International Workshop of Intelligent Autonomous Learning Systems

International Workshop of Intelligent Autonomous Learning Systems 2025

Note, Please ensure to read the conference schedule and specific activity requirements before packing for the event.

The International Workshop on Intelligent Autonomous Learning Systems is an annual, invitation-only event centered on advancements in machine learning for robotics and autonomous systems. Its primary objectives include fostering collaboration, encouraging scientific discussions, and enhancing participants' comprehension. Traditionally hosted in the picturesque Kleinwalsertal, Austria, amidst the stunning Alps.

Quick Facts 2025

Organizers:Nico Bohlinger, Cristiana Mirandade Farias,
Location:Darmstädter Haus and Marburger Haus, Kleinwalsertal, Austria
Dates:20.07.- 26.07.2025

Schedule

Note, the schedule is subject to change.

Daily Schedule

20/7Sunday:Arrival
21/7Monday:Opening session, Spotlight #1, Poster session
22/7Tuesday:Tutorial: Effective Design of Graphics for (Robotics) Research, Contributed Talks
23/7Wednesday:Spotlight #2, Contributed Talks, Panel Discussion
24/7Thursday:Excursion (Klettersteig, hiking)
25/7Friday:Spotlight #3, Panel Discussion, Focus Groups
26/7Saturday:Closing Session & Recap quiz, Group-specific session
27/7Sunday:Travel back

Detailed Schedule

Note, there will be 30 minute coffee breaks each morning and afternoon, between sessions.

TimeMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
09:30 - 10Opening SessionMorning SessionMorning SessionExcursionMorning SessionClosing Session
10 - 11Getting to know each otherTutorial #1Spotlight #2ExcursionSpotlight #3Recap
11 - 12Getting to know each otherTutorial #1Spotlight #2ExcursionSpotlight #3Quiz
12 - 14LunchLunchLunchExcursionLunchLunch
14 - 15Spotlight #1Contributed Talks #1Panel Discussion #1ExcursionPanel Discussion #2Group Specific Session
15 - 16Spotlight #1Contributed Talks #1Contributed Talks #2ExcursionFocus GroupGroup Specific Session
16 - 17Poster SessionFree timeContributed Talks #2ExcursionFocus GroupGroup Specific Session
17 - 18Poster SessionFree timeFree timeExcursionFocus GroupGroup Specific Session
18 - 19DinnerDinnerDinnerDinnerDinnerDinner
Evening ActivitiesTable tennis & Table football tournamentUltimate FrisbeePoker tournamentChess tournamentWerewolfX

Invited Speakers

Andrea Del Prete is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Trento and a core member of the Interdepartmental Robotics Lab (IDRA). After earning his PhD and completing a postdoc at the Italian Institute of Technology (Genova), he held research positions at LAAS-CNRS (Toulouse) and the Max-Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Tübingen). From 2019 to 2021 he was a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Trento, before his current appointment in 2022. Dr. Del Prete's research interests lie in the intersection between control theory, numerical optimization, and machine learning, with applications to model-predictive control, safe reinforcement learning, and trajectory optimization for legged and humanoid robots.

Kevin Sebastian Luck is an Assistant Professor in the Computational Intelligence Group at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where he directs the CI Robot Learning Lab. His research includes deep reinforcement learning, embodied intelligence, and the co-adaptation of robot morphology and control for sample-efficient, real-world applications. Dr. Luck has earned his PhD in Computer Science from Arizona State University in 2020 and holds both M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees from Technische Universität Darmstadt. His postdoctoral work took place at the University of Edinburgh (2020–2021) and Aalto University (2021–2023), and he has held research internships at Facebook AI Research and as a Research Scientist on assignment at Google DeepMind in London.

Matías Mattamala is a Research Associate in the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy at the School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, UK. Dr. Mattamala works on developing navigation algorithms to deploy robots for inspection and monitoring missions in the wild, with interests spanning state estimation and computer vision to mathematical methods and tools for robotics. Before joining the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Mattamala was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Dynamic Robot Systems group at the Oxford Robotics Institute, where he also completed his PhD in 2023. Prior to that, he earned his M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Universidad de Chile, and visiting researcher at ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab under Marco Hutter.

Spotlight Talks

The spotlight talks are sessions led by field experts, providing a clear and informative introduction to a specific research field. These talks aim to acquaint the audience with essential concepts, recent developments, and significant findings in that area of study.

TimeTalkPresenterTitle
Monday
14:00 - 16:00
#1 Matías Mattamala (University of Edinburgh)Robot Perception for Real-world Autonomy
Wednesday
10:00 - 12:00
#2Kevin Sebastian Luck (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) TBD
Friday
10:00 - 12:00
#3Andrea Del Prete (University of Trento) Safe and Energy-Efficient Reinforcement Learning

Tutorial

Tutorials are in-depth sessions to give participants foundational knowledge and real-world skills in a specific topic area.

TimeTalkPresenterTitle
Tuesday
10:00 - 12:00
#1 Matías Mattamala (University of Edinburgh)Effective Design of Graphics for (Robotics) Research

Contributed Talks

During this session, researchers from different labs present their research, providing insights, methodologies, and findings on specific topics or projects while also receiving feedback from the audience.

DayTimePresenterTitle
Tuesday14:00-14:30Elmar RueckertAI, machine learning, and robotics: The latest developments and applications at CPS
 14:30-15:00Alap KshirsagarTBD
 15:00-15:30Théo VincentOptimizing the Learning Trajectory of Reinforcement Learning Agents
Wednesday15:30-16:00Frankie Yuezhe ZhangAdaptive Diffusion Constrained Sampling for Bimanual Robot Manipulation
 16:00-16:30Michael Drolet Discrete Autoencoding via Policy Search
 16:30-17:00Ahmed HendawyMulti-Task Reinforcement Learning via Mixture of Experts

Equipment

It is highly recommended to bring with you:

  • Your Laptop: Please bring your laptop as it will be needed during certain sessions
  • Hiking Boots: Since we'll be going for a hike or klettersteig, a sturdy pair of hiking boots is essential. Consider choosing ones that have:
-A proper sole to prevent slipping on wet rocks.
-Ankle support to protect you from twisting.
-Waterproof features to allow you to traverse through mud or small rivers.
-If you do not wear hiking boots, we will not take you to the Klettersteig!
  • Small Backpack (20 - 30l): A convenient backpack will come in handy for carrying your essentials.
  • Refillable Water Bottle: Staying hydrated is vital, so don't forget to bring a refillable water bottle.
  • Small Lunch Box: We'll provide a breakfast buffet, and you can pack your lunch in a small box to keep your energy up during the event.
  • Shades and Hat: The sun can be intense, so pack sunglasses and a hat to shield yourself.
  • Sunscreen: To protect your skin from the mountain sun, remember to pack sunscreen.
  • Rain Jacket: While we hope for clear skies, it's best to be prepared. Bring a lightweight rain jacket just in case.
  • Comfortable Clothes: Expect to get a bit wet and dirty during our mountain adventures, so comfortable and durable clothes are recommended.
  • Swimming Suit: There's a possibility of visiting thermal springs or a sauna, so pack a swimming suit if you'd like to take a refreshing dip.

See IWIALS2024, IWIALS2023 and IWIALS2022 for previous IWIALS.