The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies at the 2025 Robotics Festival: research, underwater technologies, and robotics for active aging among the topics on the agenda in Pisa

Interdisciplinary research, a human-centered vision, and a commitment to scientific dissemination: these are the distinctive features with which the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies is participating in the 2025 Robotics Festival, scheduled to take place in Pisa from May 9 to 11. This year's edition – the fifth – is entitled Human Centered Vision and aims to focus on the relationship between people and robotic systems, with a view that embraces not only technology but also its cultural, artistic, and social implications.
 

Among the protagonists of the event, researchers from the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies will be present with demonstrations, interactive experiences, and in-depth discussions on multiple applications of robotics, particularly in the biomedical and rehabilitation sectors, areas in which the Sant'Anna School has been a national and international reference point for years.
 

One example is the School's participation in the area dedicated to robotics applied to medicine, hosted in the Arsenali Repubblicani. Within a real training village, advanced robotic platforms and simulators will be presented, with the opportunity for the public to explore the technologies used in clinical training courses. Doctors and researchers will illustrate the use of robots in surgery and rehabilitation, in a context that combines training, experimentation, and direct interaction. Two scientific talk shows, featuring leading experts and scientists, will open the debate on the current and future role of artificial intelligence and robotics in medicine.
 

The Festival also offers significant space for cultural and humanistic issues, which also involve the School's areas of research. Topics such as robotics and literature, robotics and love, and robotics and international cooperation will be explored in meetings, exhibitions, and performances, promoting a critical and informed approach to innovation. In particular, it will be possible to reflect on the relationship between robots and feelings, on new forms of relationships mediated by artificial intelligence, and on the growing role of chatbots in everyday life.

Among the events scheduled:

May 9, 2025 | Officine Garibaldi from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Robotics and humanitarian cooperationSpeakers: Matteo Dell'Acqua, Africa Connect; Manuel Catalano, Centro Piaggio, University of Pisa; Giuseppe Romano, Italian Red Cross, Pisa; Virginia Casigliani, Giulia Nuzzi, Federica Mei, Cuamm; Luca Morelli, Fondazione Arpa; Stefano Del Corso, Fondazione Pisa; Cesare Stefanini, Institute of Biorobotics, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies; Martina Pignatti M. and Giuseppe Prisco, Un Ponte Per. Moderator: Mauro Ferrari, Fondazione TechCare
   

May 10, 2025 | Stazione Leopolda, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
 

• Robo-Pool Organized by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies and the University of Pisa, the demonstration will take place in a specially set up area, where it will be possible to observe robots and devices developed to operate in complex underwater environments in action. The technologies presented will illustrate their advanced features, including autonomous navigation, environment detection, and underwater communication. The initiative aims to highlight the applications of robotics in the fields of scientific research, environmental protection, safety, and offshore activities, offering the public an opportunity to learn more about the strategic role of these solutions in extreme operating contexts.
   

May 10, 2025 | Gipsoteca di Arte Antica from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
 

• Strategies for active aging: robotics, finance, social policiesThe conference offers a multidisciplinary discussion between experts from the academic, healthcare, industrial, and financial worlds on the topic of active aging, with a particular focus on the role of emerging technologies in promoting autonomy, quality of life, and social sustainability. Introduction and moderation by Giuseppe Turchetti, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna.
   

May 11, 2025 | Sant'Andrea Theater from 9:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
 

• The Magic ViolinThis special event will allow the public to listen to live music and learn about the CONBOTS project, which explores the use of exoskeletons not only in music but also in medical and rehabilitation applications, demonstrating the potential of these advanced technologies.

For the complete program, please visit the official website.