The AMADEE-24 Mars mission simulation has been taking place in Armenia, managed by the Austrian Space Forum and hosted by the Armenia Aerospace Agency. A small field crew of highly trained analog astronauts conducted experiments preparing for future human and robotic Mars exploration missions. ISR-Lisboa researcher Margarida Pereira was at the Mission Support Center (MSC), the base of contact with the mission team, and told us about her experience.

ISR | Lisboa recently hosted Prof. Gong Ke, Executive Director of the Chinese Institute for New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies. The meeting, attended by President Pedro Lima and ISR researchers, centered around Nankai University's history in robotics and AI partnerships. The visit concluded with a tour of ISR's advanced research labs, offering Prof. Gong Ke insights into the institution's work and potential collaborative opportunities.

On February 21st, ISR | Lisboa hosted a riveting seminar featuring Jens Kober, Associate Professor at TU Delft. Kober, renowned in robotics, discussed the challenges of robots autonomously refining motor skills and emphasized the importance of human interaction for effective learning. He covered various learning methods and showcased real-world experiments, sparking an engaging dialogue among attendees and a lot of curiousity for the future of robotics.

The IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA2024) is set to be a dynamic gathering of robotics enthusiasts from around the world, taking place in Yokohama, Japan, from May 13th to 17th, 2024. ISR-Lisboa is poised to make a significant impact, with talented students ready to showcase groundbreaking research and contribute to the global discourse on robotics and automation. As Yokohama becomes the symbolic gateway for robotics into a new era of collaboration, ICRA2024 promises to be an exciting fusion of Portuguese passion and Japanese innovation.

After doing research at ISR-Lisboa for their MSc's the team behind TURFLYNX pioneered autonomous turf machinery, introducing the first fully autonomous all-electric golf course fairway mower in 2016. The founders of TURFLYNX, which began in robotics in 2000, turned their vision into reality in 2014. Backed by Portuguese and Dutch VCs, TURFLYNX's autonomous machines cover over 90,000 m2 without human supervision. Now part of Toro in Portugal, they continue to contribute expertise in autonomous technology and alternate energy.

The ISR-Lisboa External Advisory Committee (EAC) recently held meetings with the ISR community to promote dialogue and collaboration. These gatherings are essential for ISR researchers to engage with external experts and receive guidance on research lines, collaboration opportunities, and institutional development. The EAC members gained valuable insights into the institution's work and participated in fruitful discussions on academic and research pursuits.

The 2023 European Researchers' Night showcased the diversity of science and its impact on daily lives through engaging activities. ISR-Lisboa researchers, from the MEROP project, interacted with a wide range of participants at the Jardim do Príncipe Real location. The team, inspired by mathematician Katherine Johnson, aimed to enhance planetary exploration through their teleoperation improvements. With their dedication, they look forward to future opportunities to share their work and inspire others.

A groundbreaking study by Catarina Barata, published in Nature Medicine, demonstrated the effectiveness of AI in skin cancer detection. Using a reinforcement learning model, the AI system improved the accuracy of dermatologists' diagnoses by 12%. The model showed significant improvements in sensitivity for melanoma and basal cell carcinoma, while also addressing concerns of overconfidence in automated diagnosis. Barata emphasized the importance of tailoring AI to benefit individuals and promoting responsible AI practices.

ISR-Lisboa's new Seminar Series fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange. The June seminar featured guest speaker Luís M. Rocha, a renowned professor in Systems Science. His talk delved into the dynamics of social and biochemical networks, exploring the role of redundancy in their structure and causal logic. These seminars provide valuable opportunities for ISR and LARSyS researchers, Técnico units, services, and industry partners to come together and fuel their minds with insightful discussions.

In an exciting collaboration between Portugal and India, researchers Eduardo Cunha and António Pascoal worked closely with their counterparts at the Indian National Institute of Oceanography. Their joint effort aimed to develop marine vehicles for mapping the ocean floor, advancing real-time monitoring of its flora. The team successfully addressed technical challenges and ensured the smooth functioning of the BlueROV. This valuable experience in a new environment fostered personal and professional growth, paving the way for further advancements in ocean exploration.