Tentative Conference Program
Day 1 ( 9/09/2026) PALAZZO TRINCI
09.00 Registration
10.30 Opening Ceremony
11.00 Coffee Break
11.30 Plenary Lectures
12.30 Transfer to CENTRO STUDI
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Presentations
15.45 Coffee Break
16.15 Presentations
20.00 Light Dinner at a Tavern of "Giostra della Quintana"
Day 2 (10/09/2026) CENTRO STUDI
09.00 Presentations
10.45 Coffee Break
11.15 Presentations
13:00 Lunch
14.30 Departure for Tour of Assisi
17.45 Return in Foligno
19.45 Transfer from the city center to Delphina Hotel
20.00 Gala Dinner at Delphina Hotel
00.30 Transfer from Delphina Hotel to the city center
Day 3 (11/09/2026) CENTRO STUDI
09.00 Presentations
10.30 Coffee Break
11.00 Presentations
12.30 Closing Ceremony
Plenary Lectures
Engaging Generation Z in the Science of Machines and Mechanisms Through a Student-Centered Approach
Speaker: Prof. Paulo Flores
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Minho.
Abstract: Generation Z is now entering higher education, requiring instructors and institutions to adapt their teaching practices to better engage this new generation of learners. This talk presents a student-centered approach for introducing freshman engineering students to the science of machines and mechanisms through a hands-on ping-pong ball launcher design challenge. Working in teams of five, students design and build a gravity-actuated device incorporating a planar mechanism to accurately launch a ping-pong ball at a target. The project integrates key concepts such as kinematics, dynamics, mechanism analysis and synthesis, component selection, and basic manufacturing and assembly, supported by lectures, laboratory sessions, reports, presentations, and exams. The work also examines the educational impact of this nontraditional approach and discusses the incorporation of AI tools in the learning process.
Riding Robotics and Ability Mining
Speaker: Prof. Masaharu Komori
Department of Mechanical Engineering and Science
Kyoto University
Abstract: Small vehicles are fascinating, fun, convenient and helpful in everyday life. The speaker is engaged in research in the field of “Riding Robotics”. This research field targets small vehicles (small mobility), such as manned mobility, manned robots, riding robots, personal mobility, smart mobility, vehicles, and mobile robots. In this field, research on various aspects such as the structure, mechanism, control, and movement of vehicles, the body of the rider, the psychology of the rider, and concept proposals are being conducted by various researchers. In this talk, Professor Komori will present his research in Riding Robotics, including the drift driving experience device, characteristics of human center-of-pressure shifts in standing posture and their effect on mobile device manipulation, omnidirectional vehicles, and recognition accuracy of vehicle posture and the operator’s face posture. He will also introduce his research on “Ability Mining,” aimed at uncovering unknown human abilities. Humans possess various abilities, and there may be hidden capabilities that have yet to be discovered. This presentation will include his work on manipulation using the foot and leg, foot operation interfaces, and the effect of motion paths on leg muscle load.