AMBRE 2026: Adaptive Manipulation — Bridging Rigid and Soft Robotics in Underwater Environments
Full-Day Workshop at IROS 2026

We invite submissions to AMBRE 2026, a full-day workshop focused on adaptive underwater manipulation and the integration of rigid and soft robotic systems for real-world marine environments.

Underwater manipulation is becoming increasingly important for marine science, subsea inspection, ecological restoration, aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, and sustainable ocean intervention. However, robust physical interaction underwater remains a major challenge due to poor visibility, uncertain localization, hydrodynamic disturbances, limited communication, and complex contact dynamics.

AMBRE aims to bring together researchers from marine robotics, soft robotics, robotic manipulation, perception, control, autonomy, and field robotics. The workshop will provide a dedicated forum to discuss emerging methods, open challenges, and future directions for underwater robotic manipulation.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Adaptive underwater manipulation

• Rigid, soft, and hybrid robotic manipulators and grippers

• Perception, control, and autonomy for underwater interaction

• Field deployment, benchmarking, and marine applications

We welcome submissions presenting original research, work in progress, field experiences, system demonstrations, datasets, benchmarks, position papers, and early-stage ideas related to underwater manipulation and hybrid rigid–soft robotic systems.

Accepted contributions will be presented during the workshop poster session. Selected submissions may also be invited for short lightning talks.

Important Dates

First submission round
Submission deadline: 15 July 2026
Notification of acceptance: 30 July 2026

Second submission round
Submission deadline: 31 July 2026
Notification of acceptance: 15 August 2026

Submission Format

Authors are invited to submit extended abstracts or short papers. Submissions should clearly describe the motivation, approach, results or expected contribution, and relevance to the workshop themes.

All accepted submissions will be made available through the workshop website, subject to author permission.

Workshop Format

The workshop will include invited talks, lightning presentations, a poster and networking session, and an expert panel discussion. The goal is to encourage discussion between senior researchers, students, postdoctoral researchers, engineers, and industry participants, while creating opportunities for early-career researchers to present their work and build collaborations.

We especially encourage submissions from students, early-career researchers, and participants from diverse institutions, disciplines, and geographic regions.