IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2021 - 190

Figure 4. The SofTech-Rehab final competition. The group in first place proposed a tendon-actuated exoskeleton for scoliosis rehabilitation
based on the four assignments of the four workshops.
the school and the teamwork as a
successful experience (mean score:
8.4/10). There is now a clear desire to
meet again through future seasonal
schools and potentially new specialized
conferences and workshops.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all of the participants,
speakers, and volunteers for
their help. Special thanks go to Dr.
Nevio Luigi Tagliamonte for his
valuable support in organizing the
competition, Dr. Francesca Cordella
and Dr. Matteo Cianchetti for their
help in the organization of the workshop,
Dr. Francesco Scotto di Luzio for
his support in the social and communication
activities, Mr. Matteo Magazzino
for his secretariat work, and the RAS
Technical Education Program for its
support. More information about the
school can be found on its website
(https://www.softech-rehab.com/).
References
[1] S. Lee et al., " Autonomous multi-joint soft exosuit
with augmentation-power-based control
parameter tuning reduces energy cost of loaded
walking, " J. Neuroeng. Rehabil., vol. 15, no. 1, pp.
1-9, 2018. doi: 10.1186/s12984-018-0410-y.
[2] F. Tamburella et al., " Influences of the biofeedback
content on robotic post-stroke gait
rehabi l itat ion: Elect romyographic vs
joint
torque biofeedback, " J. Neuroeng. Rehabil., vol.
16, no. 1, pp. 1-17, 2019. doi: 10.1186/s12984019-0558-0.
[3]
R. Niiyama, X. Sun, C. Sung, B. An, D. Rus,
and S. Kim, " Pouch motors: Printable soft actuators
integrated with computational design, " Soft
Robot., vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 59-70, 2015. doi: 10.1089/
soro.2014.0023.
IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine
Call for Papers
Special Issue on Blockchain Applications in Robotics and Automation
Rapid progress in Robotics, AI, Automation and IoT leads
to an exponential growth of the number of connected
intelligent systems, devices, robots and AIs. Current cloudbased
approaches to Smart Cities, Smart Lands, Direct and
Inverse Logistics (needed for the circular economy applications)
and the likes show serious issues when implemented in a
multivendor technologically heterogeneous market driven
environment. Moreover, the centralization of data management
by a small number of global hubs - that current cloud
approaches require, raise concerns about citizens' privacy and
excessive data, capital and thus power concentration, for many
countries of their borders.
The blockchain, a distributed ledger whose information is
protected by a consensus algorithm, enables the creation of
complex networks of heterogeneous robotic devices, smart
sensors and AIs. Secure distributed computing and data
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MRA.2021.3102708
storage platforms such as the Ethereum blockchain are already
showing the opportunity to make robotic applications more
responsive, secure and simplified in development. Blockchain
technologies may play a pivotal role in the desired transition to
smart society. There are numerous alternative options for the
development of heterogeneous robotic applications based on
the blockchain technologies.
The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a reference on
the state of the art and the opportunities and issues related
to the development of very large multivendor multiplatform
complex robotics, AI and Automation networks as expected in
the Smart Cities, Smart Lands and Supply Chains of the future.
We look for original research articles about recent advances
in the applications of blockchain Robotics and Automation.
More information can be found at https://www.ieee-ras.org/
publications/ram/special-issues
Deadline for submission: October 1st, 2021
Publication of special issue: June 2022
190 * IEEE ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION MAGAZINE * SEPTEMBER 2021

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IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine - September 2021

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