stadium visits across Europe06:44 - Creativity inspired by local city culture and its impact on innovations09:14 - The story behind the ERC grant and the pizza robot demonstrator11:44 - Robotics as a societally inspired pursuit rooted in cultural identity12:45 - The sociological dimension of human-robot interaction in urban environments13:14 - Gesticulation, cultural behaviors, and AI training datasets14:43 - The importance of sensory development and education in human evolution15:42 - Interdisciplinary approaches and cross-fertilization between robotics and other fields16:09 - Teaching beyond textbooks: inspiring the next generation18:11 - Student assessments, ethics in education, and the value of understanding concepts20:14 - The role of AI and accessible knowledge in democratizing robotics22:29 - The founding of the "Technology Humanism" initiative and societal responsibilities23:51 - Creativity as a driver for research and the symbolic link to soccer24:37 - Imagining robots playing soccer and rethinking human-robot interaction25:14 - Supporting and connecting people across disciplines for innovative collaborations33:42 - The potential of joint human-robot creative endeavors and storytelling34:00 - The importance of shared control and the blending roles in human-robot teaming50:53 - The balance between control, safety, and social acceptability in robots54:43 - The emerging era of diverse robotic systems beyond humanoids59:34 - The future of design, control, and integration in robotics60:00 - The establishment of Stanford’s new Robotics Center and the pillars of modern robotics61:10 - The four pillars: Knowledge, Design, Interaction, Impact65:21 - Shared emotions, the human side of robotics, and the euphoria of technological progress66:15 - Barriers to human-robot teaming and strategies to overcome them70:38 - Unexpected applications of robotics (surgical, industrial, assistive)75:29 - Enabling new applications, from virtual guides to assistive devices79:31 - Rethinking the human-robot relationship and the evolution of “robots” into collaborative partners82:29 - Standards, regulations, and international differences in robotics development90:22 - The potential of robotics to bridge cultural and societal gaps94:08 - The importance of interdisciplinary and international cooperation for future progress99:50 - Visions of the future: technological, emotional, and societal changes in the next decades104:37 - The responsibility of today’s scientists and engineers to preserve emotional and cultural legacies115:41 - Final reflections: inspiring the next generation to dream bigger and collaborate globallyResources & Links:Even Falkenberg Langås, Muhammad Hamza Zafar, and Filippo Sanfilippo. "Exploring the synergy of human-robot teaming, digital twins, and machine learning in Industry 5.0: a step towards sustainable manufacturing." Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 37, no. 3 (2026): 999-1022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-025-02580-x.Filippo Sanfilippo, Timothy Wiley, and Rebekah Rousi. "Robocup soccer autonomy uprising: How crowds, referees, and humanoid robots are redefining the future of human-robot interaction." In 2025 20th ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), pp. 1131-1139. IEEE, 2025. doi: https://10.1109/HRI61500.2025.10974154.Filippo Sanfilippo, ...
    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • Special Episode: European Robotics Forum (ERF) 2026

    Special Episode: European Robotics Forum (ERF) 2026
    Mar 30 2026

    Recorded live at the European Robotics Forum 2026 in Stavanger, this special episode of Among Us: Human–Robot Teaming takes you inside one of Europe’s most important robotics gatherings—through conversations, demos, and cutting-edge research.

    This is not theory. This is what robotics actually looks like today.

    🎤 Who You’ll Hear in This Episode🔹 Opening Perspective: The Vision Behind ERF

    We start with Nabil Belbachir, organizer of ERF, discussing:

    1. The strategic direction of robotics in Europe
    2. Where industry and research are actually converging
    3. Why events like ERF matter beyond networking

    🔹 Bio-Inspired Flight & Flapping Drones

    Next, a fascinating discussion with Matěj Karásek from Flapper Drones:

    1. How flapping-wing drones differ from traditional UAVs
    2. The role of bio-inspired design in robotics
    3. Real-world applications where conventional drones fail

    🔹 Precision Haptics & Human Interaction

    We then speak with Marco Aggravi, Project Manager and R&D Engineer at Haption:

    1. High-fidelity force feedback systems
    2. The role of haptics in teleoperation and training
    3. Why touch is still the missing piece in many robotic systems

    🔹 Live Demo: Immersive Interaction with SenseGlove

    A hands-on demo with SenseGlove showcases:

    1. Real-time haptic feedback in virtual and robotic environments
    2. Applications in training, simulation, and remote manipulation
    3. The transition from demo tech → deployable systems

    🔹 Research Spotlight: Human Trajectory Prediction

    The episode concludes with a presentation of the paper:

    “Transformer-Based Human Trajectory Prediction in Manufacturing Settings”

    Authored by:

    1. Even Langås
    2. Atle Aalerud
    3. Daniel Hagen
    4. Filippo Sanfilippo

    Key ideas explored:

    1. Predicting human motion in industrial environments
    2. Using transformer architectures for temporal modeling
    3. Improving safety and fluency in human–robot collaboration

    🧠 What Connects All of This?

    At first glance, these look like separate topics:

    1. Event organization
    2. Bio-inspired drones
    3. Haptics
    4. Wearable interfaces
    5. AI-based trajectory prediction

    They’re not.

