SUNY RAISE Workshop: Robotics, Autonomy & Intelligent Systems in Engineering

Developing a roadmap for education, research and engagement in Robotics and Embodied Intelligence across New York State

205 Lockwood Library, Mary Talbert Way, University at Buffalo

August 7-8, 2025: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day

Workshop Overview

The SUNY RAISE workshop plans to bring together stakeholders in robotics, autonomy and core engineering applications of embodied intelligence across the NY state. This includes researchers and educators from SUNY campuses, leaders from industry from NY state and beyond, officials from state and federal representatives with interest in embodied intelligence and robotics as well as K-12 educators in STEM education.

The purpose of this workshop is to develop a holistic roadmap for education, research and engagement in robotics and embodied Intelligence to meet the upcoming wave of robotics and autonomy that will affect all sectors of industry including manufacturing, defense, aerospace, agriculture, energy, healthcare, and others with an emphasis on these industries in NY state.

This roadmap, informed by the capabilities, opportunities, and needs of the various stakeholders across NY state, will serve three important purposes:

  1. Inform SUNY as well as NYS broadly about future education, research, and service programs to address the rapid growth in robotics and embodied intelligence
  2. Guide SUNY campuses on ways to jointly meet the upcoming needs for current, future students, and industry personnel (about reskilling/upskilling)
  3. Develop a shared platform across various campuses for continued interaction

The overall objective of such a roadmap is to develop infrastructure to continually inform government stakeholders, as well as private funding source,s of ways SUNY can meet the needs in robotics and embodied intelligence as well as resources needed to accomplish this goal.

On behalf of University at Buffalo, Stony Brook University, Binghamton University and University at Albany, we seek your participation to inform us of your needs, provide feedback on the developing vision, and identify the gaps in our current research/education/partnerships, so that we can converge on a robust articulation of the opportunities and resource needs, at the intersection of the key organizations in SUNY.

Workshop Agenda

Day 1: August 7, 2025

9:00-9:30 AM
Welcome coffee
All faculty
Lockwood 215
9:30-9:40 AM
Welcome
Organizers
Lockwood 215
9:40-9:50 AM
Welcome
Dean Kemper Lewis
Lockwood 215
9:50-10:00 AM
Setup
Lockwood 215
10:00-11:00 AM
Faculty intros - 3-4 mins each
All faculty
Lockwood 215
11:00-11:15 AM
Coffee break
Lockwood 215
11:15-12:15 PM
Faculty intros - 3-4 mins each
All faculty
Lockwood 215
12:15-1:15 PM
Lunch
Lockwood 215
1:15-1:30 PM
Intro to first breakout session
Organizers
Lockwood 215
1:30-2:30 PM
Breakout 1
215, 215A, 205C
2:30-2:45 PM
Make summary slides for each breakout
Lockwood 215
2:45-3:00 PM
Summarize breakout 1
Manufacturing/warehouse, vehicular autonomy, Agriculture/inspection
215 Lockwood
3:00-3:30 PM
Coffee break
Lockwood 215
3:30-4:30 PM
Panel - Funding challenges for robotics
Lockwood 215
4:30-5:30 PM
Robotics tour

Day 2: August 8, 2025

9:00-9:15 AM
Intro to second breakout session
Organizers
Lockwood 215
9:15-10:15 AM
Breakout 2
Perception, Planning/Control, Design/fabrication
215, 215A, 205C
10:15-10:30 AM
Make summary slides for each breakout
Lockwood 215
10:30-10:45 AM
Summarize breakout 2
Perception, Planning, Design/fabrication
Lockwood 215
10:45-11:00 AM
Coffee break
Lockwood 215
11:00-12:00 PM
Panel on Education and industrial engagement
Organizers
Lockwood 215
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
Lockwood 215
1:00-1:30 PM
Summarize workshop findings
Lockwood 215
1:30-2:00 PM
Brainstorming the development of a unified SUNY Robotics Center
Lockwood 215

Organizing Committee

Prof. Karthik Dantu

Prof. Karthik Dantu

Associate Professor, Computer Science and Engineering
University at Buffalo

Prof. Souma Chowdhury

Prof. Souma Chowdhury

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
University at Buffalo

Prof. Nilanjan Chakraborty

Prof. Nilanjan Chakraborty

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Stony Brook University

Prof. Chinwe Ekenna

Prof. Chinwe Ekenna

Associate Professor, Computer Science
University at Albany

Prof. Shiqi Zhang

Prof. Shiqi Zhang

Associate Professor, School of Computing
Binghamton University