From: michael@extro.ucc.su.OZ.AU (Michael Kassler)
Subject: "Robots for Competitive Industries" conference, July 1993
Summary: 14-16 July 1993 conference in Brisbane, Australia, call for papers
Keywords: Australian Robot Association, International Federation of Robotics
Organization: Sydney University Computing Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 11:07:11 GMT



                              Call for Papers

                     ROBOTS FOR COMPETITIVE INDUSTRIES
      An International Conference of the Australian Robot Association
               and the International Federation of Robotics 
                          Sheraton Brisbane Hotel
             Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 14-16 July 1993

ROBOTS FOR COMPETITIVE INDUSTRIES

   Agriculture and Food
   Construction and Cleaning
   Health and Retirement Care
   Manufacturing
   Minerals and Mining
   Security and Other Services

 Robots originally were developed to automate specific manufacturing tasks such as welding
cars, loading machines, painting appliances, palletising cartons and assembling electronic
components. Most of the 1650 robots at work in Australia today perform these classical
applications.
 However, recent technological advances in machine vision and other sensors, in novel end
effectors and in enhanced locomotion are enabling robots to perform a wide variety of additional
tasks, and not only in manufacturing industry. This has great significance for Australia as the countrys economic strengths lie primarily in
non-manufacturing industries such as agriculture, banking, construction, health care, mining,
retailing, tourism and other services. Australias largest manufacturing sector is food
manufacturing, which has different automation requirements to the metals industry for which the
classical robot applications were designed.
 The aims of the ARA/IFR 1993 conference are to show:
  how robots are now being used in various industries and countries to enhance productivity and
profitability;
  how recently developed technology enables robots to automate new tasks in many industrial
sectors;
  how and when todays robotics research is expected to lead to new practical robot applications
for which there is clear market demand if the technology could be made available at an
affordable price.
Papers are now solicited on these and on other topics relevant to the future of
robotics. Case studies demonstrating how robots have improved productivity and
competitiveness are particularly welcome, as are descriptions of policies that have
enhanced competitiveness through encouragement of automation. Intending speakers are
invited to submit a title, abstract and near-final text of an original, unpublished paper by
15 January 1993 to Professor Hartmut Kaebernick, School of Mechanical and
Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, P.O. Box 1, Kensington
NSW 2033, Australia, fax +61 2 663 1222. The programme committee (also including
Professor Ray Jarvis, James Trevelyan and Dr Richard Willgoss) will reply by 1 March
1993, and the selected speakers will be asked to submit the revised text of their paper in
camera-ready form by 1 May 1993 for publication in the conference Proceedings.

This conference takes place just before the 12th World Congress of the International
Federation of Automatic Control (Sydney, 19-23 July), enabling overseas visitors to
participate in two major events and to experience Australias unique touristic attractions.
For financial support of this conference the Australian Robot Association is grateful to the Queensland
Department of Business, Industry and Regional Development and the National Industry Extension Service.
:wq


Newsgroups: comp.robotics