Raaicon 2026 Kenote Talks
Keynote Speaker 1:
Time: Sept 18: 12pm Bangladesh time (GMT+6)
Title of the talk: Predictive Maintenance in Semiconductor Manufacturing – AI Driven Automation for Tool Downtime Reduction
Speaker name: Ram Chandra Palsaniya
Affiliation: Co-Chair, IEEE RAS Semiconductor Manufacturing Automation Technical Activities Board
Abstract: Semiconductor fabrication relies on high equipment reliability, where unexpected tool failures can cause major yield and productivity losses. This talk examines AI machine learning–based predictive maintenance approaches designed for semiconductor manufacturing automation environments. We review key methods – including anomaly detection, condition monitoring, and system‑level fault diagnosis and compare supervised, unsupervised, and hybrid models using fab‑specific data characteristics. Industry challenges such as sparse failure events, high‑dimensional sensor streams, and tool variability are highlighted. The session concludes with practical guidance for deploying scalable PdM solutions and outlines future directions for intelligent maintenance systems aligned with human-centered Industry 5.0 semiconductor fabs.
Short biosketch:
Mr. Ram Chandra Palsaniya, IEEE Senior Member, is a featured technology leader with over 20 years of experience in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. He currently serves as a Senior Product Manager at Applied Materials Inc. California, where he drives innovation at the intersection of advanced manufacturing with AI, Robotics and Automation.
Mr. Palsaniya has demonstrated sustained leadership and service within IEEE. He served as Chair of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Technical Chapter and Vice Chair of the IEEE Control Systems Society Technical Chapter in Silicon Valley, California, and contributes as TC Co-Chair IEEE RAS Technical Activities Board. He has organized several technical talks and panel discussions for chapter events, for example recent RAS Chapter Fireside chat at Stanford University with 200+ participants from industry and academics.
Mr. Palsaniya has presented in multiple IEEE international conferences including IEEE ISIE, IEEE CAI, and IEEE NMDC. His work focuses on AI driven predictive maintenance, semiconductor manufacturing robotics and automation systems.
Keynote Speaker 2:
Time: Sept 18: 12:30 pm Bangladesh time (GMT+6)
Title of the talk: Soft Robotics and the Embodied Side of Intelligence
Speaker name: Cecilia Laschi
Affiliation: Provost’s Chair Professor at the National University of Singapore, Dept. Mechanical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, Advanced Robotics Centre, Director
Abstract: Observing living beings means observing complex systems, in complex dynamic environments. Obtaining similar behaviours has been challenging roboticists since long. What we can learn from nature is how to simplify perception-action loops, without simplifying the systems, the environment, or the task, but taking advantage of their interplay. According to this embodied intelligence paradigm, control is simplified and efficiency is increased, as we see in a few examples of octopus-inspired soft robots. Octopus locomotion uses soft legs that shorten and elongate to walk underwater, avoiding the need to move rigid limbs against water drag. Octopus arm movements also reduce water drag by avoiding rigid translations and instead leveraging the arm softness and extreme deformability to unfold in water. Among other simplifying principles, those strategies can help roboticist develop effective and efficient robots, for marine operations, and for many more application fields.
Short biosketch:
Cecilia Laschi is best-known for her research in soft robotics, an area that she pioneered internationally. She investigates how to build robots with soft materials, studying the octopus as a model for robotics. She explores marine applications of soft robots and their use in the biomedical field, with a focus on eldercare. She has worked in humanoid and neuro-robotics, applying brain models to humanoid robots.
Cecilia Laschi is Provost’s Chair Professor at the National University of Singapore, in the College of Design and Engineering, and the Director of the Advanced Robotics Centre.
She is IEEE Fellow and AAAS member. She is Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Soft Robotics, Scientific Advisory Board member of Science Robotics, IEEE Transactions on Bionics and Medical Robotics, and Editorial Board member of the Intelligent Robotics and Autonomous Agents (IRAA) Series of MIT Press.
