HRI 2027 Student Competition: Robots in Public Spaces

The 22nd annual ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human‑Robot Interaction (HRI 2027) has opened its Student Design Competition (SDC) call for student teams worldwide. The competition, held during the conference from 8–12 March 2027, focuses on the theme "Robots in Public Spaces" and encourages designs that address the complexities of deploying robots in shared, public environments such as sidewalks, plazas, museums, airports, and hospital lobbies. Submissions may take the form of physical robot systems, software‑only systems, interaction concepts, or spatial and service design concepts. Teams must be composed of 2–5 students, can be multidisciplinary, and may come from any academic level from undergraduate to PhD. Faculty advisors may co‑author but the project must be student‑led. The competition does not require a fully finished prototype; a well‑argued design and realistic plan for completion by the camera‑ready deadline are sufficient. Accepted teams compete for three awards: Best Design Award, Public Spaces Award, and People’s Choice Award. While no monetary prize is awarded, students may seek travel support through the IEEE RAS travel grant program. At least one team member must attend HRI 2027 in person to present the showcase. The submission deadline is 20 November 2026, with acceptance notifications on 18 December 2026 and a camera‑ready deadline of 2 January 2027.

No monetary prize; travel support may be available via IEEE RAS travel grant program.

Student teams of 2–5 students, any discipline, any academic level (undergraduate to PhD).