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.

Rute Luz, a researcher at ISR-Lisboa, had the opportunity to work at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands. Inspired by a presentation by Thomas Krüger, Rute proposed using a teleoperation setup at the International Space Station for her research on haptic feedback. During her seven-month stay, she successfully implemented a system that responded to user forces in a complex way, enhancing the interaction with the robot. Rute's experience at ESTEC was a dream come true, allowing her to apply her skills and learn from parallel projects in the field of space research.

ISR | Lisboa's team of students and researchers has been selected to participate in RoboCup23, the world's largest robotics competition. With over 2500 participants and 40 thousand visitors, the event aims to promote interest and knowledge in robotics, mechatronics, AI, and more. The team is also gearing up for the National Robotics Festival and the euROBIN Hackathon. Carlos Azevedo, the team's captain, emphasizes the importance of these competitions for testing algorithms and preparing for the ultimate goal: winning the RoboCup. Partners and sponsors are welcome to support SocRob@Home's mission.

A group of researchers from ISR-Lisboa will be participating in the AMADEE-24 mission, a space simulation expedition to Mars. The mission will take place in Armenia for a month. The researchers, along with analogue astronauts, will be working on improving teleoperation of remote rovers and providing astronauts with troubleshooting tools. AMADEE-24 is organized by the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF) and aims to optimize remote science support for planetary surface operations. This will be the 14th analogue mission to Mars organized by OeWF.

The ISR Community is mourning the profoundly sad loss of a close colleague and friend, Francisco Teixeira. "Dear Colleagues and Friends With great sadness, we announce the passing of our dear friend, Prof. Francisco Sepúlveda Teixeira, from the Mathematics Department of IST. Francisco was at all levels unique: an upright and kind human being, a [...]

Can robots be at the service of culture? When recovering artefacts at excavation sites, such as vases, amphorae, and frescoes, it is very common for them to be damaged by time. The EU-funded project RePAIR aims to facilitate this reconstruction process to bring ancient artworks back to life. A group of researchers from the [...]

ISR | Lisboa's collaborative room, on floor 8 of the North Tower, was renewed and inaugurated on November 25. The space is designed to foster collaborative moments within the ISR-Lisboa community and it recently improved to be even more comfortable.  The Colaboratorium is used for informal meetings, to grab a coffee, or even for [...]