She founded the IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft) in 2018 and co-founded the IEEE RAS Technical Committee in Soft Robotics.
She co-founded the start-up company RoboTech, in edutainment robotics.
Keynote Speaker 3:
Time: Sept 19: 9am Bangladesh time (GMT+6)
Title of the talk: Bomb Disposal Robot for Human Security
Speaker name: Elmer P. Dadios, Phd
Affiliation: Academician, National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines Distinguished Professor and University Fellow, DLSU Manila.
Abstract: Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are considered to be among the best and most significant discoveries in the 20th century. The goal of Robotics is to develop machines that can perform tasks, automate processes, and interact with the environment, mimicking human actions or surpassing them in speed, endurance, and accuracy. This presentation will discuss the role and impact of robotics for human security. The bomb removal automated vehicle (BRAVE) is developed and designed based on the expertise from the Military Personnel of the Philippine National Police EOD/K9 team. Knowledge and Information from the military experts on disposing explosives were utilized in creating BRAVE. Aside from disposing bombs, BRAVE is also use for rescue operations. The accuracy, reliability, and robustness of the capability of BRAVE will be shown in this presentation.
Short biosketch:
Dr. Elmer P. Dadios or “Elmer” to colleagues and friends, obtained his PhD for an unprecedented two years from the Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, United Kingdom in the area of Robotics and Intelligent Systems. A multi-awarded educator and scholar, Elmer was awarded over 20 recognitions and distinctions from various international and national scientific award-giving bodies and professional organizations. Among the awards he garnered include: The 2023 National Academy of Science and Technology Academician award. The ScholarGPS Highly Ranked Scholar – Both Lifetime and Prior Five Years in the Specialties of Environment (Systems), and Nanotechnologies. The 2022 Severino & Paz Koh Lectureship Awardees in Engineering given by the Philippine American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE); The top 100 scientists listed in Asian Scientist Magazine; The 2019 Leaders in Innovation Fellowship “Fellow” given by the United Kingdom Royal Academy of Engineering; The 2018 Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology D. M. CONSUNJI AWARD for Engineering Research; Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP); The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 50 Men and Women of Science and Technology; The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Scholar Achievers; De La Salle University Miguel Febres Cordero Research Award. Currently, Elmer serves as editor of the Journal of Advanced Computational Intelligence and Intelligent Informatics (JACIII) published by the Fuji Technology Press, Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). He is an editor of Journal of AI, Computer Science and Robotics Technology published by IntechOpen London and Croatia. He is an Editorial Board Member of IntechOpen Series “Artificial Intelligence” for Evolutionary Computation topic. He is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Computational Intelligence in Engineering Applications (JCIEA). He published five books on fuzzy logic systems and a book on Control and Automation with IntechOpen (Croatia/London). On top of these, Elmer has published over 670 Scopus indexed technical papers in highly refutable journals and IEEE Xplore. Elmer joined DLSU in May 1992 and currently holds the title of Distinguished Research Fellow. In May 2008, Elmer was conferred the title of University Fellow, the highest award and recognition given by DLSU to faculty members who exhibit consistent scholarly pursuit through research and publication, effective teaching performance, and exemplary modeling of the Lasallian core values. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of the Intelligent Systems Innovation Corporation. He was the past Chair of the IEEE Philippines Section; past EXCOM member of the IEEE Region 10; past Chair of the IEEE Region 10 Awards and Recognition Committee; the Founder and Chair of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society Philippines Chapter, and IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Philippines Chapter. His current research interests include: robotics, artificial intelligence and its applications to smart cities, transportation management, smart farms, human security, biomedical engineering, computational intelligence systems, mechatronics, and manufacturing processes.