    They all point toward one thing:

    👉 Robots that understand, adapt, and physically interact with humans in real environments

    ⚙️ The Real Insight (No Sugarcoating)

    Most robotics systems today:

    1. Perceive poorly
    2. Predict weakly
    3. Interact unnaturally

    This episode shows what it takes to fix that:

    1. Better sensing (event cameras, multimodal systems)
    2. Better prediction (transformers, temporal models)
    3. Better interaction (haptics, wearable feedback)

    🎯 Who This Episode Is For
    1. Robotics researchers and PhD students
    2. Engineers working on HRI/HRC systems
    3. Anyone serious about moving from demos → deployable systems

    🚀 Final Takeaway

    If you want real human–robot teaming, you need to combine:

    1. Perception + Prediction + Physical Interaction

    Miss one—and your system breaks in the real world.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Bilateral Communication Between Humans and Robots as the Future of Human-Robot Teaming

    Bilateral Communication Between Humans and Robots as the Future of Human-Robot Teaming
    Mar 25 2026
    In this episode, Dr. Gionata Salvietti shares groundbreaking perspectives on human-robot collaboration, emphasizing the crucial role of tactile feedback and multisensory interaction. Discover the advances in robotic hand manipulation, sensory integration, and how these innovations are paving the way for more seamless and intuitive teaming between humans and robots.Key Topics:The evolving definition and importance of human-robot teamingBilateral and multi-modal communication channels, especially touchThe biological basis and engineering of tactile feedback in roboticsSynergies and compliance in robotic hand controlThe concept of augmentation: from sixth fingers to assistive roboticsTransition from prototypes to commercialization with companies like SixtoChallenges in sensor development, including robust e-skin technologyEthical considerations and societal implications of robotics revolutionThe future trajectory of AI-powered multisensory integrationTimestamps:00:00 - Introduction to human-robot teaming and its significance02:25 - Defining human-robot collaboration in a rapidly evolving context03:49 - The bilateral communication channel for effective teaming04:54 - Moving towards balanced human-robot interactions07:15 - The role of touch and tactile feedback in communication08:44 - How biological tactile interactions inspire robotic hand design10:08 - The importance of emotional and functional touch in humans11:17 - Using touch for guidance irrespective of sight and hearing impairments12:44 - Historical overview of sensory technology, focusing on touch14:24 - The revolutionary potential of recording and reproducing tactile interactions15:44 - The integration of multiple senses and multisensory teaming17:15 - Manipulation synergies and brain-inspired control strategies18:47 - Simplifying control through synergies and compliance in robotics20:16 - The concept of invisible threads and brain's organization of hand movements21:39 - The brain's management of hand complexity and use of compliance23:50 - The impact of synergy and compliance on collaborative manipulation26:01 - Exploring augmentation: the story of the sixth finger28:52 - Assistive robotics: aiding stroke patients with robotic augmentations31:47 - The pathway from prototypes to commercial products (e.g., Sixto)34:25 - Scaling devices for education and medical training35:23 - Main barriers and future challenges for human-robot teaming37:40 - Sensor technology limitations and future directions39:50 - The importance of standards, safety, and societal acceptance42:14 - The societal impact, fears, and opportunities of robotics revolution44:57 - Cross-disciplinary collaboration and the role of AI in sensor networks46:16 - Final thoughts and encouragement for active engagement in the fieldResources & Links:Domenico Prattichizzo's research groupImmersiveSurgicalEduConnect with Gionata Salvietti:LinkedInResearch Articles:Filippo Sanfilippo, Gionata Salvietti, Tomas Blazauskas, Guido Gabriele, Maria Zafar, Minh Tuan Hua, Muhammad Hamza Zafar, Syed Kumayl Raza Moosavi, Patrikas Armalis, Mohammad Poursina, Povilas Ignatavicius, Andrejus Subocius, Audrius Parseliunas, Ernest Margelis. “Integrating VR, AR, and haptics in basic surgical skills training: a review and perspective.” IEEE Access (2025), doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2025.3574265.Filippo Sanfilippo, Tomas Blazauskas, Gionata Salvietti, Isabel Ramos, Silviu Vert, Jaziar Radianti, Tim A. Majchrzak, and Daniel Oliveira. 2022. "A Perspective Review on Integrating VR/AR with Haptics into STEM Education for Multi-Sensory Learning" Robotics 11, no. 2: 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics11020041.Filippo Sanfilippo, Tomas Blažauskas, Martynas Girdžiūna, Airidas Janonis, Eligijus Kiudys, and Gionata Salvietti. "A multi-modal auditory-visual-tactile e-learning framework." In International conference on intelligent technologies and applications, pp. 119-131. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10525-8_10.Filippo Sanfilippo, Houxiang Zhang, Kristin Ytterstad Pettersen, Gionata Salvietti, and Domenico Prattichizzo. "ModGrasp: an open-source rapid-prototyping framework for designing low-cost sensorised modular hands." In 5th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics, pp. 951-957. IEEE, 2014. doi: 10.1109/BIOROB.2014.6913903.Filippo Sanfilippo, Gionata Salvietti, H. X. Zhang, Hans Petter Hildre, and Domenico Prattichizzo. "Efficient modular grasping: an iterative approach." In 2012 4th IEEE RAS & EMBS International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), pp. 1281-1286. IEEE, 2012. https://10.0.4.85/BioRob.2012.6290693.Additional Notes:This episode highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches—combining neuroscience, robotics, AI, and design—to address the challenges and unlock the full potential of human-robot teaming. We also discuss societal implications, ethical considerations, and the ...
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.