The WatchPlant project is being presented at the EIC Summit 2025 , held on April 2–3 in Brussels , among a selected group of leading European innovation initiatives. Matko Križmančić is representing the project at the summit, participating in discussions with stakeholders from research, innovation, and policy sectors. More about the event: 🔗 EIC Summit 2025

Students and professors from Prva gimnazija Varaždin (PGV), covering all four high school grade levels, recently visited the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) in Zagreb, with a special focus on the work of the Laboratory for Robotics and Intelligent Control Systems (LARICS). The visit featured engaging lectures and demonstrations by LARICS researchers. Robert Milijaš, M.Eng., showcased some of the advanced equipment used in their ongoing robotics research, while Associate Professor Tamara Petrović, PhD, delivered a captivating lecture on multi-robot systems. The highlight of the visit was a live demonstration by researchers Marijana Peti, M.Eng., and Marin Maletić, M.Eng., who flew small aerial vehicles in front of the students, offering a real-world look at robotics in action. This visit aimed to inspire students and spark greater interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It was co-financed by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth through the Innovative STEM Learning for a Digital Future project, carried out in collaboration between PGV and FER, as well as through the Interreg projects HyEfRe and Danube Indeet .

Prof. Stjepan Bogdan recently visited DTU Electro and the MARS Lab , where he gave a seminar on multi-agent systems and participated in academic activities. In addition to the seminar, Prof. Bogdan also served as a distinguished member of the PhD evaluation committee for Dr. Tong Hui’s PhD defense , which focused on enhancing the physical interaction capabilities of aerial robots . The committee consisted of: Prof. Stjepan Bogdan (University of Zagreb) Prof. H. Jin Kim (Seoul National University) Prof. Roberto Galeazzi (DTU) Congratulations to Dr. Tong Hui on successfully defending her PhD!

Assoc. Prof. Matko Orsag and PhD student Jelena Vuletić will participate in the IEEE RoboSoft 2025 conference, which will be held in  Lausanne, Switzerland , from April 23–26, 2025 . The paper, titled "DEGAS - Deformation Estimation based on Magnetic Gradiometer Measurements for Soft Structure" , is co-authored by Jelena Vuletić, Bruno Marić, and Matko Orsag . It explores an innovative approach to deformation estimation using magnetic gradiometers, contributing to advancements in soft robotics. Students Leticija Crnković and Antonio Čogelja will also be participating in the RoboSoft 2025 competition . A video demonstration of their work can be found here . More about the conference: RoboSoft 2025

On March 6, 2025 , Assoc. Prof. Tamara Petrović from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing participated in the Women’s Weekend conference in Rijeka, contributing to the "Equality for an Innovative Europe" panel. Held at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka’s Art Quarter, the panel explored the role of women in science and research, as well as the impact of EU policies on increasing inclusivity in STEM fields. Alongside David Smith, Director of the Ruđer Bošković Institute , Assoc. Prof. Petrović shared insights on gender equality in innovation and the challenges women face in the scientific community. The event, organized in collaboration with the European Commission Representation in Croatia , marked the opening day of Women’s Weekend , dedicated to discussing gender equality from a European perspective.

From February 18th to 20th , 2025, the final review and general assembly of the Watchplant project took place in Valencia. The meeting was hosted by the Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía (ITE) , the project coordinator. LARICS members, Prof. Stjepan Bogdan and Marko Križmančić, presented the achievements from FER, highlighting key developments and contributions.

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing (FER) in Zagreb hosted a seminar on control theory and robotics on February 18, 2025, as part of the Aerial Robotics and Control series, which connects industry professionals and academics to explore control theory, its applications, and its role in education. The seminar featured two insightful talks. Prof. Dr. Sc. Matko Orsag presented Classical Control Theory for Non-Classical (Aerial) Manipulation Applications , focusing on control methods for aerial robotic systems. PhD Bruno Marić followed with Bridging Human Expertise and Robotics: The Role of Control in Skill Replication , discussing how control systems can replicate human skills in robotics. The goal of the Zagreb Control Seminar is to create a platform for experts to share their work, discuss innovations, and collaborate on research projects, fostering meaningful connections between academia and industry. For more details, visit the official seminar website: Zagreb Control Seminar .

On 7th of February 2025, Lovro Marković, mag. ing., successfully defended his doctoral dissertation and received a PhD degree. His thesis is titled "Multirotor Aerial Vehicle Control Combining Different Actuation Principles." Congratulations, Lovro!