Keynote Speaker 4:
Time: 10 am on Sept 19th Bangladesh time (GMT+6)
Speaker name: Stevo Bozinovski
Talk Title: Artificial Intelligence and robotics for obtaining a IEEE Milestone recognition for the first brain-robot interface, 1988
Affiliation: Professor of Computer Science at the Computer Science and Mathematics Department, South Carolina State University, USA (BSc in Computer Science, M.Sc in Electronics, and PhD in Computer Science from Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Zagreb)
Abstract: In 2023 on recommendation of the IEEE History Committee, the IEEE Board of Directors approved a designation of IEEE Milestone to the achievement First control of a physical object (a robot) using signals emanating from a human brain, which happened in 1988 in Skopje, Macedonia. The paper was published at a IEEE conference in New Orleans, USA, in 1988.
This invited talk describes the pioneering events that led to this achievement. The pioneering events described here are divided into three categories: artificial intelligence events, robotics events, and brain-computer interface events. The Artificial Intelligence part includes the first solution of a challenge of reinforcement learning with delayed rewards, the introduction of emotion in neural network learning, and self-learning, learning without eternal rewards. The robotics part includes first control of a robot using concurrent (multitasking) programming and first control of a movement of a robot using spoken commands. The brain-computer interface part includes contingent negative variation (CNV) signal processing and control of a computer buzzer, and alpha rhythm processing including Machine Learning for control of a robot. All that solved the challenge of psychokinesis, moving a physical object with energy emanating from a human brain, which before 1988 was in the realm of the science fiction.
Short biosketch:
Stevo Bozinovski. Obtained BSc in Computer Science, M.Sc in Electronics, and PhD in Computer Science from Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia. He studied and worked in various places including: IBM in Bayreuth, Germany; the Institute for Communications and Informatics at the Technical University in Munich, Germany; Tsukuba University and the Kanazawa Institute of Technology in Japan; the Computer Science Department of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA; and the German National Center for Information Technologies in Sankt Augustin, Bonn, in Germany. He was contracted as an Expert from Macedonia by the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. Since 2001 he is a professor of Computer Science at the Computer Science and Mathematics Department, South Carolina State University, USA. His research interest is in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Biocybernetics.
Some of his most important pioneering achievements in science are: Introducing transfer learning in neural networks, 1976; Solving challenge of reinforcement learning with delayed rewards, 1981; and of learning without external rewards, 1981, Introducing emotion and self learning in neural networks, 1981; Introducing parallel programming in neural networks, 1981; First control of a robot using concurrent (multitasking) programming, 1983; First recognition that tRNA is a mobile robot, 1985; First control of movements of a robot using speech commands, 1986; Revision of the Central Dogma in molecular genetics using Flexible Manufacturing metaphor, 1987; First control of a robot using EEG signals, 1988; First control of a robot using EOG signals, 1989; First mathematical model of motivation, emotion, and happiness, 2003; EEG emulation of control circuits, 2015; First mathematical explanation of EEG rhythms including alpha rhythm, 2022. In 2023 he received an IEEE Milestone recognition for the achievement of the first control of a robot using brain signals.
Keynote Speaker 5:
Time: 11 am on Sept 19th Bangladesh time (GMT+6)
Speaker name: Steven M. LaValle
Talk Title: Fundamental Challenges in Robotics and Embodied AI
Affiliation: Professor of Robotics and Virtual Reality, University of Oulu & University of Illinois
Abstract: The field of robotics is wildly exciting and rapidly gaining worldwide attention, yet it is often an enigma in terms of its scope and scientific foundations. Robotics involves the design, programming, and analysis of movable machines that accomplish useful work through sensing and manipulation of the surrounding world. Throughout the decades it has been varyingly viewed as an application field of more mature disciplines such as computer science (AI, algorithms, machine learning) and mechanical engineering (kinematics, dynamics, nonlinear control). This talk will argue that robotics has its own unique and growing scientific core, with deep questions and modeling challenges that should inspire new directions in computer science, engineering, and even pure mathematics.
