ACRA 2026: Free Robotics Showcase, Public Talks and Networking

A free public afternoon of robotics at ACRA 2026 The Australasian Conference on Robotics and Automation (ACRA) is opening its doors to the public for an afternoon of robotics at the University of Canberra. See robots in action at the Innovation Showcase, hear from international leaders in robotics and human factors, and join a panel on what it takes to scale up robotics across research, industry and the public sector. All events are free. Come to one, or stay for the whole afternoon. Where: Ann Harding Conference Centre (Building 24), University of Canberra, 24 University Drive South, Bruce ACT 2617. Open in Google Maps Parking: the nearest car park is P22, across from Building 24. Program at a glance • 2:00pm to 5:30pm: Innovation Showcase (Tutorial Rooms 1 and 2). Live demos from industry and research labs, featuring ACRA 2026 sponsors Serve Robotics, BlueRYDGE and Omron. Drop in any time. • 2:15pm to 3:10pm: IEEE RAS Distinguished Lecture (Main Hall). Prof Frank Dellaert of Georgia Tech on Sense-Think-Act with Factor Graphs. • 3:10pm to 3:45pm: Airbus Distinguished Lecture (Main Hall). Prof Phillip Morgan of Cardiff University on Securing Human-AI and Automation Teaming in Aerospace and Beyond. • 4:00pm to 5:00pm: Distinguished Panel (Main Hall). Scaling Up Robotics: Why, What and How, with leaders from research, industry and the public sector. • From 5:00pm: CBRIN First Wednesday Connect. Stay on at the Ann Harding Conference Centre for networking with Canberra Innovation Network's First Wednesday Connect. How to register Select a free ticket for each session you plan to attend. You can choose as many as you like in one registration. Seats in the Main Hall are limited, so please only book the talks you plan to come to. Innovation Showcase (2:00pm to 5:30pm, Tutorial Rooms 1 and 2) Come and see what's happening in Australian robotics. Industry and research labs will be showing their latest robots and technology, with live demonstrations and the chance to talk with the engineers, researchers and founders behind them. The showcase features ACRA 2026 sponsors Serve Robotics, BlueRYDGE and Omron. IEEE RAS Distinguished Lecture (2:15pm to 3:10pm, Main Hall): Sense-Think-Act with Factor Graphs Factor graphs are best known as the engine behind robot mapping and navigation. In this tutorial-style talk, Frank shows how the same tool can also tackle planning, control and robot dynamics, making the case for factor graphs as a unifying framework for robots to sense, think and act. Frank Dellaert is a Professor in the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech and leads development of the GTSAM toolbox. He has held senior roles at Skydio, Facebook, Google AI and Verdant Robotics, where he is now part-time Chief AI Officer. Airbus Distinguished Lecture (3:10pm to 3:45pm, Main Hall): Securing Human-AI and Automation Teaming in Aerospace and Beyond: An Airbus and Cardiff University Partnership to Optimise Ethical, Assured, Responsible, and Secure Cyber-Physical Systems Research and Impact As AI, automation and robots move into safety-critical work, the weak points are often in how people and intelligent systems interact, not in the technology alone. Phil introduces the HEARS framework (Human-Centred, Ethical, Assured, Responsible and Secure), which puts people at the centre of secure AI and autonomous system design. Drawing on more than a decade of research between Airbus and Cardiff University, including aerospace case studies on human-centric cyber security, he makes the case that trustworthy AI-enabled systems, robots included, must be designed with humans and for humans. Phillip Morgan is a Senior Professor in Human Factors Psychology and Cognitive Science at Cardiff University and Director of Research for its Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Human-Machine Systems (IROHMS). An international expert in human-robot interaction, AI, automation and cyber security, he co-leads Cardiff University's Strategic Partnership with Airbus. Distinguished Panel (4:00pm to 5:00pm, Main Hall): Scaling Up Robotics: Why, What and How Robotics is moving out of the lab and into workplaces, public services and everyday life. This panel brings together voices from research, industry and the public sector to discuss why scaling up robotics matters, what it will take, and how to get there. • Prof Mari Velonaki, UNSW • Dr Sue Keay, UNSW • Danielle Haj-Moussa, Investment Manager, Main Sequence • Olympia Yager, Founder, Goterra • Moderator: Prof Dana Kulic, Monash University Stay for networking: CBRIN First Wednesday Connect (from 5:00pm) After the panel, keep the conversation going at Canberra Innovation Network's First Wednesday Connect, held right here at the Ann Harding Conference Centre. It's a chance to meet people from across Canberra's innovation community. About ACRA ACRA is the annual conference of the Australian Robotics and Automation Association (ARAA). ACRA 2026 is hosted by the University of Canberra's Collaborative Robotics Lab. Find out more at araa.asn.au/conference/acra-2026