PhysicAI 1.0 Workshop 01 - Introduction to AI in Intelligent Robotics

Description

A workshop titled “PhysicAI 1.0 – Introduction to AI in Intelligent Robotics” was organized by the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) Student Branch Chapter of the University of Moratuwa in collaboration with the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Student Branch Chapter of the University of Moratuwa , aiming to introduce participants to the fundamentals and applications of Artificial Intelligence in intelligent robotic systems. The workshop was conducted by Prof. Buddhika Jayasekara , Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Moratuwa, and provided participants with an introduction to the role of Artificial Intelligence in modern robotic systems. Key areas including the evolution of AI, intelligent robot design, sensors, computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and human-robot interaction were introduced. The session also explored collaborative robots (cobots) , their applications, and relevant safety considerations. Participants were further introduced to Generative AI and Edge AI in robotics, including their applications in natural-language interaction, task planning, multimodal understanding, and real-time decision-making. The workshop concluded with an overview of emerging research directions such as companion robots, situation awareness, proactive assistance, and advanced human-robot collaboration . The workshop provided a valuable foundation for understanding how AI is enabling the development of more autonomous, adaptive, and human-centred robotic systems .