We will start with a Turing-inspired way to view robotics or embodied AI, leading to some of our recent results that characterize minimally sufficient amounts of sensing, actuation, or computation that are required to solve physical tasks. Questions addressed include: How are learning, planning, and control related? How do we know when it is impossible to solve a task? When will learning fail, even with an infinite amount of data? Does a universal action sequence exist that would cause a robot to solve any possible task without modification? How important are semantics and representations? Interspersed throughout the talk will be results and perspective from my research in the field over three decades, produced with many inspiring students, mentors, and collaborators.
Short biosketch:
Steven M. LaValle has been Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, in Robotics and Virtual Reality, at the University of Oulu, Finland since 2018. Since 2001, he has been a professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois. He has also held positions at Stanford University and Iowa State University. His research interests include robotics, virtual reality, sensor fusion, planning algorithms, computational geometry, and control theory. In research, he is mostly known for his introduction of the Rapidly exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm, which is widely used in robotics and other engineering fields. He also authored the books Planning Algorithms, Sensing and Filtering, and Virtual Reality. He currently leads an Advanced Grant project from the European Research Council on the Foundations of Perception Engineering. With regard to industry, he was an early founder and chief scientist of Oculus VR, acquired by Facebook for $3 billion in 2014, where he developed patented tracking technology for consumer virtual reality and led a team of perceptual psychologists to provide principled approaches to virtual reality system calibration, health and safety, and the design of comfortable user experiences. From 2016 to 2017, he was a Vice President and Chief Scientist of VR/AR/MR at Huawei Technologies, where he was a leader in mobile product development on a global scale. He has worked as an angel investor and adviser to startups in robotics and virtual reality.
Keynote Speaker 6:
Time: 12 pm to 1pm on Sept 19th Bangladesh time (GMT+6)
Speaker name: Maria Pia Fanti
Talk Title: Artificial Intelligence Approaches for Integrating Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility in the Urban Traffic.
Affiliation: Professor of Control System Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari
Abstract: Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) is expected to reshape the way of travelling and moving
in Europe and around the world. By the CCAM, the automated vehicles have to be integrated into the mobility and
transport system by designing and implementing infrastructures, new services, platforms, cooperation and
governance models. The smart traffic management and the deployment of CCAM innovative technologies and
services is increasing efficiency and reducing congestion.
The talk will present some approaches developed to accelerate the integration of innovative CCAM technologies and
systems for passengers and goods in terms of design and implementation of enhanced physical, digital and operational
infrastructures. In particular, the talk will describe some recent results obtained in case studies implemented in a current
European Project by simulation environments and in the field.
Short biosketch:
Maria Pia Fanti (M’92-SM’02-F’17) received the Laurea degree in electronic engineering from the University of Pisa,
Pisa, Italy, in 1983. She was a visiting researcher at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York, in 1999.
Since 1983, she has been with the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering of the Polytechnic of Bari, Italy,
where she is currently a Full Professor of system and control engineering and Chair of the Laboratory of Automation and
Control. Her research interests include management and modeling of complex systems, such as transportation, logistics
and manufacturing systems; discrete event systems; Petri nets; consensus protocols; fault detection. Prof. Fanti has
published more than 370 papers and two textbooks on her research topics. Prof. Fanti received from the IEEE SMCS in
2008 the best Associate editor award of the Trans. on SM, the best technical committee chair award and the 2020 IEEE
SMC outstanding Contribution Award.
She is senior editor of the IEEE Trans. on Automation Science and Engineering and of the Transaction on Intelligent
Vehicles. She is member at large of the Board of Governors of the IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society, and
was member of the AdCom of the IEEE Robotics and Automaton Society, founder and chair of the Technical Committee
on Automation in Logistics and of Machine learning for Automation of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society. Prof.
Fanti was involved in the organizing committee of a large number of International conference and in particular she was
General Chair of the 2011 IEEE Conference on Automation Science and Engineering, the 2017 IEEE International
Conference on Service Operations and logistics, and Informatics and the 2019 IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics
Conference, Program co-Chair of the IEEE SMC 2023, Automation Chair of the IEEE ICRA.
