4th Doctoral Summer School on Robotics and Intelligent Machines – DRIMS a.y. 2025/2026

Course description

The DRIMS course is a summer school that is part of the educational program of the National PhD Program in Robotics and Intelligent Machines. It is primarily aimed at PhD students of the program, and it is also open to students from other relevant PhD courses. The course has been designed to provide advanced and specialized training in this rapidly evolving field, with an interdisciplinary approach that integrates theory and practice.

Specifically, the course aims to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to develop robots and intelligent machines capable of operating in complex environments, such as those found in biomedical, industrial, and service applications. Participants will gain advanced expertise in fields such as robot design, tactile and vision sensors and artificial perception, control, and human-machine interaction.

Course target

PhD students enrolled in the PhD program of national interest in Robotics and Intelligent Machines (DRIM) and to PhD students currently attending other PhD courses related to robotics or intelligent machines.

Training objectives

The DRIMS Course has the objective to offer knowledge on mechanical design, sensors and actuators, fundamentals of vision, touch and control to robotic students, engaging them in a multidisciplinary teamwork. During the course, students will have the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge of the main theoretical approaches and emerging technologies in the field of robotics and intelligent machines and apply them to real-world problems such as object manipulation using sensorized robots. By the end of the course, participants will be able to design, develop, and test robots and intelligent machines for a wide range of applications, and evaluate their performance based on the specific requirements of the environment in which they operate.

Teaching methods

The DRIMS course applies innovative teaching methodologies, including practical laboratories, group projects, and research-based learning, in addition to traditional lectures, in order to provide students with a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. Participants will work on concrete research and development projects, utilizing advanced software and hardware tools such as collaborative robots, robotic manipulators, artificial vision sensors, and tactile sensors. Participants will also be introduced to advanced programming techniques. Additionally, roundtable discussions on cross-cutting topics will be organized, including meetings with academic and industry leaders, and cross-disciplinary discussions on the ethical, legal, social, and economic implications of robotics and intelligent machines, as well as the preparation of research funding proposals.

Course programme

The detailed programme is reported in the dedicated DRIMS website: https://phdrims.com/

How to Apply

An admission application may be submitted by persons who are currently attending PhD courses related to robotics or intelligent machines.

The following documentation is to be attached to the enrolment application:

• curriculum vitae, reporting the PhD program in which the student is enrolled;

• a currently valid identity document.

Course fee 

The registration fee consists of two components: enrolment fee and accommodation and meals fee. The tuition fee will be paid to the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, while the accommodation and meals fee will be paid to the Poggio all’Agnello facility (www.poggioallagnello.it), as follows:

Enrolment fee, to be paid to Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna by bank transfer or the PAGOPA procedure, by July 19^th, 2026:

• € 0 enrolment fee for:

  • the first 25 applicants that are student members of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE RAS);

  • or for the first 10 applicants that are student members of the Italian Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (I-RIM);

  • or for the first 10 applicants that are members of universities of the Biorobotics Research and Innovation Engineering Facilities – South (BRIEFS) research infrastructure;

• € 300 enrolment fee:

  • from the 26^th applicant that is student member of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE RAS);

  • or from the 11^th applicant that is student member of the Italian Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (I-RIM);

  • or from the 11^th applicant that is member of universities of the Biorobotics Research and Innovation Engineering Facilities – South (BRIEFS) research infrastructure;

  • or for affiliates to institutions that are members of the EELISA European University alliance;

  • or for affiliates to partners of the ARTES 4.0 Competence Center;

• € 500: enrolment fee for remaining participants

Those who intend to benefit from the fee reductions must document their membership and/or affiliation at the time of the enrolment application.

Accommodation and meals fee, to be paid to the Poggio all’Agnello facility:

• € 914 (in double room; these fees may be subject to slight variation).

Attendance certificate

Certificate of attendance will be issued with value to the extent permitted by law and, with details of the ECTS obtained, to the students who attended at least 65% of the entire training program and passed the final assessment tests and are up-to-date with the payment of the enrolment fee.